Spain Park Athletics

My name is Michael Zelwak.  I have been married to my amazing wife, Anne, since 2000 and we have one daughter, Leighton, who is currently at Berry middle school.  We attend Mountain Brook Community Church.  I believe my role as a coach is to help our student-athletes become better athletes and better human beings who will contribute positively to their team and the world around them.  I have been the head cross country and track & field coach for the boys and girls teams at Spain Park since 2004. 

In my time at Spain Park, I have been extremely fortunate to work with amazing student-athletes and assistant coaches.  Through working together, our program has been able to have varying levels of success ranging from winning a state title to athletes competing in National Championships.  Our athletes have also earned numerous individual awards and titles on the state and national level.  We have had:

• 12 All-American athletes

• 42 Individual State Champions

• 74 Top 3 State Championship finishers

• 226 All-State athletes 

• 4 Gatorade Players of the Year 

• 3 athletes Qualified for US Olympic Trials

• 5 athletes became professional athletes

• Over 70 of our athletes have gone on to earn college scholarships
   

Coaching at Spain Park has enabled me to attend multiple coaching conferences and clinics across the country.  Through these conferences I have been able to develop friendships with coaches from some of the best programs in the country.  Over the past 20 years I have also been able to become connected to a vast network of college coaches and other professionals committed to track and field and cross country.  Through the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaching Association, USTFCCCA,  I have earned certifications for being an Endurance Event Specialist and a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  

Before Spain Park, I coached at Calera high school where I helped start their track & field program.  In just 2 years, we finished 3rd in the State Championship with several individual state champions in multiple events.