This year, we devote our cover to a very important segment of the population we serve—the walk–on coach. This intrepid individual gives untold hours of their time to share their knowledge about track and field for little or no compensation… apart from the thrill of seeing their protégés achieve P.R.s or make some other life–changing break– throughs. On tracks, in backyards and in vacant lots across the country they coach—men and women like Bill Chilson, our “cover coach” and winner of On Track’s Jeff Truman Memorial Pole Vault Summit–Ship.

CHILSON AT THE CONTROLS

On Track Names Southern California  Vault Coach 2007 Truman Summit–Ship Winner

Out on the northeastern fringes of Los Angeles County, in a place known as “the High Desert”—famous for the aerobatic exploits of mid–20th Century test pilots such as Chuck Yeager—there’s a new generation of fliers taking to the skies, and their guide is Bill Chilson, the 2007 winner of the Jeff Truman Memorial Pole Vault Summit–ship.

A three–time nominee for the annual award, this husband and father of two coaches pole vaulters ranging from middle school to masters level in the wind–swept Antelope Valley. Depending on the day, vault practice can be either heaven or hell, depending on that fickle wind. And who should know better than Bill, who—when he isn’t negotiating conditions on the Antelope Valley College (AVC) runway or at his own backyard vault facility—makes his living as an air traffic controller.

“Bill will meet anyone, any day of the week if they want to work on vaulting. I have seen him on the track with 25 kids on a day when the temperature is 35 and the wind is blowing 30 miles per hour,” says Mark Covert, AVC head track coach. “I have also seen him on the track in the middle of summer when the temperature is 110 with only one kid because the kid wanted to vault. Bill knows his event and he knows the  kids need someone there no matter what, to help them learn that event.”

“Bill Chilson is not just a good coach; he is a great coach. He takes a huge chunk of time out of his day to coach… he also researches and perfects drills to help us with our technique,”reports Rachelle Sabo, one of Bill’s athletes whose vaulting success at AVC brought her the reward of a partial scholarship to California’s Chico State. “He interprets the language of the pole vault for us and pushes us so that we may succeed. He is there for every practice and meet to help us deal with the physical trials and mental frustrations.”

A former San Diego, Calif. high school and college pole vaulter himself, Bill draws inspiration from what he sees as his own unrealized athletic potential. Despite a number–one high school ranking in his county, Bill considers informed coaching as the missing key to fulfillment of his vaulting destiny. As a result, Bill makes sure that young vaulters in his community get the best coaching he can provide, and it has paid off, enabling him to send a college athlete to the state meet five out of the last six years.

Bill’s love of coaching has brought him to form the Marauder Vault and Track Club, and has extended into the world of soccer, as well. Where others do little or nothing because they “have no time,” Bill even finds the time to coach the girls junior varsity soccer team for Lancaster High School.

On Track CEO Ron Morris sums it up: “Bill is exactly the sort of person we seek to encourage in his efforts with the Jeff Truman Memorial Pole Vault Summit–ship, and we are honored to host him at the 2007 Summit in Reno, Nevada. We take particular pleasure in knowing that he’s the kind of coach Jeff Truman would have picked for the Summit–ship himself.”

Learn more about the Pole Vault Summit and On Track’s Jeff Truman Memorial Pole Vault Summit–ship program. Nomination for the 2008 award will open June 1, 2007.