Pure Talent Elite Staff
Pure Talent Elite North
Vernon Birmingham - Club Director/Head Coach
Coach Vernon has been coaching youth, high school, and college athletes for 15 years. As a former three sport athlete his primary focus had always been in football, basketball, and baseball. When Coach Vernon noticed his daughters had potential in the running events he became a student of the sport and is quickly becoming known for his work ethic in improving the athlete's performance. In the summer of 2012, runners under the tutelage of Coach Vernon all cut times in their running events and qualified to both national qualifiers and the Junior Olympics. During the 2013 outdoor season PTE had 8 top 8 finishes at the Junior Olympic games including its first National Champion. In his short time he has coached 75 Junior Olympic qualifiers, 3 National runner-ups, 6 National Champions, and 21 All-Americans.
Lee Heinerikson - Throws
Coach Heinerikson or Coach H will coach the throws, which will consist of the shot put, discus, and javelin for PTE. With numerous years of experience coaching on both the youth and high school level his knowledge is second to none. He has coached athletes to top 15 finishes in the nation including a 7th place medalist in the discus during 2012 Junior Olympics and a silver medalist in the triathlon. During the 2013 season Coach H had 5 athletes place in the top 8 and 1 multi-athlete win a national championship after coaching them to a season best in the shot put.
Tina Perico - Throws
Coach Perico enters her first season as a throws coach with Pure Talent Elite. Her resume speaks for itself! With 17 years of experience ranging from youth to high school, her knowledge will bring great value to the strong PTE throws department. She has coached two athletes to Kansas State Championships as a high school coach. In the youth arena, she has developed numerous young athletes including 7 national medals. She is one of many former All-Americans on the PTE staff, earning these honors as a student at Colby Community College.
Milton Henry - Horizontal Jumps and Sprints
Coach Henry comes to PTE as one of the best horizontal jumpers to come out of Kansas City, KS. A 2005 graduate of Sumner Academy, he was a three sport athlete and won three state championships. He then competed at Kansas City Kansas Community College under legendary coach Al Hobson and twice earned All-American honors. During his time at KCKCC he jumped a personal best 25 feet, 5 and a quarter inch. After injury hindered his pursuit of a professional career he now devotes his knowledge and experience to the athletes of PTE.
Gerald McGinnis - Distance
Coach McGinnis works primarily with our long distance runners. An avid crossfit competitor his enthusiasm motivates athletes to perform at their best.
Fatir Birmingham - Hurdles and Sprints
Coach Birmingham will continue to assist with the hurdlers and young sprinters of PTE. A former hurdler in college, her dedication to technique will assist the hurdlers improve throughout the season.
Ryan Stanley - Sprints
Ashley Kidd and Vedia Johnson - Team Administrator
Ashley and Vedia will handle the administrator duties for the track club. If it's accepting payments, signing up our athletes for meets, or communicating important information; they will be your go to individuals.
Pure Talent Elite South
Bill Birmingham - Head Coach
Monica Valentine - Team Administrator
All coaches must pass yearly background checks via AAU.
Vernon Birmingham - Club Director/Head Coach
Coach Vernon has been coaching youth, high school, and college athletes for 15 years. As a former three sport athlete his primary focus had always been in football, basketball, and baseball. When Coach Vernon noticed his daughters had potential in the running events he became a student of the sport and is quickly becoming known for his work ethic in improving the athlete's performance. In the summer of 2012, runners under the tutelage of Coach Vernon all cut times in their running events and qualified to both national qualifiers and the Junior Olympics. During the 2013 outdoor season PTE had 8 top 8 finishes at the Junior Olympic games including its first National Champion. In his short time he has coached 75 Junior Olympic qualifiers, 3 National runner-ups, 6 National Champions, and 21 All-Americans.
Lee Heinerikson - Throws
Coach Heinerikson or Coach H will coach the throws, which will consist of the shot put, discus, and javelin for PTE. With numerous years of experience coaching on both the youth and high school level his knowledge is second to none. He has coached athletes to top 15 finishes in the nation including a 7th place medalist in the discus during 2012 Junior Olympics and a silver medalist in the triathlon. During the 2013 season Coach H had 5 athletes place in the top 8 and 1 multi-athlete win a national championship after coaching them to a season best in the shot put.
Tina Perico - Throws
Coach Perico enters her first season as a throws coach with Pure Talent Elite. Her resume speaks for itself! With 17 years of experience ranging from youth to high school, her knowledge will bring great value to the strong PTE throws department. She has coached two athletes to Kansas State Championships as a high school coach. In the youth arena, she has developed numerous young athletes including 7 national medals. She is one of many former All-Americans on the PTE staff, earning these honors as a student at Colby Community College.
Milton Henry - Horizontal Jumps and Sprints
Coach Henry comes to PTE as one of the best horizontal jumpers to come out of Kansas City, KS. A 2005 graduate of Sumner Academy, he was a three sport athlete and won three state championships. He then competed at Kansas City Kansas Community College under legendary coach Al Hobson and twice earned All-American honors. During his time at KCKCC he jumped a personal best 25 feet, 5 and a quarter inch. After injury hindered his pursuit of a professional career he now devotes his knowledge and experience to the athletes of PTE.
Gerald McGinnis - Distance
Coach McGinnis works primarily with our long distance runners. An avid crossfit competitor his enthusiasm motivates athletes to perform at their best.
Fatir Birmingham - Hurdles and Sprints
Coach Birmingham will continue to assist with the hurdlers and young sprinters of PTE. A former hurdler in college, her dedication to technique will assist the hurdlers improve throughout the season.
Ryan Stanley - Sprints
Ashley Kidd and Vedia Johnson - Team Administrator
Ashley and Vedia will handle the administrator duties for the track club. If it's accepting payments, signing up our athletes for meets, or communicating important information; they will be your go to individuals.
Pure Talent Elite South
Bill Birmingham - Head Coach
Monica Valentine - Team Administrator
All coaches must pass yearly background checks via AAU.
