Email: davidk@tabor.edu
Phone: 620-947-3121, ext. 1505
Length of time at Tabor: Since 1997
Athletic background
This is my 9th year as the Head Men's and Women's Track Coach at Tabor College. Previously, I was an assistant track coach at Dundy County High School in Benkelman, NE. I was also the head football coach at Dundy County for 5 years. Previous to that, I was the head football coach at Holyoke, CO, for 5 years and before that I was an assistant coach at Tonganoxie, KS, Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS, Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, WA, and Illahee Jr. High School in Federal Way, WA. I have also coached as an assistant in basketball and softball. I'm a former Bluejay athlete who played 4 years of football, 3 years of basketball, and 1 year of baseball at Tabor.
- KCAC Co-Coach of the Year-Women's Track-2003
- KCAC Co-Coach of the Year-Men's Track-2004
- Published "All I Needed to Know I Learned in Football," Scholastic Coach magazine, 1994
Family
I have been married to my wife, Kim, for 30 years and together we have 4 children. Our daughter Angela is 26 graduated from Tabor and is now married Andrew Jost. They have a daughter, Addison, who was born May 30, 2008. We have two other daughters, Shannon (24) who graduated from Tabor and Cassie (18) who is a senior at Hillsboro High School. Our son Kyle is 21 years old and is a junior at Tabor. I enjoy music and like to sing. I play the piano and compose music. I'm an elder at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church where I teach adult Sunday School and occasionally lead music in worship.
Coaching style
I want to help athletes get better than they are now, both athletically and spiritually. We run an excellent program where everyone will get coached, no matter their ability level and everyone will be challenged to grow spiritually in their understanding of who they are in Christ. I am an encourager. That's my personality and I believe that is also a spiritual gift. I get excited about PRs and excellent performances. I'm the flexibility coach. I work with a lot of multiple-sport athletes and I try to accommodate their participation in those sports even during our competitive season. My cup is always 1/2 full. I try to always see the best in people. I'm a very positive person most of the time except when athletes don't communicate with me about things like injuries, absences, etc. I strive to run a big-time program within the parameters that Tabor offers. We will have the most up-to-date training methods available. We will have a great strength program for all athletes. Above all, we will honor Christ with how we practice and how we compete. On the back of our track T-shirts each year will be 1st Corinthians 9:24-25, "Run (jump and throw) in such a way as to get . . . a crown that lasts forever."
What is special about athletics at Tabor?
The people. Tabor students, faculty and staff are caring and warm people. They will go out of their way to help each other. I also am completely sold on the Christ-centered experience that Tabor offers in athletics, academic, and residence life. Tabor is one of the few colleges in America where, if you make good choices, you could be a better person when you graduate, not just an educated one that survived ‘college'.
How do you integrate faith into your coaching?
It is one of the great joys of my life to see freshman grow athletically and spiritually into seniors who are ready for the next part of life. They figure out what it takes to be excellent in track and field and they grow towards a better understanding of how they should live life as a Christian. I covet the times that I get to share with my athletes, especially being able to talk about the Bible and about God and how those things make a difference in my life.
Ken Christensen begins his 6th season coaching Tabor's hurdlers, sprinters, and relays. Coach Christensen has enjoyed both a storied track career personally as well as coaching two Olympians: Blaine Lindgren, 1964 Silver Medalist in the 110M hurdles, and Tiffany Lott, 2004 Olympic Heptathlete.
Coach Christensen's personal track accomplishments include equaling the world record in the 100-yard dash at 9.3 seconds in 1957 and winning three gold medals in the 100-meter dash at the three different World Senior Games.
He has coached many national champions and has been a guest speaker at track and field clinics. He retired in the Hillsboro area from his home state of St. George, Utah.
Coach Espada begins his 2nd season with the Bluejay throwers.
(High Jump)
Coach Soo Hoo begins his 4th season as the men's and women's middle distance/distance coach. Joel is a Tabor College alum who ran cross country and track at Tabor and is presently employed at the Mennonite Brethren Foundation in Hillsboro as Vice President and Treasurer. His wife's name is Lori.
Coach Voth is a former track athlete at Tabor and 3-time conference champion in the 110m hurdles. This is Trent's 2nd season coaching for Tabor. He is an Associate pastor at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church. Trent will coach the hurdlers and sprinters and assist in recruiting.
