Track and Field Coaches' Profiles

Mike Orechia

Director of Cross Country, Head Track & Field Coach

Mike Orechia became the Director of Cross Country/Track & Field at the University of Puget Sound in 1997. Orechia had spent the previous ten years as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at the University of Chicago where he led his Women's Cross Country team to the UAA Championships in 1992 & 1993, earning himself the Coaching Staff of the Year award and the Indoor Coaching Staff of the Year award. It was through his leadership that the women's team qualified for the first time in the schools history to compete in a NCAA championship where they placed fourteenth in 1993. During his time at the University of Chicago, Orechia coached ten All-Americans.

His other coaching experience includes coaching Stella Edwinson who participated in the 1984 Olympic trials in the 400m hurdles, Assistant Track & Field/ Cross Country coach at San Francisco State University (1983-1987), and Head Girls Track Coach at Danvers High School (1979-1981). While coaching at Danvers High School in 1979, his team won the Class B Championship, as well as the All-State Championship and the New England championship.

Since joining the Logger staff, Orechia has been selected Men's USTCA Indoor Track West Region Coach of the Year 2004, Men's XC Coach of the Year in 2002 and Women's XC Coach of the Year in 2001, coached three Men's NWC XC Championship teams and three Women's NWC XC Championship teams, and led the Women's Track & Field team to a 9th place NAIA finish in 1998 and a 5th place finish in 1999. As a Logger, he has also helped produce four National Champions (2 XC, 2 track), 19 track All-Americans, 10 XC All-Americans, 23 Individual XC Academic All-Americans, 16 XC Team Academic All-Americans, 18 Individual track Academic All-Americans, and 15 track team Academic All-Americans.

Orechia earned his B.S. degree in Education from Springfield College in 1978 and his M.A. degree in Education from San Francisco State University in 1985.

Orechia and his wife, Stella, live in Bothell, Washington with their two sons, Christopher, 17 and Ryne, 15.

Ed Boitano

Pole Vault

Ed Boitano is in his tenth year at Puget Sound as the pole vault coach, continuing a tradition of strong performances in the event from Puget Sound student-athletes. Ed has coached 1998 national champion Amy Wells, a three time All-American, and three time All-American Katie Heaton. Ed has produced 12 All-Northwest Conference pole vault performers druing his tenure at Puget Sound.

Gary Carew

Sprinters and Hurdlers

Coach Carew's extensive background in the sprinting events adds a tremendous dimension to the Puget Sound track program. Originally from the Country of Trinidad, Gary was a member of his county's 440 yard relay in the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal. While competing for Spokane Community College, Gary set the United States Two-Year College 100 yard National Record. He finished his collegiate career at the University of Oregon. His responsibilities will include all sprinting events, hurdles, and relays. Gary will enters his second season at Puget Sound after sixteen years of coaching track at PLU. Gary has coached over twenty student-athletes who have been recognized as All-Americans.

Bryan Chee

Multi-Event Throws

Bryan begins his third year working with the javelin throwers at Puget Sound. Bryan is a former javelin throwers at UC Davis, from were he graduated with a BA in 1992. Bryan continued his education at Seattle University, receiving his MA in 1997.

Ben Kevan

400-800m

Ben is in his third year coaching the 400-800m runners at Puget Sound. A consistent scorer at the conference meet and a member of the school record distance medley relay team. Ben graduated for the University of Puget Sound in 2003 with a degree in Exercise Science.

Ben Lieurance

High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump

Ben is in his fifth year coaching at UPS. He will coach the high jump, long jump and triple jump this year. Before coaching at UPS Ben coached at Pennisula High School for 18 years. His teams were consistently challenging for the conference title. Ben is a 1974 graduate of Puget Sound.

Jerry Russell

Discus, Hammer, and Shot Put

Jerry Russell is in his second year with Puget Sound. A fourteen year career at PLU followed Russell's highly successful High School and Community College coaching assignments. His coaching responsibilities and expertise will be maximized as he guides the training for the throwing events listed above. Jerry adds over thirty years of coaching experience to our program, having produced over 40 All-Americans during his coaching tenure. He is retired from the Franklin Pierce School District and now is a faculty member at Life Christian Academy. Coach Russell is also very involved with the promotion of Track and Field Coaching Clinics throughout the Northwest.

Larry Scheurer

Sprints Assistant

Larry Scheurer is entering his second year as assistant sprint coach at Puget Sound.

Jeff Bare

Javelin

Jeff Bare is in his second year at Puget Sound as the javelin coach.

Laura Turner

Distance Assistant

Laura is in her first season as an assistant at Puget Sound. Laura is a 2005 graduate of Brigham Young University in Orum,Utah. While at BYU she was a four-time cross country All-American, a member of the 1999 and 2002 NCAA Chamnpionships teams for cross country, and a four time track All-American. She was a member of the USA world cross country team that competed in St. Etienne, France this past March. Recently she won the Sound of Narrows 12K and broke the course record, won the Seafair Torchlight run and placed four in the USA 20k to earn a spot on the USA team to compete against Canada in early October.Ê