The team behind the athletes

Head Coach

Founder and Head Coach of the Phoenix Bobcats, Coach Jones brings over 42 years of experience developing athletes and building a strong, competitive program. He has helped numerous athletes earn college scholarships while guiding them to success both on and off the track. A former Junior Olympic Champion in the 100m, long jump, and 4x100 relay, as well as a High School All-American, Coach Jones is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of athletes.

Long Jump & Triple Jump

A former Division I athlete and University of Montana Athlete of the Year, Sammy still holds three school records in the triple jump and long jump. After her collegiate career, she advanced to compete in the 2020/2021 Olympic Team Trials. Now a coach, she works with youth to professional athletes specializing in speed, power, and the development of jumping and plyometric performance.

Hurdles & Multi-Events

Michelle is a two-time World Champion in the 100m hurdles, winning gold medals in Helsinki (2005) and Osaka (2007), and an Olympian who competed at the 2004 Summer Games. Competing under her family name Perry, she achieved a personal best of 12.43 seconds and established herself among the world’s elite hurdlers.

A standout collegiate athlete at UCLA, Michelle contributed to top-performing relay teams at the NCAA level while also excelling individually, ultimately earning her degree in sociology. She has since gone on to earn her doctorate degree, demonstrating her commitment to excellence both academically and athletically.

Michelle brings her elite experience, resilience, and passion to coaching, inspiring young athletes to push beyond their limits and strive for greatness on and off the track.

Youth Development (5-10) 

A former Division I collegiate athlete, three-sport high school competitor, and AAU basketball coach, Chancellor qualified for the championship season in both the high jump and triple jump during his track career.  Chancellor is dedicated to building strong team cohesion while developing each athlete’s individual skills. He is passionate about mentoring young athletes and inspiring them to strive to be their best.

Distance & Cross Country

Brad brings over 14 years of experience as a distance coach, working with athletes in both the high school and middle school programs at North Phoenix Prep. He currently serves as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country for the Great Hearts Middle School League, where he helps shape and support developing runners across the region.

During his tenure, Brad has led North Phoenix Prep to two AIA Division IV State Championships, including the 2019 Boys Cross Country and 2025 Girls Cross Country titles. His achievements earned him recognition as the 2025 USTFCCCA Arizona Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Brad has coached three individual boys AIA Cross Country State Champions and multiple individual state champions in distance track events ranging from the 800m to the 3200m. In addition to his coaching roles, he is the creator and meet director of the AZ Distance in the Desert Winter Track Series.

High Jump

Coach Dona brings over 20 years of certified coaching experience to the Bobcats Track and

Field program and has been a dedicated member of the team for the past nine years. Prior to

joining the Bobcats, she coached at the high school, middle school, and club levels in Tucson,

developing athletes across a wide range of abilities.

A former track and field athlete herself, Coach Dona competed in both high school and college,

specializing in the 400 meters and triple jump, and later competing in the heptathlon at the

collegiate level. Her accomplishments earned her induction into her high school’s Hall of Fame.

Coach Dona loves coaching all events, with a special passion for high jump and relays. She is

committed to helping athletes grow both on and off the track, bringing experience, energy, and a

strong competitive background to the Bobcats program.

Sprint 

Trung Canidate is a former NFL running back known for his elite speed and athleticism. A first-round draft pick (31st overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft, he played professionally with the St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins after a standout college career at the University of Arizona.

Renowned for his explosiveness, Canidate was clocked at an impressive 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash, showcasing the speed that defined his game. He is excited to bring his sprinting knowledge, speed development expertise, and high-level experience to the Phoenix Bobcats, helping athletes improve performance and reach their full potential.

Junior and High School Development (11-18)

Amanda Rangel is a former 200M state champion at North Canyon High School and a 4-year state-level finalist in the 100M and 400M. She went on to train at Northern Arizona University and earned a second-place finish in Olympic weightlifting at the USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships.

She has completed three marathons, including qualifying for and completing the Boston Marathon, and is passionate about developing disciplined, confident athletes.

Junior and High School Development (11-18)

Steve Rangel is a former Division I football athlete at Eastern Illinois University with over 20 years of coaching experience across youth sports. Now in his second year with the Bobcats, he focuses on strength and conditioning to help athletes build a strong physical foundation and improve overall performance.

He also coaches youth tackle football and is a proud father of two Bobcat athletes.

Team Manager

Marizol earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) and has a strong background as a multi-sport athlete, competing in both softball and track and field during high school. While softball was her primary sport, she also excelled in track, earning 2nd place in both the high jump and 100m . 

As a parent of multi-sport athletes, she has firsthand experience supporting youth athletics at a high level, with her children collectively making four appearances at Junior Olympic Nationals. She is passionate about helping young athletes grow in confidence, develop their skills, and reach their full potential.

Assistant Youth Development

Joey competed in varsity track all four years at California High School in San Ramon, CA, specializing in the 400m, 800m, and 4x400 relay, while also competing in the 200m. She qualified for and competed at the Meet of Champions in both the 400m and 4x400 relay all four years of her high school career.

Professionally, Joey works at Radian Generation, where she manages operations for the Compliance & Security team, supporting the safety and reliability of renewable energy assets.

She is excited to help develop young athletes, build confidence, and support them in performing at their best.

Pole Vault

Coach S competed as a decathlete at the University of Nevada, Reno from 1986 to 1989 before leaving collegiate track to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine. He returned to the sport in 2011, coaching high jump at Cactus Shadows High School and pole vault for the Bobcats, and has been coaching ever since.

Over the years, he has helped guide multiple athletes to collegiate careers across a variety of events—some even convincing him to join their college workouts when they return home (ouch). As a coach, his primary goal is simple: to help each athlete reach their full potential.

Distance

Andrea began her athletic career as a competitive swimmer, representing Costa Rica at the CAMEX youth championships as a member of the national team. She later transitioned to endurance sports and competed in triathlon with Tricats, the University of Arizona triathlon club.

She is passionate about helping young athletes grow in confidence, build strong habits, and enjoy being active. She strives to create a positive and encouraging environment where every athlete feels supported and excited to come to practice.

Drawing from her background in endurance sports, Andrea focuses on developing fundamentals in a way that is both effective and age-appropriate. She emphasizes keeping training fun, helping athletes stay healthy and injury-free, and supporting each child in working toward their personal goals.

Head Coach- Northern Phoenix Bobcats - Prescott Valley 

Coach Heather Calandra enters her fourth year leading the "northern" PBC, with practices based at Bradshaw Mountain High School, Prescott Valley, where she also serves as Head Track and Field Coach. A former standout throwing athlete, she brings both competitive experience and strong leadership to the program.

In addition to her coaching background, Coach Calandra is an experienced sports program and event operations leader with expertise spanning athletics, business, and law. She holds a Master of Legal Studies in Sports Law and Business from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, equipping her with a strong foundation in contracts, compliance, risk management, and the business operations of sport.