Track Coaches

Doug McDowell is the Director of Coaching and Head Coach for Waza TC. His background is with running events – both sprints and distance. He ran track and cross country at United States Military Academy West Point.

Coach Kari started coaching at the age of 14 for a youth track program. She received her Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from EMU and her Masters degree in Exercise Physiology from Wayne State. She is a certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine. Most recently she received her USATF Level 1 certification. When she is not coaching track, she works at the University of Michigan running a cardiac stress testing lab along with working in cardiac rehab. Personally, Coach Kari started running track at 4 years old and she has not stopped! She raced hurdles in high school and in college. After college, she took up road racing, every where from 5k’s to marathons. 10 years ago, she beat breast cancer and she celebrated by taking on triathlons! She has done dozens including multiple half Ironmans. On her bucket list is the FULL IRONMAN! She is also a mother to 2 very active kids – Aidan (13) who is a highly competitive wrestler and lacrosse player and Miranda (16) who is an amazing distance runner, and the one that got me involved in WAZA TC over 4 years ago.

Coach Toby has 20 years of coaching experience with the throws disciplines (9 years at Edsel Ford HS and 11 years of AAU/USATF youth with the Magsig-Pallett Throwing Club). He threw for Michigan Tech and continues to compete in various open/masters/senior meets. He has been assisting with the Waza throwers since 2017.

Asst. Coach Marisa ran with WAZA from 2013-2015 where she went from running distance events to sprinting and multi-events. She graduated from Lakeland High School in 2017 where she ran varsity cross country and track for 4 years. Now (2019/2020), she is a junior at Johns Hopkins University where she is a sprinter on the track team.

Thank you to UWUA Local 223 for its financial contribution to Waza TC for JO Games expenses in 2018!