If you love athletics and want to share your experiences with Athens area youth, please contact me to discuss possible volunteer opportunities. We need coaches for meets and practices and track enthusiasts interested in helping out at meets or with management. Thank you!
All of our coaches recieve an annual back-ground screen and specialized training in youth athletics to ensure the safety and well-being of your children.
Rachel Hopkins | Coach Rachel brings a passion for athletics plus a lifetime of experience to the program. Her belief that our youth deserve excellent coaching in a fun encouraging environment inspired the creation of Sirius Athletics.
Your child will benefit from over 25 years coaching experience at both the DI and DIII levels along with private coaching at almost every level. While Rachel has worked with some of the nation's top athletes she feels the most important aspect of the program is the satisfaction, camaraderie and FUN your child can have getting stronger and learning new skills. She is a firm believer in teaching proper technique early and smart, steady development over time to ensure a healthy and successful track and field experience.
Rachel knows what it takes to excel as an athlete and her career exemplifies the results possible through progressive training over time. Initially, a walk-on at Auburn University, she went on to earn both a scholarship and All-SEC honors. Some post-collegiate accomplishments include competing in the World Track and Field Championships, two Olympic Trials, winning both team and individual titles in cross country and the steeplechase at the Master's National Championships a silver and bronze at the Indoor Master's National Championships and placing as the third American in the Boston Marathon.
Lisa Williamson | Coach Lisa has been an Assistant Coach with Sirius Athletics since 2017 and was recently promoted to Associate Head Coach. She previously served as Assistant Track & Field Coach at Clayton State University for three seasons working with sprints/hurdles, jumps, and throws. Prior to coaching at Clayton State, she was an Assistant Track & Field Coach at Ashland University working with the sprints, hurdles, and jumps. Coach Lisa spent five years as an athlete at Ashland University where she was a 2x NCAA Division II All-American in the combined events, a 5x NCAA national qualifier, and a member of the 2010 NCAA Division II indoor national runner-up team. As an athlete, she was awarded 'Field Athlete of the Year' and 'Freshman of the Year'. Coach Lisa was an OHSAA state champion in the 300m hurdles and earned multiple AAU All-American titles as a youth athlete. In her 10+ year coaching career, she has helped develop numerous NCAA & USATF All-Americans and GHSA & GRPA state champions and qualifiers. Coach Lisa is a USATF Level I Coach, USATF Georgia Association Level Official, NBC-HWC, CETI-CES, NASM Personal Trainer, and AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. She holds a Master of Education in Sport Management and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching.
Lee Patterson | Coach Lee excelled on the track in Texas and Georgia where he was one of UGA’s top 10 all-time 800 meter runners. He now excels as a coach. With a high school coaching certificate and a High School Cross Country State Champion and Regional Champion to his name, he is an valuable asset to Sirius Athletics and has been working with the program for 8 years.
Cynthia Dann | Coach Cynthia joined Sirius Athletics for both cross country and track and field in 2022. Originally from Canada, she ran cross-country and competed in track and field in middle and high school in the sprints, relays and hurdles at the provincial level at OFSAA for 5 years. Cythnia is an RN and has taught children of all ages for over 20 years including homeschooling her own six children. She has a passion to encourage children to try new things and to be lifelong learners.
Levern Spencer | Coach Levern is from the island of St. Lucia. She graduated from the UGA with a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and is pursuing her master’s degree in Kinesiology with a focus on strength and conditioning and fitness. She is a former UGA track & field athlete and volunteer coach and Olympian in the high jump. Coach Levern became a full-time professional track and field athlete upon graduation from UGA and represented her country for 23 consecutive years, competing professionally for 13 years!
Coach Levern was a 4- time All- American in the high jump event while at Georgia and a national runner- up in the NCAA Indoor Championships. In addition, she captured the 2006 and 2007 Southeastern Conference outdoor titles as well as the 2006 SEC indoor crown. She won sportswoman of the year for St. Lucia 16- times, 3-time Commonwealth Games medalist (1 gold, and 2 bronze) and 2-time Pan American gold medalist and placed in the top three in a host of other national and international competitions. She participated in 8 outdoor world championships, 4 indoor world championships, and 4 Olympic games (making the finals and place 6th at the RIO Olympics).
Her certifications include NASM certified personal trainer and Certified Sports Nutrition Coach, IAAF Certified Level 3 Jumps Coach (IAAF), and Certified Yoga and Pilates Instructor.
She has a passion for health and wellness, and fitness and loves helping people become the best version of themselves whether it’s through diet or exercise. Coach Levern loves giving back to the sport which helped shape her life and contributed to who she is today. A motto that she developed and used throughout her career was “God + Hard Work + Discipline = Success”.
Olivia Sharpe | is returning for her third season with Sirius Athletics and is a student at the University of Georgia and is pursuing her bachelors degree. Rayna has been a competitive runner since elementary school and specializes in the distance events and long jump. Rayna is passionate about helping your kids improve while having fun!
Caroline Dickey | Coach Caroline is entering her fourth season with Sirius Athletics and where enjoys sharing her love of running and working with the team. She strives to help runners build healthy habits that promotes longevity in the sport. Coach Caroline started running in high school, walked on the UGA XC and track teams, and now focuses on marathons.