COACH'S CORNER

Rob Putnam

Head Coach

Distances

A Panther since 2015, Coach Putnam ran Cross Country at Palomar College, and has a bachelors degree in Kinesiology and teaching credential from Cal State San Marcos. He was assistant track/cross country coach for Palomar and Escondido High School before his first

Head Coaching job at age 26 with Mission Hills High. After 3 years as the Grizzlies Head Coach, he joined Vista High to teach physical education. “Coach Put” has had six League Champion teams, and one CIF Cross Country Title. His track teams have a total win-loss record of 98-47, he's coached 9 individual CIF Champions, and twice a 3rd place individual at the CA State Championships. His favorite coaching memories are going undefeated in 2015 by winning the last duel in the final minutes vs RBV, the 2015 guys CC team who went to State, and the 2021 squad who also went undefeated! His favorite team is his family at home. He married his high school sweetheart, Naomi and they have 2 sons and 2 daughters: Silas, Eli, Finnley and Flora. GO BIG RED!!!

Pete Brooks

Pole Vault

Coach Brooks has been a great presence for Vista since 1995, coaching Track, Cross Country and teaching Social Studies. Know as an outstanding teacher and coach, Brooks learned from the best. His father, Joe Brooks, is known for building one of the most successful San Diego High School Track programs at El Capitan High School. Along with Pete and his wife Cindy, many of the best coaches from San Diego are athletes who were inspired and mentored by Joe Brooks. Currently serving as Pole Vault Coach, Pete is the 2nd most tenured head coach in program history after the late Jim Downs. His track teams between 1995 and 2008 are dominant among Vista’s record books, and he has coached 12 Individual CIF Champions. In Pole Vault he coached the 2007 CIF Pole Vault Champion, and many outstanding individuals including 6 girls over 10 feet, 6 boys over 15 feet, all but 1 of the top 20 pole vaulters in school history, several athletes to State Championships, and countless athletes to CIF Prelims and Finals. As Cross Country Coach for many years, he coached the CIF team Champions in 2000, won four league titles and coached several individual champions. A father of two, Pete has enjoyed coaching his daughter Kylie and son Joey.

Al McClure

High Jump

Coach McClure’s tenure goes back to his days as a Vista High athlete on great teams including the San Diego CIF Track & Field Championship team in 1972, being the CIF High Jump Champion in 1973, and holding school records in High Jump (6’7”) and Triple Jump (47’6”) which stood till 1981 and 2003 respectively. After competing in college McClure went on to coach the Panthers for many years, including very successful stints as Head Coach, as well as coaching many of the best jumpers that have come through the program. His son, Stefan has been a defensive back in the NFL and currently still holds the Vista record in triple jump (49’3.5”), following in his dad’s footsteps. He has coached 11 CIFSDS Individual Champions, all for Vista High.

Nate Hale

Sprints, Relays

A Vista High School alum, class of 2015, Coach Nate is right at home as a panther! A four year track athlete and team MVP in 2015 for the undefeated league champion Panthers, Nate has continued at California State San Marcos where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in finance and was a Division II NCAA sprinter. He has personal bests of 49.6 in the 400 along with a 22.1 in the 200 which puts him on the Cougars all-time sprints rankings along with multiple Conference Finals appearances. In his final year of collegiate competition, Nate turned himself over to becoming a mentor to future athletes and is our Vista Sprints Coach. As a local kid with a huge heart for Vista, Nate is mainly looking to involve all of his athletes in his coaching style. His personal goal is to have the largest group of CIF sprinters this year and build a strong team mentality.

Bryce Johnson

Hurdles/ Assistant Sprints

Coach Johnson was born and raised in San Diego and started his track and field career at Steele Canyon High School as a sprinter, hurdler and jumper. He ran all four years and received team MVP both his sophomore and senior years. He now continues his track career as a Cougar at Cal State San Marcos, where he is also a hurdler, sprinter and jumper while studying Kinesiology and Sociology. He has placed top 10 in all Conference Championships his last three years, and was ranked 4th NCAA Division II All- Regional in the 2018 season. He is on the Cal State San Marcos top 5 all time list with 14.65 in the 110m hurdles. One of his track career goals is to qualify for the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan. After being endowed with so much knowledge of the track world he now wants to pass that knowledge onto the younger athletes, and will be serving as the VHS hurdle and assistant sprint coach. Since this will be his first time coaching his goal is to create a hard working mentality, and help the team get many athletes on to CIF Finals. At the same he ultimately wants to create a fun experience for the kids and help them develop the same love for the sport that he has enjoyed.

Whitney DeWeese

Throws

Coach Whitney DeWeese grew up in Vista and graduated from Rancho Buena Vista in 2004. She holds school records in both Shot Put and Discus, won CIF two years in a row and competed at the State Track and Field meet for three years. After High School, Whitney attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she competed in the Shot Put, Discus, Hammer and Javelin throws while studying Psychology and Child Development. She then went on to graduate and coach many conference-winning athletes at Palomar Community College for six years. She now works as a School Counselor at Foothill Oak Elementary School and coaches the throwers here at Vista High School. Coach Whitney hopes to instill a positive mindset, great work ethic and effective skill set in order to create a well- rounded athlete who will be successful not only on the track, but also in the classroom and in life.