Coaching Staff

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

Garrett Hicks begins his second year as the head men’s and women’s cross-country coach at Western Texas College.  It should be an exciting season, since for only the second time in school history the cross country program will feature a full men’s and women’s squad.

In his first full season as the men’s and women’s cross country coach, Coach Hicks led the Westerners and Lady Westerners to their best showing in school history at the regional meet by having four runners named to the All-conference/regional teams. Coach Hicks also had the Westerners rank as high as 18th in the nation, which was the first time in school history that the Westerners have been ranked in a national poll. Not all of the success that the cross country team had during Coach Hicks’ first season was limited to the athletic fields. The men’s cross country team was named the academic national champions for the second straight year and also the academic team of the year.

Coach Hicks graduated from Cisco (TX) High School in 2000, then attended Tarleton State University.  He received his Bachelor’s degree with a major in math and minor in computer science in 2005 and completed work on his masters in mathematics from Tarleton State in 2007. 

As a student athlete, he qualified for the state high school 1600 meter run in 2000 and was a regional cross-country qualifier in 2001, 2002, and 2004 while attending Tarleton.  In 2001, Coach Hicks set the Tarleton State school record in the 10,000 meter run with a 32:48:57. 

Coach Hicks and his wife of four years Amber do not have any kids, but have a dog named Sara and a cat name Dottie.

Assistant Coach - John Mikalik
jmikalik@wtc.edu
325-574-7930

John Mikalik better known as Mik, begins his first season as the assistant men’s and women’s cross-country and track coach at Western Texas College.

Mik joined WTC on August 3 after one season as a graduate assistant at McMurry University.  During that season, McMurry’s men finished 4th at the DIII National Indoor Championships and 2nd at the DIII Outdoor National Championships.  In his first season with the Westerner’s, Coach Mik is looking to make a name for himself in the coaching world by showing that the men’s and women’s programs are here to compete with the best.

Born and raised in Georgetown, 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.

Mik coached Jim Bob Bizzell for the T44 2008 Summer Paralympic Games in the 200m and 400m events. 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 Paralympic Games Gold medal. 

Coach Mik is also a new father to his daughter Harlee.