Coaching Tree Invitational Breakdown

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One of the final home Cross Country meets in the illustrious career of Ron Helmer will see many of his former athletes and assistants converge on Bloomington for the first-ever Coaching Tree Invitational.

The Sam Bell Cross Country Course will play host to 12 teams this weekend, all coached by someone with ties to Helmer as a former athlete or assistant during his time coaching at Indiana, Georgetown and the High School level.

The field will include Helmer's two collegiate programs (Georgetown and Indiana) as well as National Powerhouse Northern Arizona.

Over the course of his career, Helmer has helped coach teams to 28 NCAA Top-10 finishes in Cross Country and Track and Field.

He won 15 Big East Team Championships at Georgetown and 4 Big Ten Team Championships at Indiana.

Helmer will coach the entirety of the 2022-2023 season before his retirement next summer.

Teams in Attendance:
• Columbia (Dan Ireland)
• Elon (Kevin Jermyn)
• George Washington (Terry Weir)
• Georgetown (Alton McKenzie and Brandon Bonsey)
• Indiana (Andrew Poore)
• Miami (Ohio) (Tom Chorney and De'Sean Turner)
• North Carolina (Chris Miltenberg)
• Northern Arizona (Mike Smith)
• Ohio (Sara Pease)
• South Dakota (Nolan Fife)
• Vanderbilt (Mike Porter)
• Villanova (Gina Procaccio)

Hoosiers Coached by Helmer:
• Andrew Poore (Indiana): 7-time All-American, 2-time Big Ten Individual Champion
• Sarah Pease (Ohio): 3-time All-American, 3-time Big Ten Team Champion
• DeSean Turner (Miami OH): 6-time All-American
• Nolan Fife (South Dakota): 2013 Big Ten XC Team Champion

What They're Saying:

Nolan Fife (South Dakota):
"Coach Helmer gave me great perspective and showed me what it meant to communicate clear expectations. Not a week goes by where I don't use what I learned from him in my time at Indiana University. Years into this profession, my appreciation and respect for the way he coaches, and leads continues to grow."

Alton McKenzie (Georgetown):
"Coach Helmer's influence on my career and more importantly, my life is immeasurable. I've had the fortune of being coached by him for 3 of my 4 years as a collegiate athlete at Georgetown. His approach as a coach has certainly impacted me on my journey as a coach and helped shape me not only as a coach but as the man I am today. I'm honored to have the opportunity to be at this amazing meet to honor Coach Helmer and I'm so grateful for the life lessons learned from his life and career in the sport."

Mike Smith (Northern Arizona):
"When I was a student athlete at Georgetown University, Coach Helmer was the Director there. He was a big influence on me finding my way into college coaching and he's been someone that I've used as a big resource along the way. It's going to be fun to head out and see him off."

Sarah Pease (Ohio)
"Coach Helmer taught me so much about performance, not just on the track but in everything I do. He taught me how to strive for excellence and never settle. As a walk-on athlete, he gave me a chance to accomplish my athletic goals and as a mentor he has helped me through so many coaching days. He has been on speed dial since day 1. I couldn't be more grateful to have had Coach Helmer as my coach and to help guide me in my coaching career."

Chris Miltenberg (UNC):

"Coach Helmer has had such an enormous impact on not just my coaching career but my entire life. The high standards he taught us at Georgetown are a cornerstone of how I have built my teams. We talk often and I love still seeing how the competitive fire and relentless pursuit of excellence has never waned a single day in his entire career."

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