Coach Jim Smith is entering his 22nd year as the boys’ head varsity track and field coach as well as pole vault, high jump and long jump coach. He has taught at Hilliard (now Davidson) since 1984, and in addition to his track coaching experience has also coached high school football (18 years), high school basketball (three years), and college track (two years.) He coached the first ever Ohio Division I female pole vault champion and state record holder, and his best team finish at the state meet is third.
Coach Smith is a 1984 graduate of Otterbein College, where he earned his teaching degree in Health Physical Education and General Science. While there he was an All-American track and field decathlete and four-year letter winner, a four-year football letter-winner, and the recipient of the Norris Elliot Award for Sports and Academics. He received his Master’s Degree in Sports Science from Ashland University.
Coach Matt Beatty is entering his sixth year as girls’ head varsity track coach, after having served as an assistant coach in the program. In addition to his head coaching responsibilities he also works with the hurdlers and jumpers, and has coached the throws and sprinters in the past. He is also the assistant boys’ junior varsity basketball coach and the offensive and defensive line coach for the varsity football program.
Coach Beatty received his undergraduate degree in US History from The Ohio State University and his Teaching Certificate from Ohio Dominican University. While attending Ohio Dominican he was a Graduate Assistant for two years and an assistant coach of the men’s basketball program. He has taught Special Education at Pickerington Central High School and coached football, basketball and baseball at Pickerington North. He is currently attending Ashland University where he will receive his Master's Degree in Teaching Leadership this spring.
Pat Schlecht (pictured above) - Distance Coach and Men's Head Cross Country Coach
Coach Pat Schlect is entering his 17th season as the Hilliard (now Davidson) track team distance coach and his 21st total season of coaching track. He is also the head coach of the Hilliard Davidson boys cross country team, a position he has held for the past 14 seasons.
Coach Schlect's distance runners are consistently amongst the best in the state in both cross country and track. The Davidson cross country team has qualified for the State Championship Meet the past nine years in a row, which includes four top-four finishes, a State Championship in 2002, and a State Runner-Up in 2008. The Davidson track team 4 x 1600 meter relay team from 2003 holds the State Record.
Coach Schlect teaches World Studies and Early World History at Davidson. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he earned his teaching degree in Social Studies.
Todd Heinlen (not pictured, bio forthcoming) - Men's Sprints and Hurdles
Ryan Aleshire - (not pictured, bio forthcoming) - Men's Throws
Betty Cameron (not pictured) - Women's Assistant Throws Coach
Coach Betty Cameron is entering her third year as the Davidson girls’ throwing coach and her tenth year as the head Davidson girls’ volleyball coach. Before coming to Davidson she was the head volleyball coach at Watkins Memorial.
Coach Cameron earned her undergraduate degree in Health and Physical Education with a minor in Coaching from Capital University, and her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Dayton. While at Capital she played four years of volleyball and one year of basketball. She has been teaching at Davidson for 10 years, and has also taught in the Groveport Madison school district.
Joel Frymier (not pictured) - Women's Assistant Coach
Coach Joel Frymier is starting his fourth year as the girl’s sprinting coach. He received his Bachelor degree from the University of Purdue, where he competed in track and field in the long jump and sprints.
After obtaining his Bachelor degree from Purdue, Coach Frymier earned his Master’s degree in Microbiology. After working for a chemical company outside of Chicago for seven years, he relocated to Columbus and earned a Master’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University. He is currently in his sixth year as a teacher at Hilliard Davidson.
Emily Holliday (not pictured) - Women's Assistant Coach
Coach Emily Holliday is beginning her fourth season as the distance coach for the Davidson Women’s Track and Field Team. In addition to this responsibility she also serves as the head coach for the Davidson Women’s Cross Country program.
Coach Holliday is a 2007 graduate of Huntington University in Huntington, IN, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. While at Huntington, she was a four-time varsity letter winner in both cross country and track and a two-time qualifier for the NAIA National Meet in the outdoor 3000 meter steeplechase. She holds the Huntington University outdoor 3000 meter steeplechase record.
Coach Holliday is completing her first full year as a mathematics teacher at Davidson.
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Team Philosophy:
The coaches of the Davidson track team are committed to instilling self discipline, reliability, sportsmanship, determination and a competitive spirit. We will do whatever we can to make you the best athlete you can be so our team is the best it can be. We will promote individual success, but never at the expense of the team; the team always comes first. With this in mind, your commitment to our program must equal our commitment to you and the team. During track season, our team always comes first.
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Jim A. Smith (pictured right above) - Men's Head Coach and Jumps - JimA_Smith@hboe.org
Pat Schlecht (pictured above) - Distance Coach and Men's Head Cross Country Coach
