Bushnell Q&A with Coach Walcott (March 2023)
George Walcott has been coaching with the Bushnell track & field program since 2013 and currently serves as the Associate Head Coach helping to oversee the entire program with coaching duties specifically in sprints and relays.
Walcott has been a strong recruiter and coach, and through the 2021 season has overseen the careers of 19 All-CCC individuals and six All-Conference relay teams. Under his watch, Beacons have earned five individual CCC Championships, six All-American honors and 27 NAIA-Daktronics Scholar AthletesÂ
Walcott came to the Beacons with over 25 years of coaching experience in Track & Field. He began his coaching career in the late 1980's as an assistant coach for his Alma Mater, The University of Oregon. He also had a one-year stint as an assistant with the Stanford University Cardinal.Â
Most recently, Walcott coached at Churchill High School where he finished his final season as the Head Track & Field Coach in 2014. During his thirteen years with the Lancers, he coached nine individual state champions and over 60 district champions. His teams also won a pair of state and district championships.Â
Walcott has built a strong reputation in the Eugene area as a sport consultant and personal trainer, working with numerous local athletes and teams across a multitude of sports in the areas of strength and conditioning, speed, agility, and flexibility. Since 1994, he has been the owner and operator of the highly successful "Training by George Walcott."
Walcott has had a storied athletic career, beginning while he was a student at Calabar Boys High School in Jamaica. In 1979 he was the Jamaican National and Caribbean champion in the 100 meters and was the first recipient of the Norman Manley Prime Minister's Trophy. He also represented his school at the Penn Relays, taking first-place in the boys 4x100m relay as they set a school and meet record (41.63). He also represented Jamaica at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico.Â
In 1980 he moved to the states to attend Central Arizona College. During his time there, he won the 200 meter JUCO national championship, conference championships in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m, was a two-time Male Athlete of the Year and qualified for the Jamaican Olympic trials.Â
Walcott moved to Eugene in 1981 to attend the University of Oregon where he was twice named the Most Inspirational athlete as he qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the 100m and 200m as a junior and senior. He exploded as a senior, winning the Pac-10 Championship in the 200m and represented Jamaica at the first ever World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, competing in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. He once again represented his country at the Pan American Games in Venezuela in the 4x100m relays.Â
What his athletes have said:Â
Adrienne Mai: "George has made an immense impact on my life. He has encouraged and pushed me athletically, but even more than has cared about me as an individual. He has believed in me and my abilities even when I did not, reminding me to never lose sight of my goals no matter how far they may have seemed. George has not just taught me to succeed as an athlete but as a person. He has taught me to never lose heart or faith."
Antonio Campos-Perez: "George was my coach in high school and all through college. His impact helped develop my discipline and mindset in who I am today. He pushed my work ethic to new levels not just physically on the track but in life as well. I wanted to see results fast from my training, but he helped me realize to trust in the process which in return made me also realize to trust and have faith in The Lord’s process and timing."
Sierra Janikowski: "Coach George has been the most supportive and caring coach! Anytime I’ve had any issues physically, mentally, or financially he has always been one step ahead to support me the way I needed. He believes in me and focuses on improving my abilities as an individual athlete as well as transforming me into a successful teammate and adult."
