Coaches
What to expect from the Kirkwood Track & Field Coaches:
- Appropriate language and behavior. Respect and dignity towards each athlete as an individual.
- To promote the safety of each athlete and to ask no more in practice or competition than what the athletes are capable of delivering.
- To promote the conditions and circumstances that encourages each athlete to realize their true potential.
- To impose time demands that acknowledge the primary importance of the athlete's academic and family responsibilities.
- To promote among all athletes and coaches a solid sense of team membership.
- To utilize the most recent thinking and strategies in the sport.
- To be available to parents at times that is mutually convenient.
- To work, whenever appropriate, with other school personnel to guarantee the best interests of each athlete.
2026 Track & Field Coaching Staff
Head Girl's & Boy's Track & Field Coach
Roberta McWoods
roberta.mcwoods@kirkwoodschools.org (314) 313-8887
Coach McWoods is a 41-year educator in the Kirkwood School District. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1985 and a Masters in Elementary Education with a Certification in Reading (K-12) from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1992. In the 1992-93 school year, Coach McWoods was named the Kirkwood School District teacher of the year and retired in 2014 as a Literacy Specialist from North Glendale Elementary and later became the Master Mentor for Teachers of Color in 2018. She has served on multiple Educational Equity committees and championed equity efforts for the marginalized and under resourced for most of her career. As a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Coach McWoods was a member of the Track & Field team where she competed as a 2x All-Big Eight Conference heptathlete and a 400m hurdler. Her passion for equality, inclusion, and diversity can also be seen in her leadership as a coach, as she works to inspire pride, teamwork, confidence, and compassion in her athletes. Additionally, she uses sport to transcend the cultural differences of her athletes, to galvanize them into achieving a common goal of unity both on and off the track and field. Coach McWoods has built a coaching staff of amazing assistants that have contributed to the team’s enduring success. These accomplishments have garnered Kirkwood SIX Final 4 top finishes in the State of Missouri, multiple individual state champions, in addition to countless sectional, district, and conference titles. Coach McWoods’ leadership has gained her respect from her colleagues
Assistant Coaches
Wille Parks/ Associate (Sprints Girls & Boys)
willie.parks@kirkwoodschools.org
Willie Parks graduated in 1992 from Kirkwood High School where he ran track and played football. Willie was an All-State medalist in the 4x1 and 4x2 in 1991. He ran track for two years and played football for (4) years for Missouri State University (Southwest Missouri State University). Willie has coached Track & Field for (14) years with (13) of those years as the sprint coach for both boys and girls at Kirkwood High School. Willie has contributed to the success of 4 of Kirkwood High School’s Top 4 finishes in the state as well as, sprint champion. He is currently the Associate coach for both boys' and girls' teams. Willie Parks is a technician in block starts and has been instrumental in perfecting the start of many of the Kirkwood Track & Field athletes. In 2021, Coach Parks received the Distinguished Coach Award from the Missouri Track & Cross Country Coaches Association.
April Maldonado/Associate (shot, discus, javelin) april.maldonado@kirkwoodschools.org
Coach April Maldonado, coaches the girls' and boys' shot put, discus and javelin. She has coached at Kirkwood High School for the last 26 years. Coach Maldonado has had the pleasure of coaching state champion, All-State and state qualifiers. She loves the everyday competition and bringing athletes into the world of throwing. Coach Maldonado is from a small town in Minnesota, and is the wife of husband Omar and mom to four children, Adreanne, 28, who is a new wife, teacher and softball coach in Pennsylvania where she teaches. Christian, 21, is studying music education at Florida State University and volunteer coaches with the Track & Field program at Kirkwood High School at the conclusion of his college semester in the spring. He specializes in javelin, which he threw for KHS T&F in 2019/20. Solis is a sophomore on the team and currently working on all three throwing events, and Eli is a 7th grader at Nipher. Coach Maldonado was a thrower in high school and threw for some conference meets in college at Lindenwood University, where she also played volleyball. Coaching for Kirkwood High School is an honor and truly rewarding to see athletes develop in their events and especially as citizens of the world when they enter high school. Coach Maldonado of the Missouri Track Cross Country Coaches Association (MTCCCA).
Charles Causey (shot, discus, javelin) charles.cauey@kirkwoodschools.org
Coach Causey coached shot-put, discus and javelin at Potosi High School from 1997 to 2013, where his team won a state championship in 2006 and 2007, with 4 top 4 finishes from 2000 to 2008. Coach Causey also coached at Farmington High School, where he had 4 All-State throwers and multiple other State qualifiers at Farmington HS from 2014 to 2021 - multiple All-State throwers and qualifiers. He is now in his second year at Kirkwood High School, coaching shot, discus and javelin. Coach Causey has also coached basketball, where his team were in the Final four. Coach Causey is a basketball referee, where he has officiated two State Championships in Basketball. He has served as a football referee and officiated a state championship football game.
Richard York/Assistant (Pole vault) richard.york@kirkwoodschools.org
A 2009 graduate of St. Clair (Mo.) High School, 4-time all-state and all-district selection, competing in the pole vault, 300m hurdles, 110m hurdles, high jump, triple jump, and long jump for head coach Dave Priviance … earned all-state honors in three events to lead the Bulldogs to the class 3 state title as a senior … he was the 300m hurdles champion, finished second in the 110 hurdles and pole vault, and was sixth in the long jump at the ’09 state meet … went on to place second at the Great Southwest meet in Albuquerque, trailing only national record holder Curtis Beach with a score of 7,007 points, which was the third-best by a high school athlete in 2009 … the Big River Running Company listed him No. 7 on its list of the greatest Missouri high school athletes of the decade (2000-09) … recorded prep bests of 37.99 in the 300 hurdles, 14.12 in the 110 hurdles, 6-08.00 in the high jump, 22-10.00 in the long jump, 14-06.00 in the pole vault, and 43-09.00 in the triple jump … also earned all-conference and all-district honors all four years in both basketball and football … helped the Bulldog basketball team capture three district championships.
Richard attended the University of New Mexico, where he participated in the Decathlon and Pentathlon. During his senior year, Coach York competed at 11 meets for the Lobos, concentrating on the decathlon and javelin primarily … Opened in the decathlon at the Texas Relays with strong marks in the long jump (ninth place), high jump (ninth), discus (fifth) and javelin (fourth) … Won the javelin at the Texas Tech Open with a toss of 195-4 (59.54 meters) before improving his distance a week later at the Jim Click Shootout, where he placed third with a mark of 205-4 (62.58) … Participated in the decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays, earning first in the javelin … Placed ninth in the 400 and sixth in the high jump at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge, with marks of 49.66 and 6-4 ¾ (1.95), respectively … Placed second in the javelin at the Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational with a mark of 210-4 (64.12) … Despite a disqualification in the 110 hurdles in the decathlon at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships, placed third in the decathlon via victories in seven of the eight event: the 100, long jump, shot put, 400, discus, javelin, 800 … Also won the javelin at the MW Championships with a then-personal record of 213-5 (65.05) … Advanced to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in the javelin, where he advanced to the national championships with a personal record toss of 215-4 (65.63) … Placed 24th at the NCAA Championships with a mark of 189-2 (57.67).
Coach York has a total of 10 years as a Track and Field Coach and Volunteer (University of New Mexico, Hillsboro High School, Kirkwood High School and Jefferson County Jets Track) in the areas of pole-vaulting, javelin and multi-events.
Sibyl Banks/ Assistant (Long Jump/Triple Jump) sibyl.banks@kirkwoodschools.org
Sibyl Banks PhD. began her teaching career at Catholic School, where she coached for 3 years and then later moved to Riverview Gardens Middle School, spending 33 years there. While teaching at Middle School, Coach Banks coached volleyball, basketball, and track & field for 4 years with 9th graders. She then moved to coaching at Riverview High School. Coach Banks was an assistant coach for 4 years and then became a head coach from 1986 to 2010. After Coach Banks retired, she began teaching at another Catholic school for 10 years and, while coaching at Francis Howell High School, for 7 years. Coach Banks began coaching at Kirkwood in 2020 and immensely enjoys her time with the athletes. She believes that each of her previous coaching experiences has rewarded her with this opportunity of working with the athletes at Kirkwood High School. Coach Banks is passionate about track & field and has coached for 43 years in the sport and enjoys learning and growing with each athlete that she coaches.
Caleb Harris (Girl's & Boy's High Jump) caleb.harris@kirkwoodschools.org
Coach Harris is a native of Springfield, Illinois and a graduate of Southeast High School. Coach Harris attended Illinois College in Springfield, Illinois , where he was a member of the men’s track and field team. He served as an assistant coach with primary focus on the jumps from 2017 to 2020 at Southeast High School in Springfield, Illinois. Coach Harris volunteered with the Springfield Striders Track Club in 2018 and 2019, where he helped coach the jumpers. He believes the most rewarding experience is seeing athletes progress in their respective events and apply the values they’ve learned through their track and field experiences in their everyday lives. Coach Harris' hobbies include writing, drawing, gardening, and playing disc golf. Coach Harris loves running and following track and field!
Oscar Dixon/Assistant Hurdle Coach
Coach Oscar Dixon, volunteered assistant coach for Kirkwood High School for 4 years. This year Coach Dixon became a full time assistant hurdle coach. Coach Dixon grew up in Kirkwood and is a graduate of Kirkwood High School. Coach Dixon's two sons were also graduates of Kirkwood High School and played football and were All-State finalists in sprints for the track and field team. He has been a coach for the AAU Junior Olympics for 32 years for the Missouri Elite Track & Field Club (formerly Kirkwood Track Club). Coach Dixon is the grandfather of senior and MSHSAA 2022 100m hurdle State Champion Genesis Dixon. Coach Dixon enjoys coaching young children preparing for high school track and field. Coach Dixon received the MTCCCA Distinguished coach of the year in 2024.
Gina Woodard /Assistant Distance (gina.woodard@kirkwoodschools.org) 314-213-6100 x 1224
Gina has been teaching for 25 years. She spent her first five years at Berkeley High School and her last twenty years have been at Kirkwood High School. She is currently the Head Girls cross country coach. Gina has also been a health teacher at Kirkwood High School for several years now. She emphasizes both physical and mental preparation, she has led the KHS Pioneers to successful seasons and advocates for a balanced approach to running.
Kevin Manwaring (information coming soon!)
David Baker (information coming soon)
Ed Bielik (information coming soon!)