Coach Joey Bender has served as co-head coach for the Northfield High School Men’s and Women’s Track & Field programs since 2021, having also coached Nighthawk Cross Country. Recognized as DPS Coach of the Year five times across cross country and track, he has led Northfield to top-10 state cross country finishes, a third-place state finish for women’s track, and a CHSAA State Championship for men’s track. Over his eleven-year coaching career—which includes collegiate experience at Adams State University and leading Denver West to historic league and state runner-up finishes—Coach Bender has coached state champions in multiple events and two Nike Cross Nationals qualifiers. He competed at Metro State University Denver and Adams State, and holds a Master’s degree in Applied Sport Psychology.
In my time at Northfield, I have had more fun coaching than ever before and couldn’t have imagined a better fit. I look forward to creating and continuing relationships with the team and helping to continue to build a program that leaves a legacy extending far beyond running while teaching life values. Northfield is showing they can be a powerhouse in the state and is a program kids want to come out for! – Coach Joey Bender
Contact Coach Bender at joseph_bender@dpsk12.net
Coach Wayne Vaden has served as co-head coach for Northfield Track & Field since the school’s inaugural 2016 season. Coaching high school track since 1997 across Montbello, Denver East, and Northfield, he has guided teams to four Colorado State Team Championships alongside numerous individual and relay state and national titles. A decorated athlete himself, Coach Vaden won three individual Colorado state titles for Denver East in 1983 before earning WAC championship titles at UTEP and finishing his collegiate career at CU Boulder. Professionally, he is the founder and managing attorney of City Park Law Group, LLC. He holds a BA from CU Boulder, a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University, and an LLM in Taxation from the University of Denver.
Coach Vaden at wayne_vaden@dpsk12.net.