Utah Pole Vault Academy > About Us

Coach Kody Pierce

Owner and Head Coach

Kody Pierce has been coaching pole vault since 2006. In his tenure at Bingham High School & UTPVA he has coached 6 State record holders, 8 State champions, over 20 Region champions, and countless State contenders. Every year athletes from both Bingham High & UTPVA are some of the best vaulters in the State. In his quest to become a better coach, he has spent time traveling to various camps & coaching clinics & has learned from some of the best coaches in the country. After several years at Bingham High School he started realizing the lack of vault coaches in the community & the desire of the athletes to continue training year round. So, slowly over a several year process, he started Utah Pole Vault Academy and in 2015 built his own indoor facility where UTPVA continues to train year round. Kody had a high school pr of 13' 6", which he broke in 2017 at the National Pole Vault Summit jumping an all time best of 14'.

Coach Cameron Vongsawad

Cameron Vongsawad
Assistant Coach, Club Administrator, Event Director

Cameron Vongsawad has been an intricate part of the UTPVA coaching staff since 2015. He brings a high
level of expertise as result of his personal experience as a high school pole vaulter, his experience
coaching at Copper Hills High School from 2015-2019, and his experience as a USATF Certified Official.
Cameron was first introduced to pole vault by his brother who also jumped in high school, and naturally
was hooked on the event after his first day. He is extremely passionate about the sport and enjoys helping
kids live an active lifestyle. When Cameron is not coaching at UTPVA he can be found on the slopes
snowboarding, teaching science, or working on his Masters in Physics at Brigham Young University.

Oliver Delgado
Assistant Coach

Oliver began pole vaulting in high school under Tom Martin, the National High School Pole Vault Coach of Year

in 2013, achieving a personal best of 15’3” (4.65m). While competing, Oliver gained the ability to relate to other

athletes and the process of going from first time touching a pole, to full inversion. Oliver began coaching for

UTPVA in 2016 and enjoys helping athletes raise the bar. Outside of the vault, he is a Pre-PA Kinesiology student

at the University of Utah, and is always looking for the next adventure.

Paz Ortiz
Assistant Coach

Paz began his pole vaulting journey back in 1984 at Big Sky High School in Missoula Montana. As a high school senior, he jumped 15'. After high school, he ran track for Idaho State University and was coached under Dave Nielsen as a pole vaulter and decathlete, jumping 16' 8".

Paz loves coaching the vault and enjoys the opportunity to be a part of the club family and coach all the different levels. He believes that the pole vault is truly an amazing sport that brings a unique blend of competition, camaraderie, and sportsmanship that is hard to match. He's even lucky enough to have a daughter following in his footsteps who has fallen in love with the sport.

Devin James
Assistant Coach

Devin has been coaching the pole vault at Riverton High since 2013 and started coaching at the UTPVA in 2020. While in high school he had a PR of 12'6" but considers jumping 10'6" while in a walking boot after breaking his ankle two weeks earlier the more impressive feat. During his time at Riverton he has helped his vaulters rewrite the record board. He has coached two state record holders and state champions, 5 region champions, and numerous state placers. He is also a USATF certified official. Devin doesn't have any kids of his own but considers all his vaulters his "kids" and loves to see them succeed and do the best they can and get high the right way! Devin is also currently a manager with Credit Corp Solutions and is starting up as a real estate agent with Keller Williams.

Brittany Warren
Assistant Coach

Brittany joined the UTPVA Family August 2018. Brittany has 9 years of competitive vaulting experience
herself and has been coaching the pole vault since 2008. She was an NCAA Division II Athletic and
Academic All-American in the pole vault while attending Grand Canyon University. While at GCU she attained
her undergraduate degree in exercise science and then went on to complete her graduate degree in business
administration. Brittany’s coaching career began with Sky Athletics Club in Phoenix Arizona. She has also
been a been a coach on staff at the National Pole Vault summit since 2012. Throughout her coaching career
she has worked with athletes from all skill levels from beginner to elite. Brittany defiantly has a passion for the
pole vault and grateful to be a part of the UTPVA Family!

Danny Shannon
Assistant Coach

Danny began vaulting in 2009 at his Pennsylvania high school and continued competing for the University of
Lynchburg in Virginia through 2016 earning All Conference 4 times and Conference Champion once. During his
time at University of Lynchburg, he began coaching at the high school level during the off seasons and then at
the collegiate level. He eventually found himself coaching more than competing as he says, "Competing is
exciting but I've grown to like coaching even more. I enjoy the problem solving aspect and it forces me to always
be learning more about the sport. It is also really rewarding to share the sport with others and see so much
growth in the athletes." Danny has been coaching at UTPVA since the summer of 2019.

When he is coaching, Danny works for Empire Solar Group and as a ski instructor for
Park City Mountain Resort. He is also often found hiking, climbing, skiing or asleep on the couch.

Revé Tortel
Assistant Coach

Reve has been coaching since 2008 and has assisted in coaching over 18 state championship medalist in both
Idaho and Utah. Prior to coaching, Reve competed at both Idaho State University and Utah State University in
the Pole Vault and Heptathlon. Reve was also a 5 time state High School Champion in Idaho and Pennsylvania.
As a coach Reve strives to ensure that every athlete walks away from practice feeling empowered to become
more than just an athlete, but a positive member of society. From being a Juvenile Case Worker, to a ski
instructor, to a pole vault coach, she understands the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of kids
from all ages and different cultural and economic backgrounds.

Reve is certified with the following organizations: National Federation of High School's Pole Vault Coach, USA
Track and Field Level 1 Coach; USA Track and Field Associate Official; Professional Ski Instructor's of American
Alpine level 2 coach, level 1 children's specialist, level 1 alpine adaptive coach.

Utah State University BS Psychology, Westminster College Master's in Education

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Phone: (801) 514-0648 Email: utahpolevault@gmail.com Click Here to Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.		Kojo Sports Training Complex 12472 S Meadow Spring Ln Riverton, UT 84065