Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Baggett.
Hi Rick, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Such a long story….
I had a successful High School and mediocre college career. Retired right before the 1976 Olympic Trials.
Finished school and became a teacher.
Went from an Industrial Arts teacher to a pole vault/Track coach at the junior high I was teaching at. Then all of a sudden I had about 15 local High School kids all jumping at the Junior High. Summer season started and then formed a club… Kept it going and it slowly grew to around 30 kids (both male and female).
State champ in 1985 and the kids kept it going. The club moved to Highline Community College in Des Moines Washington and then we are able to have an indoor season.
By this time I was introduced to Andjei Kjechenski (sp) at the UO and learned a different philosophy of training and development. He took a 15’1″ vaulter I coached to 17’4″ his senior year so I figured something was going on that I needed to know.
In 1989-1990 I spent the entire year at UO having Andjei mentor me. Then in 1992 I moved to Oregon to contiinue coaching and develop the Pole Vaulting/Track program at Clackamas Community College. I set up my back 1/2 acre as an outdoor training Center wishing to eventually have my own Indoor training center. That came to reality in 2004 as the Willamette Striders Track Club LLC.
I have been blessed with having great athletes come through and many great parents in support of this thing we do..
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Bureaucracy in the state bodies.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Retired now for 15 years but spent 30 years as an Industrial Arts teache mainly in the woods/construction fields for High School.
State Fair Champions in both Furniture making and 125 State Champions in track and field.
National high School Records in both Male and females, Tommy Skipper 18’3″ 2001 and Sarah Sasaki 12’8″ indoors 1999
What were you like growing up?
I was a regular active kid always looking for fun and exciting things to try. Raised on a farm with lots of farm chores. Started work at 14 years old and have never stopped..
Pricing:
- $300/month with 2 PV training session a week.
- $200/month with 2 speed/coordination training a week
Contact Info:
- Website: https://willamettestriders.com
- Instagram: willamettestriders
- Facebook: willamettestriders
- Youtube: willamettestriders
