Head Men's & Women's Cross Country Coach, Head Men's & Women's Track & Field Coach | March 11, 2016 - Present
Zach Whitkanack was hired as the Head Men's & Women's Cross Country Coach on Friday, March 11, 2016.
Two years later, he was hired as the Head Men's & Women's Track and Field Coach on Tuesday, May 8, 2018.
In 2016, Whitkanack helped establish the MXC program as he signed his first recruit on Friday, August 19, 2016. At the end of the 2016-17 season, he had seven student-athletes committed to SMWC and ready to run.
Whitkanack began as the leader of the WXC program as well, where he signed his first recruit on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
At his first USCAA Nationals, the WXC team finished in 9th place.
At the beginning of the 2017 season, SMWC was in full-fledged competition. The Pomeroys would go on finishing in fourth-place at the USCAA National Championships in Virginia Beach, Va.
In 2017, the Pomeroys had high hopes for a tremendous year, and they delivered. On Saturday, November 10, they seized a third-place spot in Virginia Beach, Va., at the USCAA National Championships.
In 2018, the MXC and WXC team won the Run With The Lions Invitational on Friday, September 21st, 2018. These were the program's first-ever team victories.
In 2018, the WXC returned to the national stage with its best finished beneath Whitkanack's guidance. They finished as USCAA National Champion Runners-Up. The Woods had three student-athletes finish as All-Americans while Kayla Corya finished as USCAA Individual National Champion Runner-Up. In large, Zach has coached 11 USCAA National All-Academic Team Members and six USCAA All-Americans.
In 2018, his men's and women's track & field recruiting efforts began as well. The men's track and field team will kick off their official season in 2020. Nevertheless, Whitkanack got started with recruiting very quickly.
Whitkanack is no stranger to beginning programs as he oversaw the development of the men's cross country team at SMWC. In only two years, he turned the MXC team into a USCAA national championship contender with both a third and fourth-place finish in Virginia Beach, VA, at Nationals.
Whitkanack was named USCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year at the end of the year awards banquet. His team went on to finish in third place in the 2018 USCAA National Championships.
In 2019, Zach led the women's cross country team to a USCAA National Championship year, winning his first National Title as a head coach at the intercollegiate level.
Whitkanack was named USCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year at the end of the year awards banquet. His team went on to finish in third place in the 2018 USCAA National Championships.
Due to COVID-19, the men's and women's track & field teams have been unable to complete an entire season.
Professional Experience
Whitkanack comes to SMWC after having served as the Shakamak High School varsity boys' head cross country coach since 2010. He also coached varsity girls' track and field at Shakamak from 2009-2012. While heading the boys' program at Shakamak, he coached the Lakers to three Southwestern Indiana Conference Championships, claimed five invitational titles, and had three regional qualifying teams. He also advanced three student-athletes to IHSAA Semi-State and two student-athletes to the IHSAA State Finals. With the girls' track and field team, he advanced nine student-athletes to IHSAA Regionals and two student-athletes to the IHSAA State Finals.
Prior to his time at Shakamak, Whitkanack took the West Vigo High School boys' cross country team from last place in the Western Indiana Conference to third place. He was with the Vikings from 2002-2004.
Zach received his B.S from Indiana State University in 2004. He graduated from West Vigo High School where his 4x800M relay team holds the school record for the fastest event time (8:06.02).
Personal
He currently resides in Shelburn, Indiana, with his wife Jessica and two children.
