Coaches

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Calabasas Track Club Inc.
2010 Board of Directors and Coaches

Andy Coradeschi-Team President and Midgets Division Head Coach
I started running as a freshman in high school and competed in sprints, sprint relays and the pole vault. I continue running today and often compete in local 5K & 10K road races. I ran my one marathon in 3:42. My goal with the Cheetahs is to have as many as possible come away from the season with a love of running and exercise that will last them a lifetime.  Email me at acorad@earthlink.net

Reed Vertelney-Vice President and Distance Division Head Coach
I have been running since I was 16. I have run in events from 100 m to half marathons. My personal preference is distance running. I try to run 5 to 6 days a week for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I write music and produce records. My credits include Luther Van dross(10 records), Destiny's Child, Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, 98 degrees, Clay Aiken, Numerous American Idol finalists, and go as far back as Smoky Robinson and Gladys Knight . I have written songs for more than 100 records and have been nominated for 2 Grammy awards in the Best R&B song category. I have a bachelor’s degree in Geology from UCLA but upon graduation I attended the Berkley College of Music in Boston. I have been playing music my whole life it seems and have my own recording studio which is where I work from. My wife Eva and I have two children, Jacob and Benjamin age. Both are Cheetahs! It is my goal while coaching to have the runners learn as much about track and field as possible while providing a positive environment where they can succeed. It is also my hope that they will love running so much that they become lifelong runners. My phone is (818) 591- 9065

Emy Fong-Chief Finance Officer
I am an Industrial and Management Engineer by education and was an Operations Manager in my previous occupation. For several years now, I have chosen to be a homemaker. I believe in helping young people reach their best potential so I volunteer in organizations that help children. My older kids are in college at the University of California in Berkeley, while my youngest is an avid runner with the Cheetahs. He has qualified to run at several championship events including an AAU Cross Country Championship Meet in Virginia. Aside from keeping the Cheetah books and records organized, my husband and I also help during practice and track meets.

Corinne Zemliak-Secretary
I currently work at Kaiser Permanente and have two boys who are both Cheetahs. We have been with the team for 4 years and we love it. I enjoy volunteering and helping whenever my busy schedule allows. My oldest boy, Zachary, has run at the Nationals and just this year, discovered a talent for hurdles.

Daniel Barry- Board Member and Head Coach- Youth Division & Hurdles
I am over 50 years old and have been running track since I was 14, specializing in the 800 meters and 1500 meters with times of 1:50.1 and 3:50.4. I've run events from 100 meters to the marathon and competed in triathlons. I attended UC Berkeley on a track scholarship. I have a Masters degree in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics from University of Oregon. My interest in sports medicine led me to podiatry.  I completed my residency and fellowship working with diabetic foot patients at the Joslin Clinic and Deaconess Hospital in Boston part of Harvard University Medical School. I currently work as a foot surgeon in Arcadia. My wife Nancy Finkelstein, an artist, and I have three children Olivia, Isabel, and Alex. They are all cheetahs! You can reach me at 818-224-3857.

Carolyn Coradeschi- Member at large, Bantam Division Head Coach
My love for running began in Massachusetts in 1976 as a 7th grader when I joined my high school cross country team. We won the state championship that year and I was hooked. I ran cross country, winter and spring track (the mile and the 2 mile) and competed in summer track events every year from middle school through high school. In college at the University of Massachusetts I participated in local road races. When I moved to Los Angeles I joined a local track club and ran 5Ks and raced in 7 marathons including qualifying and running Boston in 1997. I run 6 to 7 days a week on trails and compete in local 5Ks. I work full time in medical sales. My sons Cole and Cooper are both Cheetahs. My husband Andy and I are both loving coaching youth track and look forward to the day when our boys are old enough so that we can run together again! ccorades@yahoo.com

Kathleen Whitehead- Member at large, Gremlin Division Coach
I started running track when I was 11 years old. I have done 5K, 10K, and 3 marathons. I have 2 children both on the Cheetahs, my son Quinton and daughter Casey. I have been coaching for the Cheetahs for the last four years and other teams and sports before that. I am currently waiting tables at a local restaurant while working on my Master's Degree in Political Science at CSUN. My goal for coaching is to help children develop a desire to keep with track and or cross country and to help them better themselves. Most importantly I want them to have fun and walk away from a season with a sense of accomplishment and pride in what they have done because if they put out effort I will be there biggest cheerleader and they will have improved!! You can contact me at 818-577-5015.

David Simon- Member at large, Website Manager
I'm over 50 and started running at age 17.  I've been doing 15 miles a day every day since then and have run the L.A. marathon 10 times (best time 3:20, worst time 4:30).  I write computer software and run the Cheetahs web site.  I have a wife (Robin) and two girls Carly and Phoebe; both were Cheetahs, and a dog, who runs with me every day. You can contact me at 818-991-4121 or davidbsimon@hotmail.com

John Pedati- Member at large, High Jump Coach
I attended Georgetown University on a full Track Scholarship. While attending Georgetown, I was a National Champion and All-American. My college 2-mile relay team posted the 4th fastest time in the world my senior year. I have run everything from the 400m to 10Ks. I am also an experienced High Jumper and Long Jumper. I have been coached by some of the greatest coaches in Track and Field and as a Cheetahs Coach, I look forward to helping our young athletes reach their potential. I have 3 children, Cooper (16), Julia (13) and Spencer (10). Julia and Spencer are currently Cheetahs and really love running and jumping and the Cheetah's Team Spirit. I have worked for Nike for 22 years and share the common goal of helping athletes reach their potential. You can reach me at john.pedati@nike.com and my cell phone. 310-699-4136. Please inquire about private HJ lessons. Thanks and have a GREAT 2011 Season. Go Cheetah's!

Gregory J. Smith – Member at large, High Jump Coach
Gregory attended Bolles High School in Jacksonville, Florida. During his tenure at Bolles he played basketball and was among a group of three individuals on the basketball team who excelled at jumping/dunking (one of those individuals, Dee Brown, went on to play for the Boston Celtics and won the NBA slam dunk championship in his rookie year). Greg was approached by the Bolles Track coach during his junior year and asked if he ever tried high jumping. He gave it a try and two weeks later he ended up finishing second in the Florida State Track and Field Championships. His senior year, Greg went on to win the Florida State T&F Championship with a jump of 6’-8 1/2” (to this day, still the Bolles High School record). Gregory received a track scholarship to the University of Florida where he competed and won several meets eventually hitting a personal record of 7’-0”.
 

Rick Bowen – Member at large, Shot Put Coach
I have been involved in athletics my whole life. For as long as I can remember I played sports. Football, Baseball, Basketball, Swimming, etc., whatever was in season, I was on a team. This continued all through High School. When I became a parent, I passed this love of sports on to my kids. I work for Dell as a Field Support Technician in Woodland Hills. I have participated in a couple of triathlons and local 5Ks. I am trying hard to learn as much about Shot Put as possible so that I can teach your kids as much as possible. I want the Cheetahs to continue to have a well respected Shot Put program. You can contact me at 818-591-7856

Susan Taylor- Kaurloto- Member at large, Long Jump Coach
A native Californian from Ventura County, I began running cross-country when I was 14 and participated in numerous team and individual sports.  While there were many important life-lessons learned, what impacted me the most were those things taught to me by my coaches, lessons that didn’t necessarily focus on improving, time, scores, goals, hits and runs.  Moreover, how impactful positive thinking can be and how positive reinforcement, praise and belief in one another can lead to amazing results not only athletically but personally.  As an IT executive for over 20 years, I established early in my personal life to take every opportunity to give back - and pay forward those positive coaching experiences.   I’ve always found a way to spend my spare time being altruistic, serving the community and sponsoring causes.  I’ve volunteered in many different capacities for numerous organizations and schools.  I’ve spent the past 4 years coaching track, 3 of those years in Camarillo, CA.   I have experience in both personal training and exercise instruction.  I still get out running 5 and 10K’s in different communities.  I love the Trojans, Lakers and professional boxing.  Of my sons participate in track, Colin (14) will enjoy his last year at the intermediate club-level with the Cheetahs and Connor (11) will also be a Cheetah running with the midgets.  You’ll often see my husband Russell alongside me helping with whatever needs to be done.   My goal is to mentor, guide and encourage young people in track and field.   I strive to positively influence our young children and create a positive experience in the life of a child.


High School Volunteers
The club is proud to have several high school students, who are mostly former Cheetahs themselves, helping in various capacities.

Clayton Graham
Since joining at the start of the Calabasas Cheetahs organization, I have been running for 5 years. I specialize in events from the quarter-mile up the 2-Mile. My PR's include a 1:59.6 800 and a 4:30 1600, both school records set while a sophomore at Calabasas High School. Currently in high school, I have received all-county and all-league honors for both Cross-Country and Track. I have medaled 3 times at the Mt. SAC Cross-Country Invite, my highest being a fourth place finish in the varsity boy’s division 2 race. I have been a varsity athlete for Calabasas High School since entering as a freshman in 2004. During my time in Cheetahs, I set records of which the 4x400 for which I anchored, still stands and the 1500 meter record as well.  I'm currently training under American 800 Meter Record holder Johnny Gray.  In my free time I enjoy performing music and watching sports.
 

Emily Graham
I have been running on the varsity track team at CHS with my twin brother Clayton since I was a freshman. I won freshmen athlete of the year during my first year in high school as a cross country runner on the varsity team and I am currently the fastest female hurdler at CHS. I specialize in the 100 m and 300 m. I also run the 800m and 400m. I am also the News Editor for my school paper and in my free time, I attend ballet classes. I hope to attend college back east. I love to run and my goal by the end of the season is to help the Gremlins love running as much as I do.
 

Jordan Bricker
I am a senior on the Calabasas High School Track Team. I have been running since I was six. I was on the 2002 bantam Cross-Country National AAU team that brought home the gold medal in Ames, Iowa. I ran with the Calabasas Cheetahs in 2003. In 2005 I won the Sub-Youth gold medal for the 3000 meter race at the AAU Club National Championships in Florida.  I look forward to helping the Cheetahs to achieve their goals in distance running.