Misson Statement
At Bear’s TC, we hope to inspire young athletes to embrace the journey of distance running, while fostering growth in character, class, work ethic, and integrity. We strive to provide a supportive environment where each athlete strives to be their best, regardless of speed, while encouraging them to become lifelong runners and competitors.
Meet the Coaches
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![Two male runners participating in an outdoor race along a lakeside trail, with one wearing a gray shirt and pink shorts, and the other in a blue shirt and orange shorts, both carrying hydration packs.]()
Luke Rodriguez
Head Coach
• 6 years of coaching experience. USATF Level 1 Certified, SafeSport Certified, Jack Daniels VDOT Certified.
• Current Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach at Palmer Ridge High School.
• In 2025, he helped coach Palmer Ridge High School to 4th and 5th place finishes at the Colorado State Meet. In the postseason, he earned his first Nike Southwest All-Regional coaching honor after helping the PRHS girls to a top NXR performance.
• Collegiate runner for XC/Track at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs.
• Master’s in Sports Nutrition and Physiology. Thesis on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs); Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Credential (RDN)
• Passionate about developing athletes to achieve their best through a combination of discipline and team culture.
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![Young man smiling, wearing navy blue athletic jacket with 'Regis Cross Country' logo, standing in front of a dark blue backdrop featuring the Regis Rangers logo and Adidas logo.]()
Zev Cayiem
Associate Head Coach
Zev Caiyem joins Bears Track Club as an experienced cross country and track coach with a strong background in competitive distance running.
He most recently coached at Regis University, where he helped the program achieve the highest RMAC Championship finishes in a decade for both the men’s and women’s teams.
In 2025, he helped coach Palmer Ridge High School to 4th and 5th place finishes at the Colorado State Meet. In the postseason, he earned his second Nike Southwest All-Regional coaching honor after helping the PRHS girls to a top NXR performance.
From 2020–2024, Coach Zev led the Discovery Canyon High School distance programs, guiding the girls’ cross country team to four consecutive State Championship improvements (14th → 12th → 9th → 6th) and coaching multiple top-10 State Track & Field finishers from 400m through 3200m. In 2024, DCC earned a Nike Southwest All-Region Team honor under his leadership.
A former NCAA Division II athlete at UCCS (2015–2020), Zev competed on and later served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for nationally ranked teams that placed 12th, 5th, 19th, and 13th at the NCAA Championships.
Coach Zev holds a B.S. in Health and Wellness Promotion with a minor in Nutrition and was named to the President’s List in 2020. He continues to train competitively from the mile to the marathon and is pursuing qualification for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
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![A young man wearing a navy blue Adidas sports shirt, a matching cap, and sunglasses, holding a camera, standing outdoors against a clear sky.]()
Daniel Russell
Head Sprints/Jumps/Hurdles Coach & Assistant XC Coach
• 14 years of coaching experience, USATF Level 2 certified in Sprints, Jumps, and Relays.
• Specializes in coaching jumps, hurdles, and multi-event athletes.
• Current Head Track Coach at Palmer Ridge High School.
• Coached multiple National Qualifiers and All-Americans
Philosophy:
“Character, Class, and Work Ethic. If we can get athletes to care about themselves and others and put in the work, the lessons extend beyond the track into their lives.”
