The track and field team has brought in a new coach for the 2025 season. Coming from running D1 cross-country and track and field at University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, science teacher Thea Ramsey is ready for a new challenge.
Ramsey began running her freshman year of high school as part of a cross-country team and always loved the community and the mental game of distance running.
“It kind of forces you to figure out how tough you can be and at a certain point it’s mostly just you in your head,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey began thinking seriously about running in college during her junior year of high school after originally starting running just for fun. In high school, Ramsey ran the 1600-meter relay, the 800-meter, the 1600-meter and the 3200-meter while dabbling in hurdles as well.
Once transitioning to college, however, Ramsey ran the 1500-meter through 5k (3.1 miles), plus steeplechase, which is similar to hurdles.
Ramsey graduated college in 2020, majoring in neuroscience. She then began her teaching career for the Dallas Independent School District for two years before transferring to Austin ISD to teach at McCallum.
As a first-year teacher at McCallum, Ramsey is excited to use her coaching position as a way to meet new people.
“I feel like it’s a chance to get to know everybody better and build relationships,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey is also ready to use her new role to motivate the athletes. Coming off of coaching middle school students, Ramsey has prepared to coach tougher athletes.
“It’s cool to watch people become more confident in themselves and learn how to believe in themselves and their teammates,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey is filling head basketball coach Daniel Fuentes spot on the track and field coaching staff.
Joshua Amy, the head coach of the girls track team, believes adding Ramsey to the team of coaches will be a benefit and that it’s fortunate that the team had an open spot for her.
“She is very knowledgeable since she ran in college.” Amy shared.
He also believes it will be helpful to have another female coach to help the girls team along with coaches Jennifer Warren and Nicollette Muller.
When Amy first met Ramsey in November, he could tell she was excited and passionate about filling this role, and he’s looking forward to seeing how that enthusiasm comes out through her coaching.
“She just brings a new energy,” Amy said. “She’s got a fresh set of eyes and knowledge to bring to the table.”
The track athletes are also looking forward to Ramsey joining the coaching team this year.
Senior Avi Zeifman intends on running the 100-meter hurdles and doing both long and triple jump in the field events, so she will get to do some work with Ramsey, and she has always depended on her track coaches.
“I definitely wouldn’t have stayed in track from sophomore year up until now if Coach Amy weren’t as good of a coach as he is,” Zeifman said.
Zeifman agrees with Amy that adding another female coach to the team will benefit the girls by being a positive role model.
“It means a lot to the girls to have a female coach and see her capabilities,” Zeifman said.
Since Zeifman is a hurdle runner, she’s also excited to have someone with expertise in that field, since there’s never really been anyone in her previous years.
“She’s been helping us with drills and things like that, so it’s nice to have some-body who can kind of take over that department of track,” Zeifman said.
Ramsey is looking forward to a strong season and is excited for the community she’ll find.
“It should be really fun,” Ramsey said. “In a way that’s different from just being in the classroom together.”
The track season runs from early January through early May, if there are qualifiers for the UIL State Championship meet.
