Coaching Staff 2010-2011

Mike DiGennaro (Deej)- Head Girls' Coach- XC and Track & Field

Email- mdigennaro@stmarkshs.net

Coach DiGennaro (Deej) is entering his third season as Head Coach of the Girls’ Cross-Country and Track and Field teams. DiGennaro is originally from Essex, MA, and he attended Hamilton-Wenham Regional HS. He graduated in 1996 and enrolled into the University of Delaware, where he majored in English. Coach DiGennaro began his coaching career at the Charter School in 2001, where his focus was on coaching distance runners. In 2005, after 3 seasons at Charter, he arrived at St. Mark’s and began his coaching career as an assistant in cross-country, indoor, and outdoor track and field. In those years he has helped the girls’ XC team win a State Championship in 2006 and the boys’ XC team win a State Championship in 2007.

Coach DiGennaro also holds a solid resume as a competitive distance runner. Coach DiGennaro set 6 school records at The University of Delaware. He was a team captain, 3-time Conference Champion, 3-time All-East, IC4A Cross-Country Champion, and a 4-time Team Most Valuable Athlete. In 2001 DiGennaro qualified for his 1st US Championships in the 3000m-Steeplechase and finished #20 in the nation. In 2004 DiGennaro qualified Automatically for the Olympic Trials in the 3000m-Steeplechase (8:35) and finished 14th in the country. He has been ranked as high as 3rd in the country. He also holds the record for the fastest 5K by a Delaware resident.

Coach DiGennaro now sets his goals on building a successful girls’ running program at St. Mark’s High School.

Assistant Coaches

Dan Frydrych, Assistant Coach, Sprints, XC

Coach Frydych will begin his fourth season as a sprints coach at St. Mark’s. Coach Frydrych graduated from South Allegheny High School outside of Pittsburgh, PA. His love for track and field began during his senior year in high school when his chemistry teacher convinced him to go out for the team for the first time. Coach Frydrych attended University of Pennsylvania and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. He currently works as a Materials Scientist at W. L. Gore and Associates where he does research and development on new membranes.

Coach Frydrych continues to run regularly and his results have been spotted in local races throughout DE. Frydrych’s coaching career started with CYM cross-country and track and field at Corpus Christi parish, when his daughter Sarah was in the third grade. He continued to coach at Corpus Christi for the next nine years, eventually becoming the head coach of the girls’ cross country and track and field teams. He enjoys coaching all aspects of track and field and has learned a lot from other coaches and runners and by studying the sport.

Barry Zavislan, Assistant Coach, Jumps

Coach Zavislan “Z” is back with the Lady Spartans as the long, triple, and high jump coach. A popular Theology teacher at St. Marks, Z has been coaching here since 1991, doing turns in football, lacrosse, and track. Z has coached Spartan sprinters and jumpers to great success. Prior to working at St. Marks, he coached football, basketball, and track at St. Mary’s Prep in Orchard Lake, Michigan. Some of Zs protégés have gone on to professional careers in the NFL, but never said hi to him at the Super Bowl. As a schoolboy, Z lettered in football, basketball, track and field, and crew at St. Mary’s Prep. Z and his razor-sharp sense of humor will guide the boys' and girls' jumpers in the spring.

Sam Yarrington- Assistant Coach, Throws

Sam Yarrington just finished his first season at St. Mark's. He is excited to come back to throwing after taking some time off after college.

Sam threw shot, discus, and hammer at the University of Delaware, where he was a captain his senior year. He had strong credentials in the throwing events, and led UD to very strong finishes at the Conference Championships and IC4A's.

It is great to have Yarrington on board this year and it reunited Yarrington and DiGennaro 9 years later.

Tom McCartan- Head Boys' Coach- XC and Track & Field

Coach McCartan has 8 years of experience coaching track and field and cross country at St. Mark's High School. Coach McCartan is a 1985 graduate of St. Mark's high school, and in those four years he dabbled in academics and majored in XC and track and field. His 5K PR of 17:13 is still a benchmark goal for varsity athletes to attempt to break.

Before reuniting with the Spartans, Coach McCartan was Head Coach of Men's and Women's Cross-Country at Newman College, and he was also the Head Girls' Track Coach at Delcastle High School. He is now the Head Boys' Coach for Cross-Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field at St. Mark's.

In the past 3 seasons of track, Coach McCartan's team has dominated the state. He had built a solid program based on strength of character, commitment, and integrity. In the past 3 seasons the boys' outdoor team has scored more combined points than any school in the state.

Coach McCartan has two children. Coach McCartan likes to spend his free time riding roller coasters and screaming incessantly.

FORMER COACHES

Lexi Ambrogi

Coach Lexi joined the St. Mark's XC coaching staff in 2010. Lexi just finished her final season competing in track and XC for the University of Delaware. While at Delaware she focused primarily on the 5000M, setting a personal best of 18:12.97 in May at Haverford, PA. She was also one of the top XC runners for the Blue Hens in 2008 and 2009.

Coach Lexi graduated in 2005 from Randolph High School in Randolph, NJ. As a Randolph Ram Lexi began her career as a distance runner, and in her senior year she led her team as their #2 runner.

Lexi is currently living in San Diego, where she is actively seeking to find the closest Dunkin Donuts. A thought may have crossed her mind to actually build a franchise out west.

John Lannutti

Coach Lannutti was the head indoor track and field Coach. Lannutti had been coaching for over 30 years, and he has tremendous experience and knowledge in the sport. He has coached many state champions in his tenure with St. Mark's, and he continues to show a love and passion for the sport.

Coach Lannutti's sense of race conditions and his flawless race stategies made him a valuable part of the coaching staff all year.