COACHING STAFF
JB Starkey
Head Coach
JB is in his first year at the helm of the boys track and field program. JB is in his 19th year of coaching track and field at the high school and collegiate levels. Previously he served as the throwing coach for both the boys and girls throwing squads. Since 2015 the Sturgis throwers have amassed 17 state qualifying marks, 17 All-County awards, 12 All-Conference awards, 2 All-State awards, 5 regional champions, and 3 school records.
Prior to Sturgis, Starkey coached the throwing events at Battle Creek Central and Albion High School where the throwers achieved multiple All-Conference awards, Regional championships, All-State awards, and school records. Four of those teams achieved MHSAA Team State Championships as well.
Additionally JB coached for five years at Albion College helping the throwers achieve 2 NCAA All-American awards, 5 NCAA qualifiers, 9 NCAA qualifying marks, 5 conference champions, 10 1st team All-Conference awards, 4 school records, and 1 Conference record.
JB is a graduate of Albion College were he lettered in Cross Country and Track and has been inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. He additionally has a masters degree in Coaching Sports Performance from Western Michigan University. JB is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the NSCA, and holds endorsements from USA Weightlifting and USA Track and Field.
JB is currently a physical education teacher at Sturgis High School and serves as the Strength and Conditioning coach for the summer, fall, and winter sports programs.
He is the father of Alice (9) and Henry (6), as well as husband to the head girls coach, Lesley Starkey.
Keith keyser
Assistant Coach - Distance Events
Keith is in his second year as an assistant coach with the girls distance runners and first year assisting the boys distance runners as well. In his first full-season with the girls, Keyser helped 800m runner, Meah Yunker, qualify for the MHSAA State Championships with a finish of 15th place in a time of 2:26.09.
Keith is a graduate of Sturgis High School has been inducted into the Sturgis High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He still holds the 5k school record for cross country at SHS, and the record for the mile run at Sturgis Middle School.
Keith is a graduate of Davenport College and has been an employee at Burr Oak Tool for over 35 years. He is a father to Alex (29), Kelsey (27), Matthew and a granddaughter, Mia.
ELTON RAINS
Assistant Coach - Sprint Events/Relays
Elton is in his 5th year serving as an Assistant Coach for the boys track and field program, specializing in the Sprints and Relays. In his tenure the boys sprinting squad as amassed 14 All-Conference awards, 2 state qualifiers, and 1 All-State award.
Elton is a graduate of Sturgis High School and was a sprinter himself. He was a member of the record setting 4x200m and 4x100m relay teams.
Additionally Elton serves as the Head Coach for the Sturgis Powerlifting team and is a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association.
Stephanie Teeple
stteeple@sturgisps.org
Assistant Coach - Pole Vault
Stephanie is in her first year as an assistant coach for the both the boys and girls track teams. Stephanie has coached for the past 4 years at Constantine High School, including coaching Wyatt Alwine to a State Championship in 2019 with a school record jump of 14' 3".
Stephanie is a member of the Sturgis High School Athletic Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as a standout athlete in high school and college. Teeple was a three-time state pole vault champion, including a state meet record. She holds the pole vault record to this day at SHS.
As an athlete at Western Michigan University, Stephanie was a 2-time NCAA regional qualifier in the pole vault, and still holds the outdoor pole vault record for the Broncos.
Stephanie teaches family and consumer sciences at Sturgis High School, and lives here in Sturgis with her two children Mia (9) and Audrina (9).
MATT Henningsen
Assistant Coach - Throws, Sprints, Relays
Matt is in his first full season as an assistant with the boys and girls track teams. A 2011 graduate of Centreville High School, Matt received a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 2017 from Michigan State University. Matt started his teaching/coaching career at Decatur Jr./Sr. High School where he coached 8th grade boys’ basketball, taught World History, Eastern Hemisphere, and Current Events.
Since 2018 Henningsen has coached Sturgis High School girls' basketball program, and he is current head JV coach. During the 2021 track and field season I helped where I was needed, mainly working with relays.
When Matt is not teaching or coaching, he enjoys spending time with family and friends. He is always looking for opportunities to help our Trojan students and athletes grow as people and be successful both in the classroom and in athletics.