How It All Started
In 2016 Jason and his wife started boys and girls AAU basketball teams across the 3rd through 8th grades. It was the participation of Jason’s children, Taylor then 3rd grade and Jack then 5th grade, that motivated this commitment. These AAU teams came to be called The Oregon Trail Blazers. Over the course of five years the teams multiplied and the program soon had over 60 students. In addition to the AAU program Jason was the youth sports coordinator for the Stanfield Elementary school where he held youth clinics. Jason followed his athletes as they aged and re-entered varsity coaching with the Echo high school boys basketball team as the assistant coach from 2021 - 2024.
Coach Jason
Jason has coached dozens of sports and teams at varying ages with different goals of achievement and growth. He now wants to use the skills he's gained to help others develop through Grindstone Training.
About Coach Jason
Before the OT Blazers Jason had already collected several coaching experiences.
Head High School Varsity Coaching Experience
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Stanfield/Echo Golf 2005-2006, Qualified to state both seasons presided over as coach
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Stanfield boys Basketball 2016-2017 season, In his only season as head coach led the school to its first ever state championship game appearance.
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Echo High School boys Varsity Basketball assistant coach 2021-2024
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Track 2024, In just one season had the largest team in school history and qualified the most participants to state in school history.
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Cross Country 2023-2024, coached the team to Back-2-Back top 5 state finishes.
Youth and Community Coaching Experience
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Numerous junior high, freshmen team and assistant high school basketball coaching positions.
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Stanfield volunteer Parks and Recreation Director, 2016-2018
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Stanfield youth basketball director, 2018-2021
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Golf instructor for Hermiston Parks and Rec for 6 years.
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Little League Baseball Coach from T-Ball to juniors baseball and softball from 1997-2021
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Youth soccer and flag football coach for 4 seasons
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Oregon Trail Blazers 2016-2024, 22 Teams in all and more than 120 athletes. Athletes participated in levels from 3rd grade to High School
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Jason also taught at Stanfield Secondary School for a number of years.
"The most important part of coaching/teaching is building relationships and great experiences." - Jason Sperr
With the help of his wife, dozens of coaches, parents, sponsors and administrators, our local community's students have had many more opportunities to gather, travel, build healthy habits and improve at the sports they love.
Jason graduated from Stanfield high school as an exceptional three sport athlete over all four years of high school. Jason earned four varsity letters in golf and basketball, 2 varsity letters in cross country, including one season as 2A team state champions, and 2 varsity letters in football. Jason had much individual success as a golfer winning countless tournaments and placing 2nd in state after breaking the 2A/1A record in his pursuit to win. After high school Jason golfed for Walla Walla Community College and coached the Stanfield/Echo high school golf team. Jason also holds the 9 hole course record at Echo Hills Golf Course with a 29 and the winter course record at Echo Hills with a 61.
Jason completed his education at Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and then a masters degree in business management from Eastern Oregon University.
Although Jason is a rigorous student of his craft, spending much of his time outside of coaching reading, researching and practice or game planning he made time to continue to work on his individual development as a runner, qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2024.
Through intentional growth, and extensive experience developing individuals to meet their potential and exceed their own expectations, Jason has acquired a set of skills to help individuals and teams achieve their goals. Jason wishes to offer this service as a running coach, basketball trainer and golf expert through Grindstone Training.
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