Meet Nicole Petty! GHS’s Head Cross-Country Coach

Coach Petty has coached cross-country for over 10 years, 9 of them at Garfield. She is a Garfield alum, where she played on the basketball team and ran cross-country and track, and also ran for the University of Nevada. She has a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, with an emphasis in Child & Adolescent Development and a minor in Psychology and Addiction Treatment. She works as an Instructional Assistant in the Individualized/Special Education Department.

As a coach, she enjoys: “Being a part of a young person’s journey. As a former athlete, I understand the significant role a coach can play and I consider it a privilege to have such an impact. I enjoy seeing their growth both athletically and in life.” Her advice to parents is: “Being a student-athlete can help prepare your child for the challenges in life and gives them not only physical strength, but can improve their mental health. Do what you can to encourage them to challenge themselves, and not surrender to excuses.” She admires Wilma Rudolph because “She overcame so much…nothing stopped her from earning her Olympic Gold medals.”

She keeps busy with her 4 children when not coaching, and her favorite thing about Garfield is the unmatched history, and family culture.  – Thanks to Heidi King for this interview.