Instructors: Iowa

Matt Diehl
Matt Diehl is a program coordinator for the TRIO program called Student Support Services at Central College in Pella, Iowa which serves low-income and first generation students. Diehl is also an instructor for first year students and has taught at all levels from elementary to college for 20 years. Matt served as head wrestling coach at Central College for seven years (’97-’04). He took the program over with four wrestlers and built up the numbers to forty-five his last year and has coached 14 All-Americans as well as 4 Scholar All-Americans as an assistant & head coach. He still serves as a volunteer assistant in the program.  As a 1987 Central graduate, Diehl served as Central’s assistant coach from 1991-1996. He then took a leave of absence in 1996-1997 to pursue a master’s degree in exercise and sport science at the University of Wis.-LaCrosse, where he also served as assistant wrestling coach. Prior to returning to Central in 1991, Diehl was head coach at Iowa Falls High School for two years and was a junior high coach in Audubon for one year. Diehl, an Osceola native, was a two-time NCAA Div. III qualifier at 118 pounds, earning an All-American honors and winning an Iowa Conference title in 1987, helping the Dutch place eighth in the nation. Matt resides in Pella with his wife, Cathy, and four children, Emalea, Jacob, Benjamin, and Josiah.

Don Jenkins
Donald Jenkins has taught and coached in southwest Iowa for the past 33 years.  He has taught in grades sixth through senior high.  He describes himself as a year round coach that can be found enjoying the outdoors when not in that capacity.  He is a member of the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and is very active at clinics throughout the state.  He received his masters degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  Don and his wife Nancy (chemistry teacher and coach) have 4 children.

Michael Kavars
Michael has been a teacher/coach/activities director/principal for the past 35 years.  During his tenure, he has coached at all levels from 7th grade to varsity in all sports with the exception of swimming and soccer.  Mike has coached students and teams to the state playoffs in tennis and boys basketball.  In a two year period of time his boys basketball team went 52-2 finishing as state runner up and state champions.  Mike was voted the state coach of the year in 1989 and was inducted into the IHSAA basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Neil Phipps
Neil earned his BA and Masters from UNI.  Since that time, he has been in education teaching social studies, physical education and health.  His coaching has included head, assistant, and middle school positions in football, wrestling, and track.  During this time, Neil has helped coach over 25 champion or runner-up finishes in conference, district and state competition.  His 1986 Aurelia team was the state runner-up in Class A Football.  The 2002 NU High Girls Track Team earned a state championship.  He has been Northwest Iowa Football Coach of the Year, State and District Track Coach of the Year and coached in the Shrine football game.  Neil and Jodi have three grown children:  Jamie, Taylor and Kelly.

Mark Tiby
Mark is a graduate of Woodbine High School and received his B.S. from Dana College and M.A. from Viterbo University. Mark is currently the Executive Secretary of the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association. Mark was a 2001 winner of the National Distinguished Service Award from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. He was National Chairman for girls basketball for that group, also serving on the Board of Directors from 1994-2000. Mark has coached and taught at Earlham (1977-1982) and Urbandale (1992 – Present).

Jody Williams
Jody is currently an elementary principal in Ottumwa where she has served the last 12 years.  After receiving a BA from UNI she taught elementary age students for Ballard Community School District and Ankeny Community School District.  Upon earning a Masters and Ed. Specialist from Drake, she made her way back to her hometown of Ottumwa as an elementary principal.  Jody has taught graduate classes for Morningside, and undergrad classes for Indian Hills Community College.  Free time is devoted to her husband, Todd, and son, Brent.  As a family they love to travel, participate in Community Theater, and be outside either swimming or biking.