Michael Waller, Assistant Coach

Michael Waller, is in his fourth season as an assistant track and field coach. His primary responsibilities are the sprints and relay events.

Michael competed for one season at Utah State University, one season at Spokane Community College and two seasons at Whitworth College in football, the sprints and relays. At SCC he anchored on a 4x100 relay team that won the NWAACC championship. At Whitworth he was a two-time NAIA national qualifier in the indoor 55 meter dash and 4x100 relay. He received an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from SFCC.

His coaching background includes six seasons as an assistant coach at Decatur High School (1999-2004) and six years at the Federal Way Track Club (1995-2000) as the head sprint coach. He helped coach the Decatur girls' team to a third-place finish at state and coached the 2004 state champion in the 100 and the state runner-up in the 200. At the Federal Way Track Club he has coached several national finalists.

Waller is currently a USATF Masters Track All-American in the 100, 200 and 400 meter sprints. He is a national champion in the 200 meter dash (M45) and a national silver medalist in the indoor 200 meter dash.

Waller is a pastor at Christ Life Center Church in Tacoma. He and his wife, Vanessa, are the parents of three sons -- Michael Jr., Joshua and Caleb.

Jason Sims, Assistant Coach

Jason Sims is in his third season as an assistant track and field coach at PLU. He assists primarily with the hurdlers.

Sims has coached two years at Decatur High School. He started as a volunteer coach and within his first month was promoted to the hurdles coach. He also assisted Michael Waller with the sprinters and quarter-milers. Three of his male hurdlers were district league meet qualifiers and two female hurdles placed at the district meet.

He is currently employed by Boeing.

Al Broeckel, Assistant Coach

Al Broeckel returns to his alma mater for his third season as an assistant coach. His primary coaching responsibility is the pole vault.

Broeckel received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Education from Pacific Lutheran. He taught and coached football, basketball and track in the DuPont-Fort Lewis and Clover Park school districts, and also coached track at Bethel High School.

Broeckel and his wife June, a retired elementary school teacher who is also a PLU alum, reside in Fircrest, Wash. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Chris Wood, Assistant Coach

Chris Wood is in his first season as a Pacific Lutheran track & field assistant coach. He is responsible for the horizontal jumps and the javelin throw.

Wood wears several hats at Pacific Lutheran. His primary responsibilities are serving as the Names Fitness Center Director and as the athletic department's strength and conditioning coordinator.

He most recently served as fitness center director, strength coordinator and adjunct physical education instructor at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Penn., and as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at LaSalle University in Philadelphia.

Wood earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from the University of Puget Sound in 2003, and his master’s degree in sport and recreation administration from Temple University in 2005. His wife, Nicole, is a PLU graduate and now a teacher in PLU’s Department of Movement Studies and Wellness Education, formerly the School of Physical Education.