New track and field coach Collin Cunningham has high hopes for the 2014 spring season and brings both experience and enthusiasm to the team.

Cunningham currently works at Needwood Academy (formerly known as Mark Twain), within the MCPS Alternative Programs where he teaches history and economics. He previously taught in Prince George’s County for six years; he also coached boys’ soccer, JV softball and varsity baseball.

Cunningham participated in track in high school and qualified for states as a hurdler. He has always wanted to coach track, but never had the opportunity until now.

“I live in Rockville, I teach in Rockville and I wanted to coach in Rockville as well. When the opportunity to coach track and field at RHS came up, I had to jump on it,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham plans to have more athletes qualifying for all levels: county, regional and states. He has constantly pushed his team in the short time he has been at RHS. The athletes respect him for his drive towards success.

“He is dedicated to the team and to building a program. He works us hard but I am very confident that we will have good results this year,” junior long distance runner Angela Barney said.

The team remains motivated and excited to see the results of hard work this season. With a new coach and a new outlook, the program has potential for growth and victory. “I’m pumped for this season. We’re going to work hard, have fun and do some really good things, and hopefully that will translate into county, regional, state champions and a growing program,” Cunningham said.

Coaching along with Cunningham is veteran coach Karl Kraus, who previously coached cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. With a young team, Kraus believes that it will be easy for Cunningham to build a program that will be successful in the future. The Rams take on Albert Einstein HS March 25.

“He is really devoted into building a program over the upcoming years,” Kraus said.