Head Coach – Tone Coughlin
Coach Tone has been working with athletes since 1998 with his first coaching job at the Marshall School helping out the cross country ski team. He later moved on to coach swimming as an assistant coach for the North Shore Swim Club at the University of Minnesota Duluth and has now been the head coach there for his 4th season. During that time he raced as an elite amateur cyclist all over North America and a few races in Central America competing with riders that raced in the Tour de France. His first dog was Helena, the Team Manager and then he picked up Toivo as an 8 week old puppy who later started skijoring and bikejoring with him. Coach started handling for Mark and Mary Black during their marathon sled dog races a few years ago and fell in love with the sport. In his free time he likes to archery hunt for big game, grouse hunt, fish, spend time with the dogs, and train himself. He also owns and operates his small buisness Twin Ports Events, LLC promoting sporting events in the northland area.
Team Manager – Helena – 10 y/o Alaskan Husky
Helena came to us from Black Magic Kennels owned and operated by Mark and Mary Black now located in Hovland, MN. She’s a retired sled dog and was 4 years old when I got her. Her favorite activities are car rides, walks, and slow jogs. She’s not an affectionate dog and is very mellow, but she doesn’t mind some good ear and butt scratches every now and then. In the summer she likes to take naps in the sun out on the driveway. She was elected team manager because she likes to keep the dogs organized and the young-ins in line.
