Joy Upshaw

Head Coach, Founder/Director

In addition to a long coaching career, Joy is a champion athlete in her own right. Beginning at Acalanes High School in Lafayette setting records in hurdles & sprints and into college with an All-American career at California State University, Joy has continued to set records at USA Masters Track & Field Championships and win competitions internationally. Joy holds several American Record times in various hurdles and sprints, and is the current Indoor World Long Jump & 200 meter Champion in her Masters group, Women 50-54 .

Joy’s coaching career began at Los Gatos High School in 1983, and includes coaching assignments at Hawaii Prep Academy on The Big Island (1990-1995), the University of California at Berkeley (1997-2004) and as head coach for the U.S. women’s team at the DecaNation Championships meet held in Paris in 2006.  Other National Team Staff honors were earned by Coach Joy when she was named the Women’s Sprints & Hurdles coach of the NACAC U23 team in 2010 and to the 2011 Pan American Women’s Team Staff for Jumps & Multi Events.  In 2005 & 2006, Joy assisted in coaching her sister Grace. In 2005 Grace was ranked #2 Long Jumper in the World!

In addition to coaching the Jack Rabbits and private coaching assignments, Joy is currently an assistant coach at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA, her alma mater, Acalanes High School and Stanley Middle School in Lafayette, CA.

With two daughters, both founding Jack Rabbits, Joy also serves on the national executive committee of USA Track & Field Masters Committee, and is the current Masters Track & Field chair of the Pacific Association/USATF.

Joy comes from a Track & Field family. Her father, Monte, broke Jesse Owens’ national high school long jump record in 1954, (25’4 1/4″), and her sister Grace competed in the Long Jump at the 2004 & 2008 Olympics!!!

Sunny Margerum

Assistant Coach

Sunny is a founding member of the Jack Rabbits, joining the club at age six . Sunny has represented the Jack Rabbits in competition for eleven years. Competing for the Gunn High School Varsity Track Team,  Sunny was the 2008 Sophomore & 2009 Junior and 2010 Senior Athlete of the Year. She was a top finisher in the Central Coast Section Championships in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and the Long Jump. She was 2009 CCS LJ Champion (18’10″) & qualified for the ’09 California Statemeet in both the 300m hurdles and Long Jump. Sunny’s Track & field accomplishments earned her a Track Scholarship to CAL!  Sunny is a USATF member, and has been a Jack Rabbits junior coach since 2006.

Windy Margerum

Junior Coach

Windy is a founding member of the Jack Rabbits, joining the club at age one!  Windy’s specialty is coaching “The Little Jackrabbit’s” (ages 3-5 year olds). As a competitor, Windy’s Jack Rabbits relay team were the 4X100 Meter winners in the 2009 Hershey Track and Field Regionals in San Jose. Now in her first year at  Stanley Middle School, Windy’s events include sprints, relays, long jump (12’7″) & high jump (4’3″). She just recently set the 6th Grade Girls 200 Meter School Record in 29.6! Windy is very experienced in Track & Field. She has traveled to Helsinki & Beijing to watch her Aunt, Grace Upshaw, in World Championships & the Olympics. Windy  is a USATF member, and has been a Jack Rabbits junior coach since 2008.