Meet the coaches
SARAH HANNULA
Program Coordinator
Sarah Hannula’s passion for track and field began at the collegiate level when she attended Washington State University on a full-ride scholarship in the Long Jump and Triple Jump. While competing for the Cougars, Sarah spent four seasons representing WSU both indoors and outdoors, balancing elite competition while earning her degree in Exercise Science and Psychology.
In 2012, Sarah accepted the Head Coaching position at Her Alma Mater. There she has built one of the most respected programs in the state. Specializing in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Sprints, Coach Hannula has spent the past 13 years developing elite athletes and building a culture of excellence. During her time at Curtis, she has coached multiple State Champions and led the program to two Team State Titles, cementing a legacy of success.
One of the most remarkable groups she coached was the Curtis Class of 2018, where six athletes went on to sign collegiate scholarships across the United States for track and field. Among them, Lexi Ellis, who was ranked #2 in the nation, earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Oregon, while standout sprinter Saudia Heard signed with the University of Kansas.
Sarah’s impact on the sport has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she was honored as the Washington State Coach of the Year, a recognition of her commitment to athlete development and program excellence.
Beyond the high school level, Sarah serves as the Coordinator of ASA, where she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge, experience, and love of the sport with the next generation of athletes. Through ASA, she has helped develop multiple National Champions and All-Americans between the ages of 8–18, guiding young athletes to reach their full potential on the national stage.
Although much of her role involves leading and coordinating the program, Sarah especially enjoys stepping back onto the track during the summer youth season, where she coaches alongside Head Youth Coach Lenice Walston, a former athlete she once mentored who has returned to help lead the program forward. Together with Azariah Miller and Lakeesha Ogburn, they continue to build a powerful pipeline of young talent while fostering confidence, discipline, and a lifelong love for track and field.
For Coach Hannula, success isn’t measured only in medals and records—it’s about mentorship, opportunity, and helping athletes believe in what’s possible.
NATE WILFORD
ELITES HEAD COACH + JUMPS SPECIALIST
We are proud to include Coach Nate Wilford, his reputation for mentoring some of the finest jumpers in state and national history is unmatched. One can search age-group, high school, collegiate, and even Olympic rosters to see the impact that Coach Nate has had on the sport of Track and Field. His athletes have won State, National, Conference, and Collegiate Championships in both the long and triple jump. His pupils include 4 of the top-5 all-time marks in state history in the triple jump: Lexi Ellis (43’6” | Oregon), Chinne Okoronkwo (42’11.75” | Texas Tech), Andrea Geubelle (42’10.25 | Kansas; NCAA Champion - Long Jump & Triple Jump; Olympian), and Rieko Wilford (41’0.5” | Purdue). There’s no doubt that Coach Nate is one of the finest horizontal jump coaches in the country. Truly a hidden gem here in the Pacific Northwest and former long-time coach with the Flying AJ’s Track Club, Nate is a founding member of the Alpha Speed Academy.
MARK “MAC” MACDONALD
HURDLES COACH/SPECIALIST ( Summer only)
Coach Mac brings nearly three decades of Collegiate coaching experience to the ASA. Following his All-American career at Washington State, Mark joined the Cougar Coaching Staff at Washington State University where he mentored athletes in the hurdles, sprints, and relays. Mac’s hurdlers and sprinters won numerous Conference Championships, All-American Honors, School Records, and 3 National Championships in the hurdles. His expertise has earned him a well deserved reputation as one of the most successful Assistant Coaches in the country. Following his time at WSU, he mentored his former athlete, 3x NCAA Champion Jeshua Anderson (47.93), as Anderson transitioned into a coaching role at the University of Washington. His time at the University of Washington also included an All-American finish for 400 hurdler Darhian Mills (57.02).
ANDREW FORBES
POLE VAULT COACH/SPECIALIST ( Summer Only)
Drew attended Pacific Lutheran University majoring in Exercise Science with double minors in Coaching and Sports Psychology. His athletic journey includes four seasons of Pole Vault under the guidance of Coach Pat Licari at PLU.
In 2020, Drew took on the role of WIAA Certified Pole Vault Coach at Curtis High School, despite the pandemic delaying his first full season to 2021. He has significantly revitalized the school’s Pole Vault program within four seasons. His coaching achievements include advancing three athletes to Districts and two to State in his second season. Repeating this success with four athletes making Districts in 2023, where one emerged as the 4A Boys Pole Vault State Champion and another secured a 10th place finish. Under Drew's mentorship, vaulters have set new school records for both Boys and Girls, with seven girls and three boys ranking in the school's all-time top ten heights. Three of his athletes have continued to vault at the collegiate level. Additionally, Drew's expertise has been recognized at the National Pole Vault Summit and the Junior Olympics, where one of his athletes achieved second place nationally in 2023.
Drew’s coaching philosophy is shaped by the diverse styles and techniques he learned from numerous esteemed coaches throughout his athletics career. His dedication to the sport is evident as he consistently supports all vaulters in need at competitions, often aiding them in achieving new personal records.
Pictured: ASA Littles Coaches Sarah and Ben Hannula, Keesha Ogburn, and Elites Hurdles Coach Mark MacDonald.