Coaching Staff
Coaching Staff
Artie Gilkes
Head Coach - Jumps
asg17@scasd.org
Artie began coaching State College jumpers in 2014. As a coach of professional athletes, Artie has guided both male and female Track & Field athletes to top 4 finishes at USATF Championships. He has coached multiple athletes to qualify and compete at the US Olympic Trials. Most notably, guiding Rebecca Donaghue to many top 5 USATF National Championship finishes and IAAF World Championship qualification. Under Artie’s guidance, Rebecca qualified for the IAAF World Champs, won a national title, finished in the top five in multiple USATF Championships, competed professionally on the European Track Circuit and qualified for and competed in three different US Olympic Trials events. Artie coached Ryan Sheehan to a fourth place finish at the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Champs and many other top National finishes including qualifying for the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials. Artie was Volunteer Assistant Coach at Penn State, first under his old mentor Harry Groves, then under Beth Alford-Sullivan, whose teams won 7 Big Ten Titles. As the jumps coach at State College, Artie has produced both boy and girl All-State performers, State Medalists, State Champions, All-Americans, school record holders and nationally ranked athletes.
Chris Cipro
Associate Head Coach - Distance
Coach Cipro has been coaching the boys distance squad since 2017. Coach Cipro began his coaching career at Bellefonte Highschool 2012. Coach Cipro has proven to be one of the finest Track & Field Coaches in Pennsylvania and the nation. He brings a wealth of experience both as an athlete and Coach. As an Athlete he was a multiple-time Captain for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He represented the Nittany Lions at the NCAA Championships both in Cross Country and Track & Field. Coach Cipro brings a total team mentality to every aspect of his coaching.
Jayson Jackson
Asistant Coach - Lead Sprints & Hurdles
Chris Avvampato
Assistant Coach - Throws
cja@scasd.org
Coach Avvampato joins the staff in 2019 as the throws coach. Coach Avvampato has been a thrower since eighth grade. He threw the shot put and discus all four years of high school, as well as javelin until his junior year. He then went on to throw shot out, discus, hammer and weight throw at CalU. He earned a scholarship and gained valuable experience with not only throwing but coaching as well. He broke multiple records in the weight throw and hammer throw for CalU. He still holds school records in those events. He was a national qualifier for NCAA DII in the weight throw, as well as a member of the Capital One Academic All-District Team. Coach Avvampato coached high school Track & Field, football and he was a strength & conditioning coach for two years prior to coming to State College. He is currently a Technology Education Teacher at State High. Coach Avvampato looks enthusiastically forward to being successful in both teaching and coaching at State High.
Lindsay Sowash
Assistant Coach - Pole Vault
Cody Love
Assistant Coach - Hurdles & Sprints
Nick Kello
Assistant Coach Emeritus - Distance
Coach Kello is a former outstanding SCAHS and PSU track and field athlete. Coach Kello ran for two legendary Hall of Fame Coaches in Track & Field, Jackson Horner at State College and Harry R. Groves at PSU. He brings immense knowledge and experience of track & Field to the program. Coach Kello also brings a wealth of leadership, knowledge of transferable skills and an immense capacity for the application of those transferable skills to other walks of life. Coach Kello's vocational experiences have taken him around the world. Coach Kello has been instrumental in helping bring about the SCTF Total Team effort mentality. Coach Kello lives with his family in State College. For its role in winter training regimens, their street has come to be affectionately and deliberately known as "Champion's Alley."
Raechel Spencer
Volunteer Assistant Coach - Jumps/Hurdles/Sprints