Seth McGuffin , Head Coach (Fifth Season, Lynchburg '96)

Entering his fifth year at the helm of the Eastern Mennonite University men and women's track and field squad, Seth McGuffin looks to keep up the new tradition of excellence. During his tenure at EMU, McGuffin has coached 33 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Champions among 50 All-ODAC recipients. He has also produced 18 NCAA qualifiers and two NCAA All-Americans while rewriting 27 school records.

Prior to coming to EMU, McGuffin held an assistant coaching position with his alma mater Lynchburg College where he had received a degree in Business Management. While at LC he worked mainly with the women throwers.

After leaving Lynchburg, McGuffin ventured to EMU as assistant under former head coach Paul Johnson. He served in that role for six years before taking over the reigns in 2003. During that time McGuffin also served as the Director of Sports Information. As an assistant his main duties included recruiting, meet preparation and working with the throws and jumps.

Upon arriving at EMU, he and Coach Johnson began to rebuild the program. Starting with just 12 athletes both men and women, the squad quickly built to over 50 athletes. Since then the EMU track and field teams have finished in second eight times at the ODAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

McGuffin is a USATF Level 1 Coach and completed his Level 2 certification this past summer. His philosophy is to add emphasis on the scientific side of track and field to include psychological and physiological aspects as well as biomechanics. McGuffin's explains that he tries to "give athletes an environment to thrive, whether it be in the classroom or on the track learning from teachers or coaches, inspiring their peers and themselves, and continually reaching out to help them improve. The main focus is on seeing athletes improve year in and year out. Something he has taken much pride in since starting his coaching career. "We want those athletes who will be able to balance academics and athletics," McGuffin said. "Those that can achieve this can achieve a great deal. This is the ultimate in working hard and being rewarded."

McGuffin currently holds Lynchburg College record in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), and discus and previously held the ODAC record in each of those events. He is one of only four athletes to win an event (shot put) four straight years at the ODAC Indoor Championships. He also repeated that feat at the outdoor championships in the shot put. In all, McGuffin won 11 conference individual titles and was named all-conference 12 times.

In 1994, McGuffin made his first trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships and came away with his first of five NCAA All-American plaques. That same year, McGuffin would finish as the NCAA Championships runner-up in the shot put at the outdoor championships after being plagued with an injury suffered after the indoor championships. He would add three more All-America accolades in his senior year finishing fourth at the indoor championships in the shot put and then finished fourth in both the discus and shot put at the outdoor championships.

The 2006 EMU men's squad took second at the ODAC indoor Championships behind Jeremy Webster and Nathan Turner who were named athlete and freshman of the year, respectively. The women's team produced a second place finish at the outdoor championships. Deb Keiser, Amanda Renalds, Megan Mlinarchik, Kelsey Yoder, and Dominique Hull each collected wins at the meet. Mlinarchik represented EMU at the NCAA Indoor Championships for the second straight year. Webster made his third consecutive trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships and his was joined by Turner the top freshman in the country. Five athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships.

In 2005, McGuffin led the men's team to a second place finish at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships for both the indoor and outdoor seasons. His women's squad finished third at the indoor championships just one point shy of second place and repeated the place finish at the outdoor meet. Also, he guided Amanda Renalds to her third consecutive conference title in the shot put at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. Wendy Driver also excelled under his tutelage as she collected her third conference title in the triple jump in which she eclipsed the conference record and qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championships. During the indoor season he coached Driver to a title in the triple jump and she was the conference runner-up in the long jump at the indoor championships.

Three seasons ago, McGuffin's throwers dominated the indoor championships as the Royal women took first, second, and fifth. At the outdoor championships, the athletes produced that same feat. McGuffin also coached the top javelin thrower in the men's championship the past three seasons and the women's conference championship in 2003. In all, Royal athletes collected 18 All-ODAC honors and six individual titles in 2005. Jeremy Webster and Megan Mlinarchik also garnered NCAA All-America honors in 2005. McGuffin guided Mlinarchik to a fourth place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

McGuffin is a member of the United States Track and Field Coach Association and the National Throws Coaches Association. He was also appointed to the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee as the South/Southeast Representative. He has been a keynote speaker at the Virginia High School Coaches Association clinic and has held numerous camps throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

He and his wife, Louise reside in Broadway, Virginia.

Bob Nachtigall, Assistant Coach Sprints/Relays (Eighth Season, Appalachian State)

Bob Nachtigall begins his eighth year coaching at Eastern Mennonite University and brings two things to track and field. First, he brings a wealth of experience in coaching elite sprinters. He has over 25 years of coaching in which he has coached over 30 all-state athletes. Secondly, his experience has gained him widespread recognition throughout the eastern region of the country.

The former New York City resident and Appalachian State University (NC) collegian began his coaching career in the early 70's. He moved to Virginia in the 1980's to head up the cross country/track and field programs at Warren County. After his stint at Warren County (VA), he ventured to Broadway High School where he had much of his success. At Broadway, Nachtigall coached a state champion that still currently holds state records in the 100 and 200 meters.

While at EMU, Nachtigall has guided Royal sprinters to national status and record breaking performances. He produced the fastest ¼ miler in ODAC history in Kai Orenic who posted a time of 47.42 seconds. After Orenic's term, he guided sophomore Jeremy Webster to his second trip to the NCAA Championships in which Webster garnered All-America honors and broke his school record in the 200 meter (21.56). Webster finished seventh to earn a spot on the All-America team. Since his arrival to EMU, Nachtigall has produced numerous conference champions and all-conference performers.

Royal sprinters have qualified for the NCAA Championships each of the past four years. This success is all part of Nachtigall's dream of competitive sprinting.

He and his wife, Linda reside in Broadway, Virginia.