Grizzly Endurance

Meet Our Coaches!

Head Coach – Elite/Post-Collegiate Group

Sean Baynton

Sean is an NCCP Level 4/5, and IAAF Level 5 certified coach in endurance events and currently holds the positions of Head Coach – Golden Bear’s & Panda’s XC at the University of Alberta, and Lead Coach – Endurance Programming with the Golden Bear’s & Panda’s Track & Field program.

Sean holds a Masters Diploma in High Performance Coaching from the National Coaching Institute – British Columbia, and a Masters of Education degree in Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria. His areas of research and study during his Masters degree included the long term athlete development programs focusing on the sensitive periods of athlete development and their importance on the neurophysiological development and maturation of the biomotor abilities for athletes looking to progress towards world class level endurance competition.

Sean is a member of Coaches of Canada as a Chartered Professional Coach. He has also been named to multiple Athletics Canada national team programs as both a Head Coach & Event Group Coach, including the FISU World University Games and the IAAF World Youth Championships. As a personal coach Sean has worked with numerous national team members, national championship medalists, and CIS-USport/Canada West champions and medalists.

Head Coach – High School Development Group

Roxanne Skoreyko

Roxanne is a new coach to the track and field scene. She has been an avid endurance runner for over 25 years and completed races in endurance events ranging from the 800m to the marathon. Her passion for sport and training resulted in obtaining a Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Alberta where she concentrated her studies in Sport Performance. Uniquely, she has been a varsity athlete twice at MacEwan University, initially playing Volleyball and then running for the X-country and Track Team. Therefore she understands the importance of preparing an athlete for a smooth transition from High School level of sport to the Varsity level while also considering the unique demands that are placed on Varsity athletes when they get there.

Roxanne utilizes a holistic approach in her coaching stressing the importance of managing their bodies and minds, while adapting to different training stimuli and environments. She believes that this approach can bring out the best in the person and carry over to great success with their personal and athletic goals. Roxanne’s program focuses on managing the physical components of training through proper progression, athlete autonomy, teamwork, fun, and overall well-being.

Highlights/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Kinesiology- University of Alberta
  • Bachelor of Social Work – MacEwan University
  • NCCP Club Coach Endurance Certified
  • Standard First Aid and CPR Certified
  • Mental Health First Aid Certified

Assistant Coach – Elite/Post-Collegiate Group

Eric Chan

Assistant coach Eric Chan is heading into his 4th year of coaching with the Golden Bears and Pandas after hanging up the spikes following the conclusion of his varsity career. A former Golden Bear from 2014-2019, Eric has a long history of competing in endurance events in both Track and Field and Cross Country in the 1500m to 10000m events.

He is an NCCP certified Endurance club coach pursuing his NCCP Performance Coach Training this Fall. Academically, Eric is working on his PhD in Health Promotion and Sociobehavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta.

Eric’s coaching philosophy is built upon meeting athletes where they are at while cultivating a culture of accountability where athletes are challenged to find ways to set each other up for success. 

When the individual needs of each athlete are respected and supported in combination with a culture of collective success, athletes are positioned to get the best out of themselves and each other in sport and in life. 

Assistant Coach – High School Development Group

Brendan Simone

Previously a varsity cross country and track athlete, Brendan is beginning his coaching journey. Hailing from Windsor Ontario, Brendan competed in both sports throughout high school in the school and club system. He then competed for the University of Windsor Lancers while studying and obtaining a Bachelor of Human Kinetics specializing in Kinesiology – Movement Science from 2017 – 2021. He then transferred to the University of Alberta to compete for the Golden Bears and complete a Bachelor of Education – Elementary from 2021 – 2023. 

During his time as an athlete with the Golden Bears and Pandas, Brendan took over many leadership roles within the team and assumed the role of team captain at the beginning of 2022. Towards the end of his varsity career, Brendan began transitioning from an athlete to a coach and assisting with the High School Development group. Along with pursuing his coaching education and certification, Brendan is excited and enthusiastic about staying engaged within the sport and giving back in a way that helped him through his time as an athlete.

Highlights/Certifications

  • BHK – Kinesiology in Movement Science
  • BEd – Elementary Education
  • Alberta Golden Bears Presidents Trophy 2023 Recipient
  • NCCP Club Coach Trained
  • Emergency First Aid and CPR Certified