Meet the Coaches

Ms. Regina Fields

Regina Fields has been an educator for 35 years. She is currently the Junior High Principal and Athletic & Activities Director of Carthage Junior High School. Her experience includes 25 years teaching at the secondary level with four of those years teaching evening classes as adjunct faculty for Pittsburg State University, 16 years as a middle school & high school coach for basketball, volleyball, and softball, 15 years as a secondary administrator, the last 11 of those years having the dual role of Junior High Assistant Principal & Athletic/Activities Director at Carthage Junior High. She enjoys spending time with family, especially her granddaughters.

Mrs. Sara Mendell

Junior High Head Cross Country Coach

Coach Mendell is the junior high cross country coach and an assistant coach for track and field focusing on the distance runners. She has enjoyed running since she joined the CJHS track and field team as a 7th grader. Her most challenging run was the Frisco Marathon in Willard, MO.

Transformational purpose statement:

I coach to encourage athletes to be the best they can be in all areas of their life by taking the time to get to know each athlete personally, cheering for them, and having the patience to help each athlete develop at their own pace.

Mr. Adan Sigala

7th Grade Assistant Football Coach

“I am a coach who is dedicated to fostering personal and professional growth. I am passionate about guiding individuals to overcome challenges, set meaningful goals, and thrive. I am committed to empowering students through tailored strategies and actionable insights.”

Bio:

Coach Sigala serves as the 7th-grade assistant football coach, with a focus on the defensive backs and wide receivers. I hail from Douglas, Wyoming, where I engaged in multiple sports, securing a couple of state championships along the way. Among his hobbies are disc golf and CrossFit.

Mr. Jacob Endicott

Junior High Assistant Football Coach, 7^th Grade Boys Assistant Basketball Coach

Hi, my name is Jacob Endicott. This is my 17^th year of teaching and coaching for Carthage R-9. I have coached different sports at different levels over the course of my tenure. Currently, I am coaching JH football, boy’s basketball, and track & field. My wife and I have four wonderful children with a variety of hobbies and interests.

Purpose:

I am committed to positively teach and coach my students and players to be determined, have compassion for others, and display kindness while still being competitive.

Mrs. Libby Collier

8th Grade Head Volleyball Coach

Ms. Emily Turley

8th Grade Volleyball Assistant Coach, Archery Coach

“I coach to encourage and guide our students and athletes to seek out what they want in life with purpose and work hard to maintain it.”

Professional Bio:

Coach Turley is the junior high assistant volleyball coach and a 7th-grade geography teacher. She has worked with children of all ages since she graduated from Seneca High School 8 years ago. She plans to keep pursuing her dreams of educating and coaching children by getting her Master's in Social Work degree from Walden University. She enjoys practicing yoga and reading in her spare time.

Coach Tiffiny Stringer

7th Grade Head Volleyball Coach

Coach Nancy Stefan

7^th Grade Assistant Volleyball Coach

Biography:

Coach Stefan is the 7th grade Assistant Volleyball Coach and the 7th & 8th Grade Science Resource Teacher. She received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. She enjoys going to the beach, snow skiing, reading, and spending time with family.

Transformational Purpose Statement:

“I coach to build a deeper relationship with my students/athletes. I encourage each one of them to build a deeper relationship with their teammates and work hard to achieve their goals in all areas of their life.”

Mrs. Kacey Thayer

8th Grade Assistant Basketball Coach

Biography:
Coach Thayer is a veteran coach, coaching in the district for the past 14 years coaching JH girls basketball and HS track. She grew up attending multiple athletic events with her parents, her mom was a fitness instructor, basketball and softball player and her dad is in the wheelchair athletic hall of fame and Paralympian. She learned to walk at a track meet and her love of the sport continued from there. Her background watching the wheelchair athletic sports provided her with the experience of seeing competitiveness overcoming adversity.

Growing up as a multisport athlete she was involved in dance, softball, basketball, and track, and collegiate equestrian polo. She has been able to pull from each set of experiences and coaches to meet the needs of her athletes. Coach Thayer believes that sports provide opportunities for athletes to develop the skills for lifetime fitness and to develop confidence in their abilities. Through her coaching career she has seen the success of her athletes continue on to the collegiate level with rankings as high as All American. However her greatest pride is the trust and relationships she builds with her athletes and watching them grow up and succeed in life off the playing field.

Transformational Purpose Statement:

I coach to positively build up young people through sports. As a technician of the sport I help lead athletes through the small skills that build the whole picture of what it means to be a student-athlete. I value trust and putting athletes in situations to stretch them from their comfort zone where they can succeed. All of this is not possible without patience, getting to know the athletes needs and patiently building them up to reach their performance goals.