Coaches
Aliso Viejo Middle School
avms@werunockids.org
Keith Arthur Head Coach
My name is Keith Arthur I am the head coach of the WeROCK AVMS team. This season will be my fifth year as a parent of a WeRock runner and Fourth year as a Coach …read more
Carolyn Luong Assistant Coach
Hi, I’m Coach Carolyn and this is my first year as a coach. I’m a working mom and former couch potato. Now I am a runner, huge foodie, puzzler, and new pickle ball fanatic. My …read more
Zoe Arrieta Assistant Coach
I’m a new coach at AVMS for the 22/23 season. I’m stoked to get to know the kids and work alongside them to achieve our goals. When I was their age, the idea of running …read more
Andrea Kooiman Co-Founder | Executive Director | Assistant Coach
Andrea Kooiman “Coach K” is also the main program director and oversees the training calendar. Within the program she is head coach and works with the kids to instill valuable lessons about goal setting along …read more
Coordinators
Rachael Vargas Volunteer Coordinator
Hi to all the wonderful parent volunteers, coaches, and our inspiring student runners! As the aid station coordinator, my goal is to encourage all parents to get involved with our Saturday practice runs and cheer …read more
Gina Hylton Race Compound Coordinator
I am very excited to get this new season started, I look forward to seeing all the returners and meeting new faces! I am the Race Compound Coordinator and am at the start and end …read more
Jona Williams Race Compound Coordinator
Hi All – I am excited to cheer your children on while they reach their goal and cross the finish line at the OC Marathon this season! My history with WeROCK 2017 – Parent Volunteer, …read more
Don Juan Avila Middle School
djams@werunockids.org
Andrea Kooiman Co-Founder | Executive Director | DJAMS Head Coach
Hi! I’m Coach K and I LOVE to run! Believe it or not, I like to do other things as well. I used to be a mobile KJ (Karaoke DJ) and I enjoy singing. I …read more
Kelly Brunke Assistant Coach
Hi, I am coach Kelly and I love endurance activities. I am entering my 30th year of elementary teaching. This year I will be teaching fourth grade, yippie! I am looking forward to this season …read more
Dominique D’Orazi Assistant Coach
Hi everyone! I am new to WeROCK this year and I am beyond excited for this journey with you all. A little bit about myself: I am originally from Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nevada where I lived …read more
Sienna Pixley Assistant Coach
Hello! My name is Siena and I’m so excited to be an assistant coach at DJAMS this year! I’ve been running with WeRock for the past 5 years as a middle and high schooler and …read more
Executive Director
Andrea Kooiman Co-Founder | Executive Director | Assistant Coach
Andrea Kooiman “Coach K” is also the main program director and oversees the training calendar. Within the program she is head coach and works with the kids to instill valuable lessons about goal setting along …read more
High School Program
anhs@werunockids.org
Tu Nguyen Head Coach
For many years I was invited to try WeRock and never thought my kids would do it. Then one year my wife came home and said she had signed them up! I was truly amazed …read more
Robin Ensor Kopf Assistant Coach
Hello! Give me a “C”! I’m Coach Robin! I started the WeROCK program with my oldest daughter, Madeleine, in 2014! She found from WeROCK that she LOVED running and so did I. Madeleine completed two marathons with WeROCK, …read more
Lexi McNicholas Assistant Coach
I’m Coach Lexi, and I’m so excited for another fantastic season! The kids of WeRock are a tough bunch who take on every challenge with enthusiasm, fearlessness, and a healthy dose of silly middle-school humor. …read more
Mike McNicholas Assistant Coach
I’m Coach Mike and I’ve been coaching with WeRock since 2019! I love coaching the high school team and watching them grow. Seeing them all run at the OC Marathon is an amazing experience! I’m …read more
Ladera Ranch Middle School
laderaranch@werunockids.org
Todd Perry Head Coach
Hi, I’m Coach Todd. This will be my fourth year as a coach with We ROCK. I grew up in Costa Mesa and was a runner in High School. Later I became a competitive mountain …read more
Jay Johansson Assistant Coach
I am the founding coach at Ladera Ranch Middle School going back to 2018. I have a storied history in endurance sports but even I had to do a double-take with when I first heard …read more
Raj Patel Assistant Coach
Hi! I am coach Raj. This will be my first season as an assistant WeRock coach. I am excited to help and run with the great kids in Ladera Ranch. I enjoy running as it …read more
Emi Koga Assistant Coach
ALOOOOOOHA! Coach Emi here! I learned about We Rock when I signed up my son during the 2021 school year. He was extremely reluctant at first and only agreed to participate in it for 1 …read more
Las Flores Middle School
lasflores@werunockids.org
Coach Theurer Head Coach
My name is Todd Theurer and I am a physical education teacher at Las Flores Middle School. I have always been involved in sports, but it wasn’t until a few years ago I began running. …read more
Coach Smathers Assistant Coach
I’m Coach Smathers and I’m so excited to have the WeRock program here on our campus. As it will be the first year for all of us here at LFMS, I am looking forward to …read more
Bernadette Schaaf Assistant Coach
Hi! My name is Bernadette Schaaf. I’m so excited to be part of WeROCK! I always look forward to each practice and every race! It has been awe-inspiring to see the kid’s confidence grow as …read more
Newhart Middle School
Newhart@werunockids.org
Andrew Straus Head Coach
Hey there! I’m Coach Andrew, Head Coach at Newhart Middle School for the 2022-2023 season. This is my 4th season coaching with WeROCK and 3rd as Head Coach of Newhart. I love coaching and spending time …read more
Melanie Smith Assistant Coach
Hi, I’m Coach Melanie and I used to think runners were crazy. I didn’t understand why my daughter, Lexi (Coach, too), wanted to run daily. After several years of making excuses as to why I …read more
John Henderson Assistant Coach
Hello, I am Coach John and this is my first year as an assistant coach with the WEROCK Newhart team. My son, Miles was with the program the last two years and I am looking …read more
Evelyn Nguyen
Hello, I’m Coach Evelyn and I am a new coach to the WeROCK Newhart team for the 2022/2023 season. My History with WeROCK I live in Mission Viejo with my three kids and my husband …read more
Weekend Coaches
David Andrews Assistant Coach
My name is David Andrews, I’m excited to be a new coach for the 2022/23 season! I’m the father of a WeROCK runner Ashleigh (who was born in China, lived in Hong Kong and Australia …read more
Ed Arpawong Assistant Coach
I started running in 2007 and this happened: I dropped 20 pounds, knees and feet pain disappeared, hot weather didn’t bother me anymore, and my cholesterol profile greatly improved. It was one of the best …read more
Keiko Shimada Assistant Coach
Hi! I am coach Keiko. I am so excited to join this new season as a WeRock coach. I have been running almost my whole life since I was in middle school in Japan. Running …read more
John Russell Assistant Coach
Hi, I’m Coach John and this is my first year as a coach with WeRock. I have truly never trained for a marathon like WeRock does, so this will be my first time working hard …read more
Allison Schoeberl Assistant Coach
Hi, I am Coach Allison! This is my first year with weROCK and I am beyond excited!! My History with WeROCK I have run Surf City and OC for years now and always noticed all …read more
Jen Thomas Assistant Coach
Hi! I’m Jen and I’m a Saturday coach. This is my first season coaching with WeRock. I’m a working mom of 3 boys who loves beach volleyball, board games, and being at the beach. I …read more