| |
Palatine Cross Country Coaches
|
Fred
Miller |
|
 |
In 2006, Fred
Miller was inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross
Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, following in the
footsteps of his coach, Joe Johnson. Fredd has been a
constant in the success of the Palatine boys cross country
team. In his two stints as head coach, the Pirates
collected three state trophies (1993, 2003, 2004) as well as
a 5th place finish (1992). After the 2004 season, he
stepped back into the role of assistant coach and led the
Pirates to a 2nd place finish in 2005, a 6th place finish in
2006, and a 3rd place finish in 2007.
Fred also served as assistant during the 1994-2000 seasons
under head coach Ron Theberge. The duo of Theberge and
Miller lead the team to a 5th place finish in 1995 as well
as a 12th place finish in 1997. Fred also enjoyed
a long and successful tenure as boys track coach during the
1980s and 1990s. He teaches the adaptive physical
education classes at Palatine.
Fred's positive attitude and high
expectations mix well with his emphasis that running has
to be fun. Fred continues to mold the cross country
program in the image of his coach, Palatine legend Joe
Johnson, and continues to be an integral part in a long line of Pirate success stories. |
|
Chris
Quick |
|
 |
The 2009 season
marked my ninth with the Palatine boys team and was my
fifth as the official head coach. Since Fred and I started
coaching together in 2001, we have experienced success
beyond our wildest dreams. We have been privileged to
coach great citizens and athletes who have carried the team
to seven MSL titles (2003 through 2009 consecutively), seven regional titles
(2002-2005, 2007-2009), six sectional titles (2003-2004,
2006-2009), three second-place state trophies (2003, 2004, 2005),
a third place trophy (2007), and two sixth place finishes (2006,
2009) and
a 10th place (2008) finish.
I had the good fortune to coach Steve Finley in 2005, who
won the individual state title with an incredible lean at
the wire.
I gained experience in
the sport by serving as a four-year manager under Gary Wieneke
at the University of Illinois. I also coached
for two seasons at Moline High School with my father, Jeff
Quick. After volunteering for two years, I am now the
distance coach for the Palatine track team.
In addition to my coaching duties,
I teach English and Gifted classes at Palatine, am constant in
my devotion to my wife, kids, and the music band Phish, and need to
find another hobby other than programming the cross country
team Web site. Since 2003, I have improved my marathon
PR from 3:05 to 2:58 to a 2:53.29.
I also ran 2:57.58 in the 2006 Boston Marathon to place in
the top thousand. Someday I hope to run under 2:50 and stop winning 2nd place
trophies and win 1st place trophies.
For the
Quicks, running is a family affair!! My father, Jeff, led the Moline Maroons and Geneseo
Maple Leafs to six top 5 finishes at state, including a 3rd
in 1988. He is a member of the Illinois Track and
Cross Country Hall of Fame. |
Matt Sheehan
|
 |
The 2008
season was Matt Sheehan's second as a volunteer coach, and
he is set to take over Fred Miller's assistant coach
position when Fred retires.
Matt has
quickly made himself an indispensable member of all of the
teams he has worked with. While student teaching at
Hersey, he volunteered with both the cross country and track
teams, serving as a training partner for Kevin Havel who
achieved an All-State finish in track. In 2006, he
accepted a teaching job at Schaumburg and was a volunteer
coach as that team won an IHSA Regional and placed 3rd in
the IHSA State finals.
Since coming to Palatine in 2007, Matt has volunteered
full-time for both the cross country and track teams.
He coached the 2007 team which placed 3rd at the IHSA State
meet. He took on a bigger role in 2008-2009 as we swept the MSL, IHSA Regional, and IHSA Sectional titles en route to a
10th and a 6th place state finish.
Matt is a young coach full of energy and enthusiasm who
teaches and coaches with great passion. He has run
2:30 for the marathon and is responsible for planning and
executing most of our varsity training. He also ran
2:42 or so in the Boston Marathon and continues to train in
preparation for a sub-2:30 clocking. I am so
privileged to work with him, and I cannot imagine a more
capable assistant to step into Fred's role when he retires. |
| Right:
Matt Sheehan, Alec Bollman, Chris Quick, and Fred Miller
celebrate Alec Bollman's state championship in the 1600
meter run. Alec ran 4:13.79 to capture the 2010 title. |
 |
|
Right:
Matt Sheehan, Chris Quick, Fred Miller, and Scott Bush pose
after earning a 3rd place trophy at the 2007 IHSA State
meet. |
 |
|
Right:
Fred Miller and Chris Quick celebrate a Palatine win in the
2006 IHSA Sectional. The 2006 team went on to place
6th in the IHSA State meet the next week. |
 |
|
Right:
The Palatine coaching staff celebrates a third consecutive
2nd place finish after the 2005 finals. Steve Finley
also won the individual state title. From left to
right, Doug Finley, Fred Miller, Chris Quick, and Tim
O'Connell. |
 |
|
Right: From left to right, Jeff, Chris, Meredith,
Chad, and Penny after the 2003 IHSA State finals. The
Palatine Pirates tied for 2nd at the IHSA State meet. |
 |
|
Right:
Chris Quick, Fred Miller, and Tim O'Connell celebrate after
finishing 2nd in the state in the 2004 IHSA State finals. |
 |
|
|
|
