NORTHERN Marianas Athletics has named Ron Snyder, EdD, headmaster of Saipan International School, the national head coach of the CNMI athletics team.
Snyder will take over the helm from long-time national head coach Elias Rangamar who has now taken over the position of development officer.
Snyder has a level II middle/long distance World Athletics coaching certification, and over 30 years of coaching experience that included stints in Europe, Africa, Pakistan, Japan and the U.S.
In the CNMI, he has honed the SIS Geckos into a powerhouse running team.
Snyder has a proven track record of successful athletics recruitment, developing competitive programs and prioritizing athlete/student success.
He will begin his new role as CNMI head coach on Feb. 22, 2022. His primary task is to form a new core of local athletes for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games which will be held on Saipan this June, and at the Micronesian Games next year in the Marshall Islands.
Development Officer Elias Rangamar said, “I am confident that Dr. Snyder has the experience, knowledge and vision to successfully launch our athletics program to an elite level. I look forward to working and supporting Dr. Snyder, and for NMI athletics to regain its place as one of the island’s talented and successful sports programs.”
NMA President Ray Tebuteb, for his part, said: “I want to express our profound thanks to Dr. Snyder for accepting this very critical role in our NMA program. His recent selection to the Oceania Athletics Coaches Association, under the tutelage of our Oceania Athletics Association, will certainly help accelerate our goals and aspirations not only for our athletes and their families, but to our family of committed sponsors as well. Coach Ron is a shining example of someone who shares his knowledge and skills from the heart.”
Ron Snyder
