University of the Southwest Men's Track

Kavalunas saw one of his throwers - Frankie Martinez - take eighth place in the hammer at the NAIA Championships and earn All-American honors in USW's first season back fielding a team (it was also the first season the Mustangs had a cross country team). Kavalunas comes to USW after serving as the head coach for men's cross country and as the associate head coach for men's track and field at Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan. Under his leadership, the men's cross country team earned national recognition for their achievements on the field as well as in the classroom. While setting 10 school records during his tenure, the men's cross country program was ranked third in the nation as a 2014 USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team with the men's track & field team featuring a 2014 NCAA Indoor Championship Qualifier in the 800 meters. Other highlights included a 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championship Qualifier in the 400 meters with his squads earning 2012-14 USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country and Track and Field team honors. Prior to his service at Olivet College, Kavalunas served 13 years as the director of men's and women's cross country and track and field at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. While at Ferris State, Kavalunas's track and field program was a consistent presence on the national stage. All told, Ferris State cross country and track and field featured 24 All-Americans, 48 NCAA National Championship qualifiers, and 64 GLIAC conference champions while setting 37 school records. In addition, women's cross country boasted three All-Americans during his tenure. During his stay at Ferris State, Kavalunas was chosen as the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999 for women's track and field and was selected as GLIAC Coach of Year in 2004 and 2007 for women's cross country. His teams featured student-athletes that successfully competed at the highest level as the program produced a 2004 USA Olympic Trials qualifier in the women's 800 meters, a 2008 NCAA Indoor National Champion in the women's long jump, a 2007 NCAA National Outdoor Championship runner-up in the women's 1,500 and a 2002 NCAA National Indoor Championship runner-up in the women's 800 meters. Yet another highlight was the women's cross country team's accomplishment of claiming the 2004 Michigan Collegiate Cross Country Championship. Widely respected by his peers in the track & field/cross country coaching profession, Kavalunas has served on several U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association committees, including having been selected as the president of the U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association NCAA Division II for the 2007-08 term. Kavalunas began his NCAA intercollegiate head coaching career as the head coach for men's and women's cross country and track & field at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, where he served for five years. Under his watch the Northwood University cross country and track and field teams experienced outstanding performances from their student-athletes as the programs produced two All-Americans, 15 NCAA National Championship qualifiers and set six school records. The track & field program also featured the 1993 NCAA Indoor National Champion in the men's long jump. Before serving at Northwood University, Kavalunas held the position of assistant coach for men's cross country and track and field at NCAA Division I Central Michigan University. During his stay, the Chippewa program earned the 1989 NCAA Great Lakes Region Cross Country Team Championship and produced 1988 and 1989 NCAA National Cross Country Championship team qualifiers as well as three All Mid-American Conference 800 Meter Runners. Kavalunas earned his Master of Arts Degree in Physical Education from Central Michigan in 1990 and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Grand Valley State University in 1987. While at GVSU, Kavalunas was a four-year letter winner as a member of the cross country and track & field team. Jessica Becker begins her second season as the University of the Southwest's strength and conditioning coach as well as an assistant track and field coach. In her first season with USW, Becker coached four national qualifiers - including All-American hammer thrower Frankie Martinez who took eighth at the NAIA Championships with a distance of 54.72 meters (he was also named Red River Athletic Conference Field Event Athlete of the Year). Becker also coached 10 All-RRAC athletes, the RRAC freshman cross country runner of the year and the 2016 USW Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year. To add to that, athletes reached 21 season bests under Becker's coaching and also set 16 new school records. She also taught 39 credit hours in the Kinesiology and Exercise Science Department in her first year. Becker comes to USW from Capitan Municipal Schools, her alma mater, where she served as the athletic director and head coach of the men's and women's track & field teams. As athletic director, Becker oversaw 14 sport programs and had a significant role in the design and building of a 6,000 square foot weight room facility. Her tenure also saw the construction of new throws facilities for the track and field program and the implementation of a new physical education and health curriculum. As head track and field coach, her program reached new heights with a school-record number of student-athletes qualifying for state championship competition. Among the many student-athlete highlights in state championship competition under her watch were three state champions in the pole vault. Prior to Capitan, Becker held the position of Assistant Professor of Health, Physical Education and Athletic Training at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. In her role, Becker served as a department head of the HPEAT department and sat as a member of the Teacher Education department. While serving as a professor at Bethany College, Becker also held the post of assistant track and field coach at Salina Central High School in Salina, Kansas, and was responsible for coaching the shot put, discus and javelin throwing events. In addition, she created and directed the strength and conditioning program for the entire athletic department. Becker was also an assistant track and field and cross country coach at Eastern New Mexico University, in Portales, New Mexico, and was responsible for the throws, jumps, hurdles and multi-event student-athletes. During her tenure, ENMU claimed a Lone Star Conference Cross Country championship and an NCAA South Central Region Cross Country championship while qualifying for an NCAA Division II national championship berth. Her student-athletes featured seven national qualifiers in the sport of track and field. Becker also held the position of recruiting coordinator for men's and women's track & field as well as strength and conditioning coordinator for the track & field program during her stay. From 2009-11, Becker was an assistant track and field and cross country coach at McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas. Her duties included serving as the recruiting coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator for the track and field and cross country programs. As an assistant coach, Becker coached the throws, jumps, hurdles and multi-events. During her tenure, Becker coached 14 NAIA qualifiers, including the 2010 national champion and All-American in the high jump as well as a 2010 All-American in the pole vault. In addition, she coached two All-Americans in the high jump in 2011. Becker began her intercollegiate coaching career in 2008 at her alma mater, Bethany College, where she served as an assistant track and field coach. While specializing with the throwing events at Bethany, Becker coached five NAIA qualifiers and two NAIA All-Americans. A graduate of Bethany College, Becker became one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of the institution. Becker claimed the 2008 NAIA indoor national championship and the 2009 NAIA outdoor national championship in the shot put. All told, in addition to her two national championships, Becker was a 14-time NAIA national qualifier in which she competed in the shot put, indoor weight, discus and hammer throw events while also claiming two national runner-up finishes in the 2009 indoor shot put and the 2008 outdoor shot put.  Becker's performances in the shot put and discus events dominated at the conference level as she earned six KCAC championships. Her commitment to excellence in both the academic and athletic arenas were rewarded with national recognition as a five-time NAIA Academic All-American. In addition, Becker had the distinction of being named as a four-time recipient of Bethany College's Female Athlete of the Year. Becker graduated Cum Lade from Bethany College in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in PK-12 Health & Physical Education and a bachelor's degree in Physical Health & Wellness with a concentration in coaching. She earned her master's degree in Physical Education, Recreation and Health from Emporia State University in 2012.