Now in his 11th season as the head track and field coach at Whitworth, Dr. Toby Schwarz has decided that it is time to take the Whitworth Track and Field program through a philosophical "face lift." Schwarz and his staff are very pleased with the progress of the combined Whitworth track and field programs over the past decade. However, there is always room for additional growth and change.

For the past decade, Schwarz has revitalized the Track and Field program at Whitworth. The size of the team has grown every year, to its current high of over 90 athletes. In 2001 Whitworth swept the Northwest Conference titles in men's and women's Track and Field. It was the first men's title since 1971 and first women's title ever. Each of the last five seasons more than 60 athletes (over 75% of the team) have qualified for the Northwest Conference championship meet. And over the last ten years, Schwarz has coached eleven athletes to NCAA Division III All-American honors, including Kristin Shields to a national championship in the 100 dash in 2004, the first NCAA Division III national titlist during his tenure.

Schwarz has earned eight coach of the year awards, including the 2001 NWC and NCAA West Region men's and women's awards. He won the same men's award in 2000.

Following the 2006 track and field season, a decision was made by the coaching staff to cease the continuous growth of the program and move to a philosophy of a smaller, more focused and committed group of student-athletes. Through a process of "cuts" and "tryouts", a more streamlined group of track and field athletes will make up the Whitworth program for the future.

Schwarz is excited about the new philosophy that has been adopted in this new era of Whitworth Track and Field. With the new philosophy and a smaller, more committed group of student-athletes, the level of excitement at practice is extremely high and this excitement will lead to both programs going to the next level.

Schwarz has also been the head coach of the very successful Pirate cross country program since 1998. At Whitworth, Schwarz has established the cross country program as a force to be reckoned with. In addition to their national championship appearance, the women's team finished as NWC runners-up in 2002-04. The Pirate men have improved their conference standing every year since 1997, finishing 3rd in 2002-05. Schwarz has led Whitworth runners to the NCAA championships every season since 2001.

Dr. Schwarz is also a Professor in the Kinesiology Department. Schwarz fills his "spare time" when he is not teaching and coaching by being very active in youth ministry. He is the advisor for Whitworth’s chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is also the Chair of North Spokane Young Life.

If you are interested in more information on the Whitworth Track and Field teams, you can contact Coach Schwarz at tschwarz@whitworth.edu or (509) 777-4361.

Assistant Coaches

Gary Baskett - Throws (2nd year)
Gary Baskett, one of the most successful high school track and field coaches in the state of Washington, joins the Whitworth staff for his second season. A graduate of West Seattle High School (1960) and Central Washington University (1967), Baskett has created an extremely impressive athletic and coaching resume. Baskett began his track and field career as a school record holder in the shot put at both West Seattle HS and CWU. Baskett then moved into coaching where he quickly led the Mead High School boys program to an unprecedented 159-0 dual meet record in 17 years. During that undefeated 17-year stretch, the boys team finished in the top four at the AAA state meet 15 times, including five state team championships and 29 individual event champions. Baskett-led Mead teams were ranked as high as 3rd in the nation two times (1990 and 1995). In his first year with the Pirate track and field program, Baskett quickly made his mark by helping to increase the overall success of the throwers in the program, including a conference champion in the hammer and two national qualifiers. Baskett continues to teach Art at Mead High School.

Travis Howell - Horizontal Jumps (2nd year)
Travis Howell is in his second year with the Whitworth Track and Field program. Howell is a graduate of Clarkston High School (2000), where he was a sprinter and jumper for the Bantams, and Gonzaga University (2004). Howell spent five years coaching the long jump and triple jumpers at West Valley High School in Spokane. Among the several horizontal jump success stories at the district, regional and state levels for both boys and girls, Howell coached Roshad Toussaint to three state championships in the triple jump, with a best of 50’ 8.75", which is the current state 3A record in Washington. Howell has laid a foundation in his first year that will help keep the Pirate horizontal jumpers at the front of the conference for years to come. Howell currently teaches third grade in the West Valley School District in Spokane.

Bob Omlin - Vertical Jumps (2nd year)
Bob Omlin, a graduate of Quincy High School, where he was a state-level standout track and field athlete in several events, rejoins Head Coach Toby Schwarz a decade after coaching with Schwarz at Pullman High School in 1996. Since that time, Omlin became a Big Sky qualifier in the Decathlon at Eastern Washington University and has extended his coaching resume as well. Omlin has coached multi-event competitors at Eastern Washington University, along with other jumping events. In his first year, Coach Omlin’s pole vaulters second and forth in the women’s vault and third and fourth in the men’s event. Omlin is a personal trainer in Spokane, where he works with individuals from all demographics, including several professional athletes. Omlin lives in Spokane with his wife Teresa, and their two children.

Dr. Jeff Rahn - Long Distance (10th year)
Dr. Jeff Rahn is the senior member of the Whitworth Track and Field coaching staff. A graduate of Mead High School (1977), Whitworth (1982) and University of Nevada - Reno (1988), Rahn has an extremely impressive high school and college resume. A member of the first team to win a state championship at Mead High School, Rahn continued that success at Whitworth where he continues to hold the school record in the 1500m (3:47.34). After returning to Whitworth as a coach, Rahn has helped to build both men’s and women’s programs to a level where they can challenge for the conference championship each year. Rahn is also the assistant coach for the Pirate cross country program. Rahn is a Professor of Chemistry at Eastern Washington University and resides in Spokane with his wife Annette and two children, Katherine (14) and Daniel (12).

Sarah Marken - Multi Events (1st year)
Sarah Marken joins the Pirate coaching staff for her first year, after an incredible four years as a student-athlete in the Whitworth program. A captain in both her junior and senior seasons, Marken competed in the NCAA National Championships in her freshmen year as a member of the 4x1 relay and in her senior year as a heptathlete. In her four years, Marken scored 87 points at the NWC Championship meet, which places her as one of the highest point scorers in conference history. Marken works as a physical therapy assistant in Spokane.

Eloise Cappellano - Assistant Throws (1st year)
The Whitworth Track and Field program is excited to add Eloise Cappellano to the Pirates' already talented throws program in 2007. Cappellano brings a very long and successful resume to the Whitworth Track and Field team. A graduate from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), Cappellano competed two seasons on the track and field team while completing her degree in Special Education. Cappellano has coached at the high school level in New Jersey and Deer Park, Washington and most recently for the past 4 years at the very successful program at Mead High School. Throwers under Cappellano’s teaching have gone on to earn many state and national honors. Cappellano is very active in distance running and weight lifting and has USATF Level I and II certifications. Cappellano works as a Special Ed teacher at Mead High School and has two sons, Alexander (25) and Sean (16).