Who is Coach Bird

Coach Bird is a family first person who has been married to his bride for 28 plus years. Coach has three children Seth, Sam and Sarah. Coach was an Army veteran with 18 years of service, mostly in the Indiana National Guard retiring as a First Sergeant. Coach also spent a number of years working in the Healthcare industry and hospitals, leaving Biomet to help his wife in her business Running Around Screen Printing.

History of Team Bird

Team Bird has been around for about 12 years starting as my son’s Sam middle school team and progressing into what today we call Team Bird 2. The name of Team Bird was coined while at the Huntington HUFF course as we disembarked the family Yukon XL and Mitch Harper/Ty Murphy remarked “hey there is Team Bird” the name stuck with are small middle school of runners. Our first official meet was the middle school state championships then held at Southwestern Parkway in south west Indianapolis at the park. We were made up as 5 Indian Springs and 2 DeKalb runners at that time they allow some mix teams for participation. We were pretty bad that first year and quickly understood the time needed to compete. Later we entered our first USATF meet held atIndianaUniversity on a very cold snowy day. At that point Team Bird gain momentum growing year to year, even starting the Elementary Championships as a means to recruit or as feeder to the Team Bird Club. At one point over 90 runners were members of the club covering every age division. One of our clubs highlight was our Intermediate age group in 2005 where Bobby Moldovan was the National Champion, and for many years after was the “poster runner of USATF youth web site” the famous foot in the water hole.

Since those early years many stories and friendships have come about, from members of the Team Bird Club. We now have many married alumni, countless post collegiate runners and still have those who run at collegiate today. My face book has alumni section that we encourage past and current runners, parents and coaches to join.

Some names you might remember as Indiana distance runners include: Bobby Moldovan, Sam Bird, Waverly Neer, Alec Banfich, James Martin, Brad Hess, Matt McClain, Kodi Mullins to name just a few.

Coaches Credentials

• Bachelor Degree Business, Associate Degree Management, Certified Purchasing Manager
• USATF Level 1 and 2 Coaching Certifications Specializing in YOUTH
• AAU double gold Coaching Certification
• Certified High School Strength & Conditioning Coach
• IHSAA Coaching Certification (including First Aide)
• Member IATCCC
• IHSAA Track finalist 1975 2 mile run.
• 50 mile & 100 mile ultra marathoner
• 43 career marathons (Boston,Chicago,New York)
• Director of Veterans Marathon, & several local events, including the Elementary Championship.