Cross Country Coaches
Tyler Nugent, Head Coach
Coach Nugent is entering his 16th year coaching distance runners. In addition to serving as the Head Cross Country Coach, he is the Assistant Track & Field Coach overseeing distance events at Peninsula High School.
Coach Nugent has coached a total of twelve teams at the WIAA State Cross Country Championships. His most accomplished team, the 2022 PHS Girls, placed 6th at the 3A State Meet. On the track, he has coached nine individual State qualifiers, including four podium finishers. Coach Nugent's athletes have set PHS school records in the Girls 800, 1600, 3200, and DMR.
Prior to arriving at PHS, Coach Nugent coached distance runners at Auburn Mountainview and Kentridge High Schools. He is a 2001 graduate of PHS and a 2005 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University. He competed in Cross Country and Track for both schools and continues to compete locally in road, track, and trail races. Coach Nugent teaches in the Social Studies Department at PHS and lives in Tacoma with his wife and daughters.
Dylan Hall, Assistant Coach
Dylan Hall is a PHS graduate and alumni of the Track and Field/Cross Country program. From 2012-2021 Dylan was a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Nevada and the University of Washington. Dylan has worked extensively with track and field/cross country over his career and is excited to be coaching at his alma mater. Dylan is also an assistant track and field coach and strength and conditioning coach at PHS. Dylan currently lives in Auburn with his wife and their two daughters.
Favorite Quote - "The separation is in the preparation"- Chris Petersen
Brittany Kealy, Assistant Coach
Brittany Kealy is a graduate and xc alum of Gig Harbor High School where she has since been teaching English for the last seven years. Kealy coached cross country at Pullman and Gig Harbor High School, and has multi-sport experience coaching Special Olympics. She has a B.A. in English Ed. from Washington State University and an M.A. in Library and Information Science. Additionally, Kealy is a birder and volunteers with the local Audubon Society. She loves doing international trips that highlight her three main interests: running giant hills, seeing new species of birds, and eating delicious food. Always drawn to long distance, she is currently training for a season of ultramarathons (primarily 50ks). Kealy lives in Tacoma, with her four chickens and her lovely wife, who is a pastry chef. Despite constant access to fine desserts, Kealy is obsessed with Clif and M&M products. Her favorite coaching quote is, “Every single one of us possesses the strength to attempt something he isn't sure he can accomplish” (Scott Jurek).
Adison Richards, Assistant Coach
Adison has coached at PHS since 2021. He graduated from Peninsula in 2010. He ran for four years on the cross country and track teams. Adison went on to the University of Washington and while in school, he worked at Super Jock ‘n Jill Running and Walking for three years, was a manger for UW track and field, officiated indoor track, and was a volunteer coach at Ingraham High School.
Adison then went on to law school at Villanova University in Philadelphia, returned to Gig Harbor after graduation, and married Shannon who he met in law school. He has been a lawyer for three years at a statewide non-profit. Adison has completed a marathon in Eugene, and the Seattle to Portland bike ride in one day. His favorite race ever remains watching his teammates place second in the state cross country meet in 2009. Adison’s favorite sports quote is, “success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”- John Wooden.
Curtiss Hall, Assistant Coach
Coach Hall brings 36 years of experience coaching Cross Country and Track & Field. In addition to his Assistant role with the PHS Cross Country team, he serves as the Head Track & Field Coach at PHS where he primarily works with the sprinters and sprint relay teams. Coach Hall is an alumni student-athlete of Western Washington University and Lakes High School where he specialized in the 440 yard run, 880 yard run, mile run, and mile relay. His favorite coaching quote is, "As you practice, so shall you compete!"