Coach Flatow

Head XC Coach

Coach Kirk Flatow has been a cornerstone of Monta Vista’s running programs since 2011, bringing over 15 years of coaching experience to our runners and serving as Head Cross Country Coach in the fall. Under his guidance, the program has flourished with several CCS championship teams and State qualifiers in XC, and many more CCS qualifiers and State qualifiers in track and field. Before dedicating himself to coaching, Coach Flatow had a successful career as a Silicon Valley exec, but it’s clear his true calling is helping young student-athletes reach their potential.

What sets Coach Flatow apart is his passion for building grit and resilience in his runners, often drawing on the teachings of his friend, Angela Duckworth, the renowned psychologist and author. His commitment to becoming a better coach even led him back to school recently to earn a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from UPenn. When he’s not training runners or studying how to help them thrive, you’ll find Coach Flatow cooking up a storm, catching up with friends, or relaxing at his home on the Oregon coast.

Coach Smith

Assistant Coach

Coach Isaiah Smith joined the Monta Vista coaching staff in 2023 as a sprints/relays/hurdles coach in track & field. He has a genuine passion for diving deep into the technical side of the sport, breaking down sprinting mechanics and the science of speed in ways that help athletes understand and improve their performance. He takes this same passion to cross country, but in ways that help build strength in our athletes. But beyond the stopwatch and starting blocks, what really drives Coach Smith is witnessing those breakthrough moments when athletes accomplish something they didn’t think was possible.

For Coach Smith, track and cross country are about more than just running fast. He’s invested in watching young athletes grow into leaders and develop life skills that will serve them long after their competitive days are over. When he’s off the track, you’ll likely find him firing up the grill, working on creative projects, or staying active himself through sprinting, mountain biking, and volleyball. His dog also makes sure he gets plenty of exercise and outdoor time!

Coach Janne

Assistant Coach

Coach Janne Heinonen is new to the MVXC coaching team in 2026. She ran cross country in high school and college and has continued competing as a masters runner in USATF regional cross country series and national championships and in the marathon. She derives immense joy from watching young people develop their fitness, confidence, and love of running.

Cross country holds a special place in her heart. It is scored as a team, and teams improve and succeed by pushing, pulling, lifting each other up every day in practice and in races. It is run on vastly different courses, a pure racing experience where fitness, adaptability, and passion matter more than paces. It celebrates the last finisher as enthusiastically as the first.

Coach Janne is committed to supporting our young athletes and guiding their running journeys. When she is not running or coaching, she is a professor, teaching and conducting research on nutrition, physical activity, healthy growth, and how health evolves throughout the life course. She also enjoys spending time with her family, eating, and reading non-intellectual books.