Three to Join Spartan Track and Field Program
7/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
July 31, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State Track and Field Program Director Walt Drenth has announced the hiring of Chris Bostwick (assistant coach - Jumps), Randy Gillon (assistant coach - sprints/multi-events) and Kathy Rounds (assistant coach - sprints/hurdles) as the newest members of the Spartan track and field staff. The three complete the reorganization of the Green and White program that began at the conclusion of last season.
"I am excited to have Randy (Gillon), Kathy (Rounds) and Chris (Bostwick) join the Spartan staff," Drenth said. "My goal in filling their positions was to find people who would be able to truly enhance the experience of our student-athletes, while most importantly helping Rita (Arndt-Molis), Chris (Campbell) and I design and implement a plan to improve the Spartan track and field program. Randy, Kathy and Chris are true students of the sport and are exceptional teachers who will continue to expand their base of coaching knowledge."
Bostwick brings seven years of coaching experience to the Spartan staff. Prior to his arrival at Michigan State, Bostwick served as an assistant coach for the women's track and field and cross country programs at Miami (OH) from 2002-06. With the Redhawks, Bostwick developed and supervised training for all of the horizontal and vertical jumpers, as well as the sprinters and multi-event athletes. Under his watch, Miami produced two NCAA national finalists, four national qualifiers, eight provisional qualifiers and 24 regional qualifiers. Bostwick began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the men's and women's track and field program at SUNY Cortland from 1999-2000. He also worked as an assistant to the men's and women's track and cross country teams at Binghamton from 2000-02. The Bearcats produced 18 all-conference selections, six conference champions, 12 school records and a Binghamton Athlete of the Year recipient.
A graduate of SUNY Cortland, Bostwick earned first-team all-conference and first-team all-region honors, one conference championship and set two school records during his time as a Red Dragon. Bostwick has coached nine USA Track and Field national qualifiers, four junior national qualifiers and four NSCA strength and conditioning All-Americans. A member of the USA Track and Field (USATF) and the US Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Bostwick maintains several coaching certifications.
Rounds has been a member of the Spartan family since 2005, serving as a volunteer coach for the men's cross country team and as the men's sprint coach for the track program last season. Prior to her time at MSU, Rounds was an assistant coach for the boys and girls track and field teams at Milford High School from 2003-04, where she directly oversaw athletes who set seven school records and nine individual class records. A total of 21 athletes competing under her direction qualified for the Class A state meet.
An international competitor, Rounds competed on the US National Team, where she placed first at the US Outdoor National Championships in 1997 in the 800m run. She also placed third at the USONC in 1999 and captured a fifth-place finish in 1998. In addition, she has been an alternate on the US Olympic Team (1996) after finishing fourth at the Olympic trials in the 800m run. Rounds graduated from Louisiana State with a finance degree in 1987.
Gillon arrives at MSU after directing Prime Function Strength and Rehabilitation Training Systems in Toronto since 2003. Gillon designed and oversaw strength training, weight management, rehabilitation and general fitness programs for both competitive and non-competitive athletes of various sports. Gillon also served as a consultant to First Line Kinesiologist Inc., providing therapeutic exercises to post-injury individuals.
Gillon's coaching resume includes three years of experience with the Illinois State track program, both as a volunteer and as an assistant coach. While at Illinois State, Gillon was also an undergraduate advisor and tutor. He is a member of the NSCA, USATF and the Ontario Kinesiologist Association (OKA) and Ontario Track and Field Association (OTFA), with certifications in kinesiology and strength and conditioning.
Gillon earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology (2000) as well as a master's degree in kinesiology (biomechanics, 2002) from Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A three-year letterwinner for the track and field program, Gillon currently ranks eighth on the Illinois all-time record chart with a time of 14.15 in the 110m high hurdle event.
