RCTC Coaching Staff
The Rancho Cordova Track Club has a very high standard that is expected from our coaches. We encourage our coaches to attend USATF Level I Certification and adhere to tenants of the Positive Coaching Alliance. We follow the USATF Safesport Handbook, and all coaches are Safesport cleared, with background checks and training. Our coaching staff is large with many experiences - from Olympic talent to youthful enthusiasm. Our coaching philosophy is science informed, coach focused and athlete centered.
Our Team
Head Coach: Jay Devlin
Jay has been the coach of RC Track Club for three years. Before this he served as the Athletic Director at St. John Vianney for three years and coached their Track & Field for eight. Delvin has earned a Bachelor's in Business Management and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA). He also served in the US Army as an Infantry Rifle Team Leader and was honorably discharged.
Jay has coached many winning, record-breaking teams which include Cross Country, Basketball, Flag-Football, Lacrosse and Soccer. It brings deep joy for him to help young athletes meet and exceed their goals and expectations. His coaching certifications include USATF Level I, Lifetime Play Like a Champion (all sports), NCJLA Level I (Lacrosse), First Aid, CPR, Blood Borne Pathogen, Heads-up Concussion and Combat Lifesaver Course.
Throws Head Coach: David Sander Ph.D.
David is a 20+ year resident of Rancho Cordova, a scientist, community leader, father, husband and youth coach. His education is in science, and has earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology with research in Virology. He enjoys helping our youth achieve in athletics to prepare them for life and enhance their academic and life success. David has coached youth athletes for over a decade, some all the way to the Junior Olympics, All-American Status and D1 collegiate athletics.
Dr. Sander has coached elementary, middle school and high school athletes. Currently he is an Assistant Track Coach at Jesuit High School, St. Francis High School, and at St. John Vianney School. He has also earned Level 2 Throws Coach Certification with USA Track and Field (USATF), is a certified usatf official, has extensive training with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), Play Like a Champion, and the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS).
Throws Coach: Alex Knudsen, M.S.
Alex attended Delta College and California State University Stanislaus, where he competed in hammer throw. While competing at the Junior College level, Knudesen was All-State. He went on to earn a Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania.
Alex is the Assistant Track and Field Coach (Throws) at Delta College and an Instructor. He is a USATF Level 2 Throws Coach, a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) Strength and Conditioning Coach & Throws specialist, and a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Performance Enhancement Specialist.
Throws Coach: Andy Bloom
Andy Bloom represented the United States in the 2000 Olympic Games in the shot put, finishing in 4th place. He also represented the USA in the 1997 (discus), 1999 (shot put and discus), and 2001 (discus) World Championships. He was the 1999 and 2000 USA Indoor Champion in the shot put and won the 1996 titles in the shot put and discus. Bloom's highest world ranking was 2nd in the world in the shot put in 2000. With lifetime PRs of 21.82 (71’7 ¾”) and 68.46 (224’ 7”) he ranks among the farthest combined shot put and discus throwers ever.
Andy is currently teaches math and is a track coach at Dixon high School. He has coached track at the college level and was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at UC Davis, in Davis CA from 2001 to 2008.
Throws Coach: Henry Sharoyan
Henry attended Sacramento City Junior College where he was a shotput, discus, and hammer athlete. He was named a Junior college All-American in shotput.
He is currently the throws coach at Ponderosa High School as well as the Rancho Cordova Track Club.
Sprints Advisor: Anthony "AD" Davis
Anthony "AD" Davis is the current head track coach at Cordova High School's (CHS). AD grew up in Rancho Cordova and graduated from CHS where he participated in football and track & field alum. He is a graduate from Fresno State and since 2015, has been at least an assistant football & track coach at Cordova High School.
In addition to his service at the High School level, AD is part of the Jr. Lancers coaching staff. AD is known for having an enthusiastic and strong work ethic, that inspires students to achieve success on the track and in the classroom.
Throws Coach: Travis Johnson
Bio: Coach Johnson competed in the shot put and discus at Elk Grove High School and Sacramento City College before playing offensive line at Sacramento State. He is currently the shot put coach at Miwok Oaks Middle school. He believes athletics are a key part of building community and is committed to supporting our young athletes as they work to reach their full potential.
Throws Coach: John Badovinac
John Badovinac is a throws coach at Sacramento City College, St. Francis High School, Jesuit High School, and has extensive experience as an athlete. Badovinac graduated from Jesuit High School and attended UC Berkeley and competed for the Bears. He was the Junior National Champion in the Hammer Throw in 1998, which earned him a spot on the USA Junior World Championships team. John holds a Level 2 certification from USATF and a certification from USA Weightlifting.
Middle Distance Coach: Ian Searcy
Hurdles, Sprints & Multis Coach: Nancy Searcy
Nancy graduated from Palatine High School in 2002 and went on to college at Central Michigan University (CMU) where she competed as a heptathlete. After two years at CMU, she transferred to California State University Sacramento and had the fortune of competing next to some of the best athletes in track and field. nancy was an NCAA qualifier in the 100m hurdles and placed 19th. She also competed for two seasons with the Puerto Rican National Team.
Mrs. Searcy stopped competing after missing the mark to qualify for the Puerto Rican Olympic team. She next pursued a career in teaching and has been an assistant at Sac State.
Youth Throws Coach: Isabella Popejoy
Isabella Popejoy is a throwing phenom at Delta College, where she has set records and won many meets - recently placing First in the Big 8 Conference Championship with a hammer throw of 49.99m. She is moving on to UC Berkeley next season. Our youth get the benefit of her extensive Track and Field experience, as Izzy practically grew up on the track!
Additional Coaches
Assistant Head Coach (Track and Field)
Adam Mahoney
Charleton Mahoney
Youth Throws Coach
Dana Greer
Sprints & Long Jump Coach
Devin Greer
Youth High Jump, Turbo Jam Coach
Gabriella Devlin
Youth Long Jump Coach
Tristan Wolf
Alyssa Nguyen
