Jon Holmes - competed as a middle distance runner while in middle school and high school.  After performing well against national age group runners at regional events, he was invited to begin running competitively with a club and focused on the 400, 800 and 1600 meter events.  He also experienced success in other endurance sports and transitioned primarily to cycling when he was 16. He is currently an active runner and student of the sport. He strives to help runners improve fitness and technique, along with developing mindsets of personal awareness, resilience and courage. Over the years, he has worked as a performance psychology consultant with a focus on helping endurance athletes recover from performance fatigue and better understand the role of chronic stress as a performance inhibitor. Coach Jon began assisting with the BV girls distance program in the Fall of 2016.
   

Harold Kuphaldt - Former Bella Vista High school runner and school record holder in both the 1600m (4:05.18) and 3200m (8:51.99). He is a two-time NCAA Division I Track and Field All-American and sub-4 minute miler for University of Oregon. 2017 will be his 9th season as coach for the boys distance runners. He has more than 25 years of coaching experience in multiple sports. In the last 8 seasons BV has won 2 Section Varsity XC titles, qualified for the state meet 4 times in XC, won 9 section team titles, and 24 teams finished in the top 6 at Sections. Coached 6 of the top 25 in the 800m, 7 of the top 22 in the 1600m and 9 of the top 23 in the 3200m on the BV All-time list. Coached 2 athletes that qualified for the state meet in track and a school record in the 4x1600m.
   
Erica Swenson - Ran distance track in high school at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL. She loves the sport of distance running and assisting athletes in working toward their goals. Outside of running, she enjoys outdoor activities, such as stand up paddling, kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, and backpacking. Coach Erica began coaching Cross Country and Distance Track at Bella Vista High School in the Fall of 2020.
   
Tom Laythe

In Remembrance

Tom Laythe - I ran in High School, College, and Post-Collegiately.  I’ve coached for 17 years: 9 years at St. Francis, 4 years at El Camino, and 4 years at Bella Vista.  I have been blessed to have worked with many outstanding student/athletes who have succeeded in the classroom, on the track, and on the XC course.  Our hope is that they can apply some life lessons learned in running to the rest of their lives.