Coaching Staff

Head Coach - Garrett Hicks
ghicks@wtc.edu
325-574-7658

Coach Garrett Hicks enters his third year as the head men’s and women’s cross-country coach at Western Texas College.

During his second season at the helm, Coach Hicks led the Westerners and Lady Westerners to dramatic improvements in the men’s and women’s cross-country teams. Both squads not only fielded full teams, but proved to be very successful on the links. Both programs broke into the national NJCAA top 25 cross-country rankings for the first time in the history of each program. The Lady Westerners also produced the program's first All-American when Jessica Rodriquez finished in 20th place at the NJCAA national cross-country championships in Peoria, Illinois.

As an interscholastic athlete, Hicks qualified for the Texas State high school track championships in the 1600 meter run in 2000, representing Cisco (TX) High School. Following high school, Hicks would move onto Tarleton State University (NCAA Division II), where he would compete in cross-country and track. During his career at Tarleton State, Hicks would qualify for the NCAA regional cross-country meet in 2001, 2002, and 2004. In 2001, Hicks set the Tarleton State school record in the 10,000 meter run (6.2 miles) with a time of 32:48:57.

Hicks received his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in math and minor in computer science in 2005 and completed work on his masters in mathematics form Tarleton State University in 2007. In addition to serving as the head coach in four sports (women’s cross-country, men’s cross-country, women’s track and field, men’s track and field), Hicks also serves as a fulltime faculty member in the math department at Western Texas College. The WTC men’s cross-country team was also named NJCAA academic champion in 2007 and 2008 under the leadership of Coach Hicks.

Coach Hicks is married to his wife of five years, Amber Hicks. The Hickes have a dog named Sara and a cat named Dottie.

Assistant Coach - John Mikalik
jmikalik@wtc.edu

John Mikalik better known as Mik, will be entering his third year as the assistant Women and Men’s cross-country and track coach at Western Texas College. Coach Mik’s duties include working with the Sprinters, Middle Distance, Hurdlers, Jumpers, and Relay Teams. Coach Mik is USATF Level 1 Track and Field certified. He was also recently appointed strength and condition coordinator for Western Texas College Athletics.

Upon his arrival, Coach Mik has helped bring Western Texas College’s running programs in the ranks with the nation’s best. Since 2009 each of his programs has competed in the National NJCAA Championships. Having started the Women’s Track and Field program in the fall of 2010, the program got off to a great start; finishing 4th at the NJCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Hutchinson, Kansas. His and WTC’s first Track and Field Individual National Champion also came that year, as Ann-Marie Duffus won the 2011 Women’s Heptathlon. Coach Mik, has produced 1 National Champion, 7 All-Americans, and 23 National Qualifiers since coming to Western Texas College.

Coach Mik spent one season as a graduate assistant at McMurry University.  During that season, McMurry’s Men finished 4th as a team at the DIII National Indoor Championships and 2nd as a team at the DIII Outdoor National Championships.

Born and raised in Georgetown, Texas; he attended Georgetown High School and lettered all four years in Track and Field.

Mik participated in collegiate track at McMurry University in Abilene Texas, in 2008; he was part of McMurry’s first National Championship team for McMurry. After four seasons at McMurry, he left with 7 All-American awards and 12 ASC Conference Champion titles. He was a part of McMurry’s sprint relay team that was back to back National Champions in 2007 and 2008. From 2004-2008, He broke/ reset 25 school records for McMurry University. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Exercise Sports Studies and minor in Multimedia Technology.

Coach Mik also coaches Jim Bob Bizzell, who participates in the Paralympics games for the T44 Class. In the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, Bizzell claimed two silver medals and set two world records. As a member of the world record-breaking 4x100m T42-T46 relay team, Bizzell won his first career Paralympics Gold medal. Coach Mik is once again training Bizzell to compete in the 2012 games in London.

Coach Mik resides in Snyder, and has a daughter named Harlee.