Press Release

1/16/2018

Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees

The Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association will be inducting three new members into their Hall
of Fame on Friday January 19 at the Washington State Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Convention in
Tacoma this weekend. The Cross Country Inductions will be held from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Hotel Murano in
Tacoma.

This year’s inductees include:

Phil English, Eisenhower H.S.

Phil grew up outside a small village in Cullen, County Tipperary, Ireland and graduated from Tipperary
Vocational School in 1973. He started running when he was about 13-years old when a club was started in the local
parish. Phil had some success right away, and went on to represent Ireland in international competition at schools,
junior and senior level in both track and cross country over the next few years. In 1974, Phil was the Irish National
Senior Champion in the 3,000m Steeplechase.
Phil attended Washington State University on an athletic scholarship from 1973-1977competing in both cross
country and track and field for the Cougars. The team placed in the top-four at the NCAA’s all four years. He
graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1977 and also earned a Master of Science degree in
Physical Education from WSU in 1979. He has been married to his wife Darcy for 39 years, and has a daughter Liza and
son Michael (along with four grandchildren).
Since 1986 Phil has been teaching and coaching (cross country and track & field) at Eisenhower H.S. in Yakima.
He teaches Honors Biology and a college level course in Anatomy and Physiology. Prior to teaching and coaching at
Eisenhower, Phil taught and coached at Carroll H.S. in Yakima from 1979-1986. Carroll H.S. closed permanently in
1986.
Phil never intended to actually get into coaching. His interests were in teaching and research. However, when
he started teaching at Carroll in 1979, the head coaching positions were open in both track and cross country.
Teaching and coaching were both part of the same package at the small Catholic school in Yakima. At the time, he was
training for the 1980 Irish Olympic Trials in the marathon.
Phil has had a great deal of success in his career. Among his most notable achievements, he is most proud of
helping many individuals achieve a college education by attaining college scholarships in cross country/track & field.
In addition to that, increasing the status of cross country in the state through the Clear Lake/White Pass Cross
Country Camps and Clinics and forming the weekly seasonal Coaches Polls (started in the early 1990’s) have been
rewarding.
Coaching Honors
League Titles- Girls (21) Boys (21)
District Titles-Girls (21) Boys (22)
State Appearances-Girls (31) Boys (21)
State XC Trophies-Girls (13) Boys (12)
State Titles-Girls (82, 83, 84, 89, 94, 99, 00, 2010) Boys (85, 87 & 2010)
State Track Team Title- Girls (1999) State Track Runner-Up (2000).
Individual Champions-Kathy Rouleau (82), Kris Vickers (83), Robert Price (83, 84, 85), Robin Bryson (1988) and Aleah
Thome (1994)
Nike Team Nationals-9th Place Boys team (2004)
Washington State Girls ‘Coach of the Year’-1994& 2001 Monday Morning Quarterbacks, Female Team-‘Coach of the
Year’ 1999, 2000 NFHS National Girls ‘Coach of the Year’-2001Yakima Sports Awards ‘Coach of the Year’-2010 & 11,
NFHS Northwest Sectional Boys ‘Coach of the Year’-2011

Erica Hill, Mercer Island H.S.

Erica was born in Indiana but attended Seattle Prep H.S. where she graduated in 2001. While at Seattle Prep, she
participated in cross country, track, soccer, and basketball. She came from an athletic family including her father who
was a quarterback at Dartmouth and was drafted by the Jets.
After high school, Erica attended Seattle Pacific University and the University of Washington. While at Seattle
Pacific, she ran cross country and track for two years. Erica graduated from the University of Washington in 1996.
Eric was a high school English teacher, and started her coaching career at Seattle University as an assistant
before moving on to coach at Mercer Island in 1996. Erica recently left the coaching field, and is now an assistant
principal at Ingelmoor High School.
Erica is married to John Hill, an outstanding cross country and track coach in his own right. Together they have
two daughters, Zia, and Kalea.
Erica’s proudest achievement was the number of athletes who were on her teams. When she started there
were 35-40 athletes and throughout her 20-year career those numbers rose consistently to 110-130 athletes, a
number of whom went on to become coaches themselves. Not only did Erica have large teams, but her teams were
quite successful in the intensely competitive Kingco League and at State.

Coaching Honors
League Titles-Girls-3, Boys 2
State Cross County Champions– Girls 2008
State Qualifying Teams-14 (Boys & Girls Combined)
State Cross Country Academic Champions-Four times
Brooks Inspiring Coaches Finalist
Top Individuals-Brian Gouvier 1st (2004), Lindsey Benster 3rd (2008)

Mark Anderson, Chelan H.S.

Mark grew up in Cashmere and attended Cashmere H.S., graduating in 1975. He was both a track and cross
country athlete in school although he did not come from an athletic family. After high school, Mark attended
Eastern Washington University graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While at Eastern, he
continued his running career as a varsity athlete in both cross country and track. Mark also earned his Master’s
Degree at Gonzaga University. He is currently attending the University of Idaho as well.
Mark is currently a teacher in both Chemistry and Biology at Chelan High School where he has been for
37-years. He has coached cross country for 32-years and track and field for 34-years. It has been his fascination
with the science of the sport that has been a compelling reason for his involvement.
Mark is married to Rena Rex and they have two sons, Torri and Chase. Mark had the opportunity to
coach his two sons Torri and Chase Anderson in both cross country and track, which has been his most
rewarding memory.

Coaching Honors
League titles: approx. 16
Team state titles: 88,89,90,97 girls, 97 boys
Individual champions: Hector Rodriquez 1994 and Micheal Dols 2003
Washington State Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1989, 1997, 1998
Washington State Track and Field Coach of the Year 1995.
Washington State Track & Field Champions 1995, 1996, 1998
In addition to inducting these three coaches into the Hall of Fame, this year’s ‘Coaches of the Year’
for each classification will be honored.

The honorees for 2017 are:

4A
Boys-Mike Lee-Lewis & Clark
Girls-Kevin Swaim-Lewis & Clark
3A
Boys-Matt Rexus-Kamiakin
Girls-Kelly Harmon-NC
2A
Girls-John Moir West Valley Spokane
Boys-Kevin Ryan-Sehome
1A-
Girls-Dean Fisher-Colville
Boys-Gene Blankenship-Medical Lake
B
Girls- Eric Brooks-Liberty Bell
Boys-Mike Michael-NW Christian