2012 Coaches & Staff

Director/Coach Dan

Dan Freeman – Team Director

Dan is Team Director and a teacher at Drake High School. He founded the team in 2002 and is a lifelong educator with a focus on helping teens achieve academic and athletic goals, as well as introducing them to philanthropic work through school, sport and travel.

Dan also oversees all business aspects of the program including fundraising, committees, budget, expenses, personnel and affiliations.

Coach "Peg Arm" Paul

Paul Chourre – Head Coach

Paul was born and raised in San Anselmo and attended Drake High School where he played Football and ran Cross Country.

Graduating in 1967, Paul attended College of Marin and was involved in the very start of Mountain Biking in Marin. Gary Fisher and Charley Kelly custom made a disk brake bracket for his clunker that was sporting the “newest” Cook Brothers rigid fork. “I grew up loving the trails of Marin from my Cross Country days and mountain biking was a perfect way to enhance the combination of physical exercise and love of the outdoors.”

Although Paul worked and participated in many local races in Marin, racing was never the dominant inspiration. “My inspiration comes in opening the door to kids and teaching the love of the sport as something they will carry with them throughout their lives as I have.” Paul is coaching the team for the 6th year now and is a USA Cycling Club Level Certified Coach and has met the requirements Head Coach for the NorCal MTB League.

Jack Wise

Jack Wise has lived in the Fairfax area since age nine and spent much of his time growing up in the hills surrounding Fairfax and Sleepy Hollow. There were no mountain bikes then but Schwinn Varsity’s were the main mode of transportation.

Since the 80′s he has been riding mountain bikes for recreation. Jack has twin boys Sam and Austin who are returning sophomore rider’s for Drake MTB, he has always helped out in all of his sons activities and jumped at the chance to help coach mountain biking.

Jack hopes to have all the kids that ride to come away with the love for a sport that they can do for their entire lives.

Coach Neil

Neil Doucet

Neil Doucet was born and raised in San Anselmo, and still resides in the same house in which he grew up.

A 1970 Drake Graduate, he has enjoyed the sport of mountain biking for over 30 years. He got involved with the Drake MTB Team in 2007 when his son joined the Team.

As with all the Coaches, Neil’s love of the sport is something he hopes to share with the kids so they, too, can develop a life long sport. Neil is also a graduate of the NorCal Wilderness First Aid Course, safety and respect for the environment are primary concerns. Of course having fun is the primary objective!

Coach Patty

Patty Brockley

Patty has been passionate about biking since she was a child but only in the past 7 years has she learned to love mountain biking. She started the Lagunitas Middle school elective 6 years ago and continues to teach youths about the joy of riding, appreciation of the land and nature while helping them to develop strength, skills and safety on the bike. She was the Safe Routes to School coordinator and most recently secured a large grant for the Lagunitas School district which taught her to never give up. She has been a coach for the Drake High School for the last 4 years, and focuses on assisting the girls to develop their own style of riding. In the Fall Patty has coached soccer for over 6 years.

She has been an R.N, for 20 years working in all aspects of health care. She has been a Nurse Practitioner specializing in adolescent health care and wellness for 15 years. She helped coordinate and administered care along with Huckleberry Youth Program in the Marin County Teen Clinic for the last 5 years. She is truly honored to have the opportunity to communicate, listen and encourage each youth in attaining their goals as a mountain biker.

Kevin Hall

Eric Brandt

Coach Sarah

Sarah Starbird

A transplant to the Bay Area after graduation from Boston University, Sarah has been riding and creating great memories on the trails since discovering Marin in 1989. She originally relocated to San Francisco to be, believe or not, a banker (booor-ring) but quickly learned about a very cool place to work where you were paid to ride your bike and travel as a bike guide – called Backroads. “It wasn’t quite as glamorous as it sounds, because it was grueling hard work, but it was a fantastic experience and one of great opportunities and amazing adventures. “

Soon into her new career at Backroads, she began racing mountain and cyclo-cross bikes. “From the time I was six, I have been racing or competing in one event or another; swimming, tennis, softball, crew, running and riding. I have a lot to be thankful for from my early and recent mentors I met during my competitive racing days. They were so supportive of my efforts and achievements.” Sarah hopes to deliver the same act of kindness by being a mentor to the Drake riders and making a difference in their lives.

Now living on Woodacre with her 3 dogs and partner Chris, you can usually find Sarah riding the trails, often with the dogs running along side.