Meet the Coaches
Meet the Coaches Kevin Sweeney
Aaron Atkins
Head Coach Men’s and Women’s Skiing
Head Coach Alpine
When Kevin Sweeney became an assistant coach with the Utah ski program in 1991, he was given the opportunity to work with one of the most prominent ski programs in the nation. With 11 years under his belt (five as the head coach), Sweeney has built a solid reputation in the ranks of collegiate ski racing and continues to carry on the Ute ski team tradition of excellence. Under Sweeney’s direction, the Utes have been on the NCAA Championship podium for the past five seasons. In 2003, the Utes won the NCAA Skiing Championships by a record point margin of 131 points. In 2004, the Utes placed second at the NCAA Skiing Championships. In 2002 the Utes placed third overall and in 2001, fourth. The 2003 victory was the program’s 11th national title and first since 1997. In 2003, Sweeney was the recipient of the prestigious Don Reddish Award, which is presented annually to the coach of a sport other than football, men’s and women’s basketball and gymnastics, who is deemed to have had the most successful season the previous year. The Utes have been in contention for the title every season under Sweeney’s tenure. He has coached 15 NCAA national champions, four Olympians, four junior national champions, three U-23 participants and one current member of the U.S. Ski Team. “Winning the NCAA Championships has been the highlight of my coaching career, hands down. I think about it every day. It is magical when all the elements come together. It takes time, hard work, patience and then, just letting the athletes do what they know how to do best, and that’s ski fast!” Sweeney is active in the ski community. He is presently the Chair of the NCAA Skiing Rules Committee and is also a member of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association’s Cross Country Skiing Committee. Sweeney was also an assistant to the U.S. Ski Team at the World Championships in Ramsau, Austria. “The years are starting to add up,” exclaims Sweeney. “I’ve had a lot of experience as a competitor and a coach. I see and deal with the trends everyday. It’s nice, and natural, for me to be involved with these committees. I pride myself in knowing our program not only provides a fantastic educational opportunity, but also serves as a tremendous stepping stone for athletes who aspire to compete on the national and international level.” As a competitive skier, Sweeney represented the University of New Hampshire in NCAA competition and represented the U.S. Ski Team in World Cup competition at Mountain Dell, Utah, and Biwabik, Minn. He graduated from UNH cum laude in 1985. An avid adventurer, Sweeney immensely enjoys the mountains and desert of Utah. “It’s hard to beat the powder days in the Wasatch and the redrock wonders of the south,” he says. As the leader of a program that is so rich in tradition and vying for the NCAA title each year, Sweeney emphasizes excellence in the classroom and on the racecourse, as well as a go-for-it attitude. “We have such tremendous facilities and staff at the U., great support and outrageous venues at which to train and compete. I just want each athlete to take advantage of all this 100 percent. When we make this our goal, everybody is up, positive and motivated. This builds the team chemistry that allows us success. It’s hard to describe this in words …this is where the results come from. The student-athletes are such a great group of people you just can’t help wanting the best for them. My staff is dynamite too so we have a real family atmosphere here, “ says Sweeney.
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Aaron Atkins returns for his third year as the head alpine coach. A former Ute skier, Atkins had an immediate impact and tremendous success in his first year coaching the tradition rich Utes. The U. alpine squad lit the courses on fire at the NCAA Championships and brought home two NCAA individual titles and five All-America honors. As Head Coach Kevin Sweeney’s first assistant, Atkins has demonstrated that he shares the Ute philosophy of seeking excellence and building team chemistry. Previously, Atkins spent the past five years as the development coach for the Park City Ski Team, a team that was voted the best ski team in the nation two of the last three years. During that time, Atkins also served as a history and Spanish teacher, dean of students and head conditioning coach at the Winter Sports School in Park City. Atkins was named the Humanities Teacher of the Year in 2001 and is Level 1 Coaching Certified by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association. Atkins earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the U. in 1998, and was a member of the 1996 and ‘97 national championship teams. He and his wife, Nina, reside in Park City. The Nevada City, Calif., native, helped lead his ’96 and ’97 alpine squads to two NCAA Championships as an athlete. “Aaron has done a superb job leading the alpine squad. We’re getting a lot of attention because of his leadership,” says Sweeney.
Jaka Korencan Jaka Korencan
Assistant Coach Alpine
With four years of coaching experience at Utah, Jaka Korencan returns as the assistant coach for the alpine team. He is responsible for helping the ski team keep up on techniques and equipment. Before coming to Utah, Korencan competed for the Slovenia national junior team for three years and placed in the top-five at the Junior National Championships numerous times. The Ljubljana, Slovenia native is working on his graduate degree in exercise and sports science at the U. “Jaka is the wizard at the start when competition is about to go down,” remarks Sweeney. “He plays such an important role in those few minutes before racing begins finetuning equipment and settling nerves. He’s dynamite.” .
Utah Skiing
Meet the Coaches Stephan Kunz Assistant Coach Cross Country Assistant cross country ski coach Stephan Kunz enters his first season with the Utes. Kunz will assist Sweeney with the cross country program. The Liechtenstein native will provide the athletes with the day-to-day management, training and race preparation. His focus will be to provide the athletes with knowledge in training, techniques and waxing. “ I’m looking forward to that great challenge. It’s a pleasure to work with motivated young skiers,” says Kunz. Kunz has raced at the highest level in the world for nine years. The seasoned veteran skier took part in three Olympic Winter games, including the Salt Lake City Winter Games and five Nordic World Ski Championships. Kunz’s best results have been two second-place finishes and one third-place finish at the World Cup races. In 2000, Kunz took seventh overall at the World Cup. The nordic skier will also be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the U. “I’m confident in Stephan’s expertise,” says Sweeney. “There really isn’t any team in the United States that has someone like him on the staff.”
UT AH SKI COACHES UTAH YEARS
COACH
1950-54 ................. John Squires 1954-62 ................. Pres. Summerhays 1963-67 ................. Marv Melville 1968-69 ................. Rich Groth 1970-71 ................. Matz Jensen 1972-73 ................. Ladd Christensen 1974-76 ................. Phil Klingsmith/Pat Miller 1977-81 ................. Pat Miller/Roo Harris 1982-83 ................. Pat Miller/Steve Devin/Bernt Lund 1983-84 ................. Pat Miller/Steve Devin/Oyvind Solvang 1984-85 ................. Pat Miller/Steve Devin/Bernt Lund 1986 ....................... Pat Miller/Tom Cannon/Bernt Lund 1987 ....................... Pat Miller/Scott Hutcheson/Bernt Lund 1988 ....................... Pat Miller/Lester Keller/Bernt Lund 1989-90 ................. Pat Miller/Lester Keller/Alan Watson 1991 ....................... Pat Miller/Gord Perry/Alan Watson 1992-94 ................. Pat Miller/Gord Perry/Kevin Sweeney 1995-96 ................. Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Mark Bonnell/John Farra 1996-97 ................. Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Gard Sem/Thomas Weman 1998 ....................... Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Ovidio G. Martinez-Vicente/Tor Arne Haugen 1999 ....................... Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Mike Elvidge/Eli Brown 2000 ....................... Kevin Sweeney/Thom Morton 2001-02 ................. Kevin Sweeney/Ryan Forsyth 2003 ....................... Kevin Sweeney/Aaron Atkins 2004 ....................... Kevin Sweeney/Aaron Atkins
Bob Toth Head Athletic Trainer
Ute alpine skier Ben Thornhill celebrates his second straight GS title at the NCAA championships in Reno, Nev., last year.
Head medical trainer Bob Toth is also onboard again this year. Toth received a bachelor degree in athletic training from Hope College and later completed his master’s degree at the University of Oregon. “Bob’s commitment to excellence is fantastic. He’s instrumental to our success. There will always be medical issues we must confront. It brings great peace of mind to myself and the athletes that we have someone as knowledgeable and dedicated as Bob,” says Sweeney. Bob’s assistant will be newcomer Kate Eidens.
www.UtahUtes.com
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Aaron Atkins
Head Coach Men’s and Women’s Skiing
Head Coach Alpine
When Kevin Sweeney became an assistant coach with the Utah ski program in 1991, he was given the opportunity to work with one of the most prominent ski programs in the nation. With 11 years under his belt (five as the head coach), Sweeney has built a solid reputation in the ranks of collegiate ski racing and continues to carry on the Ute ski team tradition of excellence. Under Sweeney’s direction, the Utes have been on the NCAA Championship podium for the past five seasons. In 2003, the Utes won the NCAA Skiing Championships by a record point margin of 131 points. In 2004, the Utes placed second at the NCAA Skiing Championships. In 2002 the Utes placed third overall and in 2001, fourth. The 2003 victory was the program’s 11th national title and first since 1997. In 2003, Sweeney was the recipient of the prestigious Don Reddish Award, which is presented annually to the coach of a sport other than football, men’s and women’s basketball and gymnastics, who is deemed to have had the most successful season the previous year. The Utes have been in contention for the title every season under Sweeney’s tenure. He has coached 15 NCAA national champions, four Olympians, four junior national champions, three U-23 participants and one current member of the U.S. Ski Team. “Winning the NCAA Championships has been the highlight of my coaching career, hands down. I think about it every day. It is magical when all the elements come together. It takes time, hard work, patience and then, just letting the athletes do what they know how to do best, and that’s ski fast!” Sweeney is active in the ski community. He is presently the Chair of the NCAA Skiing Rules Committee and is also a member of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association’s Cross Country Skiing Committee. Sweeney was also an assistant to the U.S. Ski Team at the World Championships in Ramsau, Austria. “The years are starting to add up,” exclaims Sweeney. “I’ve had a lot of experience as a competitor and a coach. I see and deal with the trends everyday. It’s nice, and natural, for me to be involved with these committees. I pride myself in knowing our program not only provides a fantastic educational opportunity, but also serves as a tremendous stepping stone for athletes who aspire to compete on the national and international level.” As a competitive skier, Sweeney represented the University of New Hampshire in NCAA competition and represented the U.S. Ski Team in World Cup competition at Mountain Dell, Utah, and Biwabik, Minn. He graduated from UNH cum laude in 1985. An avid adventurer, Sweeney immensely enjoys the mountains and desert of Utah. “It’s hard to beat the powder days in the Wasatch and the redrock wonders of the south,” he says. As the leader of a program that is so rich in tradition and vying for the NCAA title each year, Sweeney emphasizes excellence in the classroom and on the racecourse, as well as a go-for-it attitude. “We have such tremendous facilities and staff at the U., great support and outrageous venues at which to train and compete. I just want each athlete to take advantage of all this 100 percent. When we make this our goal, everybody is up, positive and motivated. This builds the team chemistry that allows us success. It’s hard to describe this in words …this is where the results come from. The student-athletes are such a great group of people you just can’t help wanting the best for them. My staff is dynamite too so we have a real family atmosphere here, “ says Sweeney.
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Aaron Atkins returns for his third year as the head alpine coach. A former Ute skier, Atkins had an immediate impact and tremendous success in his first year coaching the tradition rich Utes. The U. alpine squad lit the courses on fire at the NCAA Championships and brought home two NCAA individual titles and five All-America honors. As Head Coach Kevin Sweeney’s first assistant, Atkins has demonstrated that he shares the Ute philosophy of seeking excellence and building team chemistry. Previously, Atkins spent the past five years as the development coach for the Park City Ski Team, a team that was voted the best ski team in the nation two of the last three years. During that time, Atkins also served as a history and Spanish teacher, dean of students and head conditioning coach at the Winter Sports School in Park City. Atkins was named the Humanities Teacher of the Year in 2001 and is Level 1 Coaching Certified by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association. Atkins earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the U. in 1998, and was a member of the 1996 and ‘97 national championship teams. He and his wife, Nina, reside in Park City. The Nevada City, Calif., native, helped lead his ’96 and ’97 alpine squads to two NCAA Championships as an athlete. “Aaron has done a superb job leading the alpine squad. We’re getting a lot of attention because of his leadership,” says Sweeney.
Jaka Korencan Jaka Korencan
Assistant Coach Alpine
With four years of coaching experience at Utah, Jaka Korencan returns as the assistant coach for the alpine team. He is responsible for helping the ski team keep up on techniques and equipment. Before coming to Utah, Korencan competed for the Slovenia national junior team for three years and placed in the top-five at the Junior National Championships numerous times. The Ljubljana, Slovenia native is working on his graduate degree in exercise and sports science at the U. “Jaka is the wizard at the start when competition is about to go down,” remarks Sweeney. “He plays such an important role in those few minutes before racing begins finetuning equipment and settling nerves. He’s dynamite.” .
Utah Skiing
Meet the Coaches Stephan Kunz Assistant Coach Cross Country Assistant cross country ski coach Stephan Kunz enters his first season with the Utes. Kunz will assist Sweeney with the cross country program. The Liechtenstein native will provide the athletes with the day-to-day management, training and race preparation. His focus will be to provide the athletes with knowledge in training, techniques and waxing. “ I’m looking forward to that great challenge. It’s a pleasure to work with motivated young skiers,” says Kunz. Kunz has raced at the highest level in the world for nine years. The seasoned veteran skier took part in three Olympic Winter games, including the Salt Lake City Winter Games and five Nordic World Ski Championships. Kunz’s best results have been two second-place finishes and one third-place finish at the World Cup races. In 2000, Kunz took seventh overall at the World Cup. The nordic skier will also be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the U. “I’m confident in Stephan’s expertise,” says Sweeney. “There really isn’t any team in the United States that has someone like him on the staff.”
UT AH SKI COACHES UTAH YEARS
COACH
1950-54 ................. John Squires 1954-62 ................. Pres. Summerhays 1963-67 ................. Marv Melville 1968-69 ................. Rich Groth 1970-71 ................. Matz Jensen 1972-73 ................. Ladd Christensen 1974-76 ................. Phil Klingsmith/Pat Miller 1977-81 ................. Pat Miller/Roo Harris 1982-83 ................. Pat Miller/Steve Devin/Bernt Lund 1983-84 ................. Pat Miller/Steve Devin/Oyvind Solvang 1984-85 ................. Pat Miller/Steve Devin/Bernt Lund 1986 ....................... Pat Miller/Tom Cannon/Bernt Lund 1987 ....................... Pat Miller/Scott Hutcheson/Bernt Lund 1988 ....................... Pat Miller/Lester Keller/Bernt Lund 1989-90 ................. Pat Miller/Lester Keller/Alan Watson 1991 ....................... Pat Miller/Gord Perry/Alan Watson 1992-94 ................. Pat Miller/Gord Perry/Kevin Sweeney 1995-96 ................. Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Mark Bonnell/John Farra 1996-97 ................. Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Gard Sem/Thomas Weman 1998 ....................... Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Ovidio G. Martinez-Vicente/Tor Arne Haugen 1999 ....................... Pat Miller/Kevin Sweeney/Mike Elvidge/Eli Brown 2000 ....................... Kevin Sweeney/Thom Morton 2001-02 ................. Kevin Sweeney/Ryan Forsyth 2003 ....................... Kevin Sweeney/Aaron Atkins 2004 ....................... Kevin Sweeney/Aaron Atkins
Bob Toth Head Athletic Trainer
Ute alpine skier Ben Thornhill celebrates his second straight GS title at the NCAA championships in Reno, Nev., last year.
Head medical trainer Bob Toth is also onboard again this year. Toth received a bachelor degree in athletic training from Hope College and later completed his master’s degree at the University of Oregon. “Bob’s commitment to excellence is fantastic. He’s instrumental to our success. There will always be medical issues we must confront. It brings great peace of mind to myself and the athletes that we have someone as knowledgeable and dedicated as Bob,” says Sweeney. Bob’s assistant will be newcomer Kate Eidens.
www.UtahUtes.com
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