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Coaching Certificate Application
The coaching academy aims to assist students and student-athletes who are interested in the various opportunities related to the coaching profession and youth development. Our certificate program is designed to help students gain coaching experience while supporting them through the student coaching experience.
Are you interested in joining our network of coaches? Sign up today!
Contact Information
Physical Address:
Texas A&M Coaching Academy
Sydney and J.L. Huffines Institute
138 Gilchrist Building
Our Coaching Staff
Dr. John Thornton
Director – TAMU Coaching Academy
Dr. Thornton brings a wealth of experience as an athlete, coach, and athletic administrator to the position. In 2015, he was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Honor.
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Dr. Mike Thornton
Assistant Director – TAMU Coaching Academy
Dr. Mike Thornton is a Clinical Assistant Professor and executive director of the Deerfoot Youth Camp and Read Youth Charities. He also serves as a Division 1 Men’s Basketball official.
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Rashard Thurston
Program Coordinator
Rashard Thurston brings a wealth of experience as an educator, coach, and admintrator. He has over 15 years of coaching experience. He also serves as the advisor to the Student Coaching Association.
Troy Briscoe
Administrative Assistant
Troy is a Kinesiology major from Coppell, TX. His work as a personal trainer has inspired him to get involved with the Huffines Institute, where he has been since the fall of 2018. Troy is the Executive Producer of the Institute’s podcasts and also our text articles.
Our Coaching Partners
Monty Gibson
Sports Performance Coach
Monty Gibson is in his 24th year of coaching and 18th year as a member of the Texas A&M Strength and Conditioning staff, having been promoted to full time strength and conditioning coach in 2003.
Marlene Dixon
Coach and Professor
Marlene Dixon’s research focuses on relationships between sport and life quality. Her work endeavors to identify how sport can be designed, managed, and marketed to promote and enhance the life quality of individuals, families, and communities.
Ryan Pittsinger
Counseling and Sport Psychology Coach
Ryan Pittsinger, PhD joined the Athletics Department in 2016 and serves as Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology Services. He serves the needs of all student-athletes by honoring the unique demands and experiences they are often faced with and striving to offer support in meaningful ways that is tailored to each student-athlete’s specific needs.
Jamie McNeilly
Associate Head Coach – TAMU Basketball
Jamie McNeilly enters his second season as associate head coach for the Aggies and has been a part of Coach Williams’ coaching staff for the last 11 seasons at Marquette and Virginia Tech.
Jim Guinn
Conflict Resolution Coach
Dr. Guinn is the CEO of RRG Consulting. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and his Masters in Conflict Resolution from Abilene Christian University in four years.
Jessica Beard
Administrative Assistant
Jessica Beard has been participating in the World Championships in Athletics, winning gold in her relay team. She was inducted into the 2017 Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Blake Crawford
Administrative Assistant
Blake is a Kinesiology major with business and psychology minors from Mansfield, TX. Blake became involved with the Huffines Institute in 2017 and now works as the Administrative Assistant and Executive Producer over all the Institute’s media content.