Valparaiso Track & Field head coach Ryan Moore has announced three new additions to his coaching staff. Patrick Heckroth, Dillion McBride, and Ross Bunchek join the Valparaiso Track & Field program as assistant coaches for the 2013-14 season.  The trio solidifies an already talented staff consisting of James Overbo and Mike Straubel. 

Patrick Heckroth joins the Crusaders after assisting at Fresno State University in Fresno, Calif. As a former student-athlete at the University of Northern Iowa, Heckroth specialized in the 400-meter hurdles. Upon finishing his career at Northern Iowa, he gained valuable coaching experience as both a high school and collegiate coach.  As the sprints and hurdles coach at Waverly-Shell Rock High School, in Waverly, Iowa, Heckroth designed workouts that led to the development of some of the top sprinters and hurdlers in the state of Iowa.  Under his guidance, the team shattered state records and won multiple State and Drake Relay championships.  Heckroth then moved into the collegiate ranks, joining Fresno State University as the Field Team assistant for both the men’s and women’s programs. During his time at Fresno State, he helped guide three hurdlers to the USA Junior National Meet and developed two Mountain West Conference champions and 14 Mountain West All-Conference selections.  In addition to his responsibilities as the Field Team assistant, Heckroth served as a graduate assistant in the Motor Learning Lab.

Heckroth graduated from Fresno State in May of 2013 with a master’s degree in Kinesiology – Sports Psychology. Following graduation Heckroth attained his USATF Level II coaching certificate. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Movement and Exercise Science from the University of Northern Iowa.  As an assistant coach at Valpo, Heckroth will focus on sprints and hurdles. 

Dillion McBride comes to Valpo after having captained the men’s track and field team at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. While at Grand View, McBride competed as a decathlete on three MCC Indoor Champion teams and three MCC Outdoor Champion teams.  As a championship team member, he set the school record in Javelin.  McBride carries collegiate experience in multiple events including Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Put, and Discuss. 

McBride holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and is currently working towards his master’s degree in Sports Administration at Valparaiso. As an assistant coach for the Crusaders, he will work primarily with the jumpers and throwers.  

A native of Valparaiso, Ross Bunchek returns to Northwest Indiana after a three-year stint in Nebraska.  He was previously associated with the University of Nebraska Track & Field Team where he was a Volunteer Assistant Throws Coach for the Huskers under coach Carrie Lane.  While at Nebraska, Bunchek assisted the Husker Throws program in all aspects and helped in guiding the 2012-13 Huskers to one Big Ten Team Championship, one individual Conference Championship, and three All-Conference performances.

Before joining the Huskers, Bunchek was a four-time NCAA Division II All-American in both the hammer-throw and weight throw at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. During his time with the Wildcats, he set numerous school and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) records in both events. He recorded personal bests of 68'11" (21.01m) in the weight throw and 217'2" (66.20m) in the hammer throw, the latter of which qualified him for the 2012 United States Olympic Trials.

Bunchek graduated in May of 2012 with a master's degree in exercise science in only one and a half years. While at Wayne State, he served as an academic graduate assistant to the University's Health, Human Performance and Sport Department (HHPS). Following graduation, he earned his USTFCCCA Academy Technical Coaching Certification and his NSCA designation as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  He also holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Carthage College, where he was a two-time NCAA DIII National Qualifier for the Red Men. In his first year with the Crusaders, Bunchek will work primarily as a strength & Conditioning coach and hammer-throw specialist.