Meet The Coaches.
Joshua Woods
Joshua Woods brings a results-driven, athlete-first approach to track and field coaching, built on a simple philosophy: Standards. Work. Results.
A former multi-event and pole vault athlete, Coach Woods competed through the collegiate level, developing a deep, firsthand understanding of the technical demands and training science behind track and field's most complex disciplines. That athletic foundation fuels a long coaching career spanning multiple programs and event groups.
As head coach of the Whitney Wildcats track and field program, Coach Woods has developed athletes across every event area, from sprints and hurdles to horizontal jumps, vertical jumps, and middle distance. His programs blend proven training science with event-specific technical work, all built around periodized plans designed to peak athletes when championship season arrives.
Coach Woods specializes in building complete athletes through technical precision, biomechanical efficiency, and race-specific execution. With Wildcat Elite, he extends that same championship-level coaching into a club setting, giving committed athletes the structure, expertise, and competitive opportunities to develop year-round and reach their highest potential.
Chris Buck
Whitney High graduate, two-time league champion, and current WHS school record holder in Discus and Shot Put. Competed two years at American River College in Hammer Throw, Discus, and Shot Put, placing first, second, and fourth in the state respectively in his first year and earning CCCAA State MVP. Coach Buck's goal is to create an environment where athletes can grow both athletically and as people, using his knowledge and experience to open doors and create opportunities for young athletes in track and field.
Alana Vieira
Alana Vieira is the Sprints Coach at Whitney High School and a proud Whitney alumnus. During her time as a Wildcat, she was a Team Captain for two years, competed for four years on Varsity, ran the 100, 200, 400, 800, 4x100, and 4x400, and was also a pole vaulter. She met the varsity lettering standard in each of her events, earning 8 All-League titles and becoming a 7-time Section Champion in her Track & Field events.
Outside of track, Alana is a college professor of Communication Studies, currently teaching at Sierra College, Yuba College, American River College, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Teaching is a huge part of who she is, and she brings that same mindset to coaching by focusing on communication, confidence, preparation, and growth.
As a coach, her goal is to help athletes develop strong sprint mechanics, race confidence, and a positive team culture. She believes success comes from consistency, effort, and learning how to compete with purpose.
Andrei Matei
Andrei Matei brings 4 years of coaching experience to the Pole Vault, an event he knows deeply from the inside. Prior to coaching, he competed in Pole Vault from high school through the end of his collegiate career, giving him firsthand insight into the technical and mental demands of the event.
Outside of coaching, Andrei’s professional background is rooted in Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine — a foundation that informs how he approaches athlete development, injury prevention, and performance optimization at every level.
Joey Brown
Joey competed in the 400-meter hurdles at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he developed a strong appreciation for the discipline, perseverance, and teamwork required to succeed in track and field. He currently coaches both the long and short hurdles and serves as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Joey believes that athletic success and physical development are achieved through more than strict training regimens and generalized guidelines. Through his experience, he has found that a positive, fun, and supportive environment encourages athletes to push their limits while fostering greater athletic and personal growth.
A personal passion of Joey’s is teaching athletes that success is measured by far more than outperforming the person next to them. He strives to help athletes develop confidence, resilience, and a mindset focused on continual self-improvement, both on and off the track. Joey is also CPR and EMT certified.