Zach Toothman
Head Boys Cross Country Coach
zachary.toothman@gmail.com
(812) 608-0836
Coach Toothman has been the head boys cross country coach at Avon High School since 2011 after serving as assistant coach under
Brandon DeHart in 2010. In his four years as the AXC head coach, the boys have steadily improved as a program, including three
IHSAA Sectional team titles, two Hendricks County titles, the program’s first ever IHSAA Regional championship (2014), the team’s
highest ever finish in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference (2nd, 2014), and the boys’ first ever team appearance in the IHSAA State
championships, where the Orioles finished 11th (2014). He is also the head boys track & field coach at AHS and trains the boys’
distance runners year-round. Before coming to Avon, Toothman was an assistant cross country coach at Franklin Central High
School in 2008, where the boys finished 6 th in the IHSAA State Finals, and then started up the first girls track & field program at
Franklin Township Middle School East in 2009, serving as head coach. He was then an assistant coach in both cross country and
track & field at Ben Davis High School during the 2009-2010 school year, where the Giants won the 2010 IHSAA 4x800m relay and
overall team IHSAA State championship in track & field.
Coach Toothman graduated from Tell City High School (Tell City, IN) in 2000 where he was an all-conference runner in cross country
and track & field. He then went on to the University of Southern Indiana where he received his degree in Psychology in 2005. He
also ran cross country and track & field for the Screaming Eagles and was Academic All-GLVC for three years and co-team captain in
2004. Toothman obtained his master’s degree in School Psychology from the University of Dayton and was the assistant men’s cross
country coach at UD from 2005-2007.
Coach Toothman currently works as a school psychologist for Decatur Township in Indianapolis. He is married to Erin (VickerySwalley) Toothman, an elementary special education teacher in Wayne Township and a 2001 graduate of Avon High School who also
coaches girls cross country and track & field at Ben Davis High School.
Bob Copeland
Assistant Boys Cross Country Coach
rdcopeland@avon-schools.org
317-418-1762
Coach Copeland graduated from Avon High School in 1976. He competed in cross country, wrestling and track & field. Bob
held the one and two mile school records (4:40 and 10:30, converted) at Avon and was Cross Country Most Valuable Runner
his senior year.
Copeland competed at Vincennes University and University of Evansville. He was awarded one cross country Most Valuable
Runner and held the 10000m track record at U.of E. As a graduate assistant, he started and coached the first girls cross
country team at U. of E.
In 1982 Bob was hired at Avon Middle School to teach physical education. Over the years he has coached sixteen years of
middle school wrestling, fifteen years of middle school and high school cross country and over a dozen years of middle school
and high school track and field.
Coach Copeland’s personal records of 15:50 5k, 32:42 10k, 1:11 I/2 marathon and 2:31 marathon were “many miles and many
years ago.” However, he still enjoys training and racing competitively in his age group.
Copeland is married to Rochelle. Their blended family includes five children and eight grandchildren.
Coach Copeland’s passion for coaching has always been toward “helping athletes understand what it takes to win, and that
training hard for personal and team success is worthwhile and can even be fun.”
Caleb Bailey
Assistant Boys Cross Country Coach
calebshanebailey@gmail.com
317-430-1769
Coach Bailey is entering his first year as an assistant coach for boys cross country at Avon High School. Prior to coaching at Avon High
School, Coach Bailey spent two years at USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body for track and field, cross country and
long distance running. While at USATF, Bailey developed strategic marketing plans to enhance and increase fan engagement and
increase membership. Coach Bailey worked closely with elite athletes to help create deeper and more meaningful connections with
fans.
Coach Bailey graduated from Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC) in 2004 with a degree in Sport Management. While at
Western Carolina he was a two-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier in the 800m and in cross country. In addition, he was a seventime individual champion, 4-time athlete of the month, overall male Athlete of the Year and current school record holder in the 800
(1:48:32) and 10k XC (30:15). After college Bailey signed a contract to run for the Indiana Invaders, an elite track and field team in
Indianapolis, and competed for the Invaders until 2008.
Coach Bailey lives in Plainfield with his beautiful wife Jennifer and their five children, Zachary, Delaney, Keely, Cooper, and Juliet. In
addition to his coaching duties, Coach Bailey is a stay at home dad and says it’s the most physically demanding job he has ever had,
but by far the most rewarding!
George Noah
Assistant Boys Cross Country Coach
gtnoah2@gmail.com
(316) 218-7364
Coach Noah is currently in his first year of coaching at Avon High School. His previous experience includes working with high school
students at Brahms’ Running Camp, a summer running camp where he has been a counselor for five years. He has also participated
in the Big Brother Big Sister program to help less fortunate kids by setting a positive example.
Coach Noah graduated from Avon High School in 2005 where he ran on the school record setting 4x800m relay team that also
qualified for the IHSAA State Championships. He is also the former Hendricks County record holder in the 1600m run. During his
senior year at Avon, he was voted MVP for both cross country and track. After graduating from Avon High School, he went on to
Purdue University where he received his degree in the Professional Flight program and commission in to the armed forces. He also
ran cross country and track for the Boilermakers and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient. His college cross country
career is highlighted by scoring for the Boilermakers at the 2007 Big Ten Championships.
Coach Noah recently finished five years of military service and is currently taking time off from work to pursue personal goals. He
enjoys rock climbing, modifying cars, traveling and exercise in general.
Anthony L. Newbern Sr.
Assistant Boys Cross Country Coach
newbernal13@sbcglobal.net
317-679-1385
Coach Newbern graduated from East Saint Louis High School in Illinois in 1985. He was All-State in the 800m and ran on the 4x800
and the 4x400 meter relays as well. Coach Newbern earned three varsity letters in cross country and track & field while in high
school and also helped his team to win the 1985 Illinois State Class AA Track Championship during his senior year. He was also a part
of the East St. Louis Railers Summer Track Club and ran in the USATF Junior Olympics.
Coach Newbern attended Indiana State University on a track & field scholarship where he received a degree in Information
Technology. He ran both cross country and track & field for the Sycamores and was a four-year letter winner. Coach Newbern also
held the ISU school indoor record for the 4x800 meter relay and the distance medley relay. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity.
Coach Newbern is married to Debra and has two children that are currently enrolled at Avon. Both Anthony II (Tony) and Lauren are
active on the track & field team, while Tony is currently a senior on the Orioles’ cross country team and Lauren is a cheerleader for
AHS. Coach Newbern works as a System Administrator for a Financial Institution in Carmel, Indiana and has a level 1 USATF track &
field certification. He continues to run and weight train in his spare time and also enjoys mentoring, flag football and traveling.