Bart Templeman, Founder
Bart played football and participated as a thrower in track while attending Boise Junior College 1962 – 1964. In 1964 he transferred to Eastern Montana College in Billings, Montana where he also played football and participated as a thrower on the Yellowjacket track team.
In 1967, Bart was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers as a center, and he participated as a rookie center when the team met to put together their team. He was cut from the team after being there for four months, and from there he went to try out with the Denver Broncos. He was released from the Broncos after being there two months.
After returning to Idaho, Bart taught at Minico High School in southern Idaho, where he also coached football, track and wrestling. From Minico he transferred to Boise High School, where he also taught and coached football, track and wrestling.
In 1979, Bart and his family moved to North Idaho, where Bart worked at a local building supply company until starting his own wholesale building supply company in 1981. He served as a volunteer track coach at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for ten years, and also served as a volunteer track coach at North Idaho Junior College. In 1989, Bart founded the Iron Wood Throwers Camp. The camp has grown to be the largest specialty track and field camp in the United States. As of 2018, nearly 5,700 athletes and coaches have attended the camp.
In 2013 Bart purchased five acres of land in Rathdrum, Idaho and put in a world class, indoor/outdoor throws training facility, offering training in shot put, discus, and hammer. In 2016 he purchased the adjoining five acres of land, where he put in a javelin runway. He now offers first class training year round in the four throws, coaching local and area athletes, ages 12 – 75. Each spring he hosts the now famous Classic Meet, a competition for post collegiate athletes training for the Olympics, and for the top high school throws athletes from the U.S.
In 1967, Bart was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers as a center, and he participated as a rookie center when the team met to put together their team. He was cut from the team after being there for four months, and from there he went to try out with the Denver Broncos. He was released from the Broncos after being there two months.
After returning to Idaho, Bart taught at Minico High School in southern Idaho, where he also coached football, track and wrestling. From Minico he transferred to Boise High School, where he also taught and coached football, track and wrestling.
In 1979, Bart and his family moved to North Idaho, where Bart worked at a local building supply company until starting his own wholesale building supply company in 1981. He served as a volunteer track coach at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for ten years, and also served as a volunteer track coach at North Idaho Junior College. In 1989, Bart founded the Iron Wood Throwers Camp. The camp has grown to be the largest specialty track and field camp in the United States. As of 2018, nearly 5,700 athletes and coaches have attended the camp.
In 2013 Bart purchased five acres of land in Rathdrum, Idaho and put in a world class, indoor/outdoor throws training facility, offering training in shot put, discus, and hammer. In 2016 he purchased the adjoining five acres of land, where he put in a javelin runway. He now offers first class training year round in the four throws, coaching local and area athletes, ages 12 – 75. Each spring he hosts the now famous Classic Meet, a competition for post collegiate athletes training for the Olympics, and for the top high school throws athletes from the U.S.
TJ Crater, Center Director
Coach TJ Crater joins the Iron Wood Throwers Center after 19 years coaching at the collegiate level. The 2007 USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, TJ started his career at Central Washington University in 2003. He went on to coach the throwing events at Nevada, Penn State, University of Washington, and University of Arizona. Crater has worked with 35 NCAA All-Americans, 23 Conference Champions, 27 USATF Championship Qualifiers (3 Champions), 14 US Olympic Trials Qualifiers and 15 School-record holders. Crater mentored 2-time World Champion, and 2012 Olympic Finalist, Ryan Whiting in the shot put. Crater also coached NCAA-Record holder Jordan Geist to the 2019 Pan-American Silver Medal in Lima, Peru. Coach TJ also coached Taliyah Brooks to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and 2025 World Championships. Crater has coached NCAA All-Americans in all throwing events, and works with athletes in all events.
TJ was born in Northern Idaho, and grew up in East Wenatchee, WA. He attended the University of Idaho, where he earned degrees in Forest Resources Administration, and Forest Products-Timber Harvesting. He was a five-year member of the track and field program, where he was a school-record holder in the 35-pound weight throw.
TJ coaches athletes in all four throwing events, at all levels. In addition to coaching duties, he also oversees scheduling, clinics, management, and development of the center.
TJ also provides mentorship and advises all athletes on the college selection and recruiting process.
TJ was born in Northern Idaho, and grew up in East Wenatchee, WA. He attended the University of Idaho, where he earned degrees in Forest Resources Administration, and Forest Products-Timber Harvesting. He was a five-year member of the track and field program, where he was a school-record holder in the 35-pound weight throw.
TJ coaches athletes in all four throwing events, at all levels. In addition to coaching duties, he also oversees scheduling, clinics, management, and development of the center.
TJ also provides mentorship and advises all athletes on the college selection and recruiting process.
Kristine Rothwell
Kristine Rothwell (Leonard) has been coaching at the training center since 2015. She was coached by her father Neil, and Bart Templeman while at Lakeland High School where she still holds the shot put and discus records. She attended Concordia University-Portland her freshman year, and was a NAIA All-American in the discus. She transferred to University of Idaho in 2010, and was a WAC Conference Champion in the discus and a NCAA Regional qualifier. After graduating, she moved back to the Coeur d'Alene area and has been coaching the throws at Coeur d'Alene High School since 2015. She also competes in the Scottish Highland Games, and is one of the top throwers in the world. She and her husband, Kyle, train at the throwers center and in addition to coaching, and handle facility maintenance.
Ken McClain
Coach McClain has been coaching at the throwers center since the fall of 2020 and has been an Ironwood Camp Coach since 2012. Prior to moving up to North Idaho he had been the throws coach at West High School and Kimball High School, where he had successfully coached multiple State Championship qualifiers and 3 State Champions, specifically in the Hammer and Weight Throw. Coach Ken has mentored multiple USATF U-20 qualifiers in the hammer throw while at Iron Wood.
Brian Davidson
Coach Brian was an elite-level decathlete, completing his collegiate career at Boise State University. He went on to coach at Bishop Gorman High School, in Las Vegas, Nevada. After moving to the area, he joined the IWTC coaching staff, specializing in speed and power development, in addition to shot put, discus, and javelin. He is now the Head Boys Track and Field Coach at Joel Ferris high School, in Spokane.
Bill Godina
Coach Godina is a USATF Level 3 Coach, and a Master-level USATF Throws Official. He coached for over 20 years at Cheyenne Central HS on Cheyenne, Wyoming. He then went on to coach 14 years at Mesa Desert Ridge HS in Mesa, Arizona. Coach Godina has coached 41 individual state champions and several US TOp-10 athletes.
Coach Godina is active in the US Paralympic track and Field Program, where he has been on staff for three international competitions. he has also authored several publications for the USATF Coaches Education program, as well as producing instructional videos for Championship Productions.
Coach Godina is active in the US Paralympic track and Field Program, where he has been on staff for three international competitions. he has also authored several publications for the USATF Coaches Education program, as well as producing instructional videos for Championship Productions.
Carlie Shellington
A graduate of The University of Montana, Carlie competed in all four throwing events. She joins the center, after moving to the area.
Tera Novy
A two-time NCAA First-team All-American in discus. Holds the school record at USC at 61.10m (201-5). 2016 NACA U-23 silver medalist in discus. Also holds a PR of 16.15m (53-1) in shot put. Coach Tera is now residing in Coeur d'Alene and is excited to work with athletes of all ages in the throwing events!