Michael Chastain joined the staff at Culver Academies in the fall of 1974 as a Health and Physical Education instructor after graduating from Indiana University. He was hired in as the Head CMA Cross Country Coach and the Head CMA Track & Field Coach. He founded the CGA Cross Country program in 1979 before fielding a full team in 1981 when girls’ Cross Country became an IHSAA sport. He started the CMA Track & Field Relays in 1979, the Culver Academies Cross Country Invitational in 1982 and the CGA Track & Field Relays in 1998.
Coach Chastain also became the CGA Track & Field Head Coach in 2000. He was President of the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches from 2003-2005, director of the annual state IATCCC T&F coaching conference from 2001-2017, and was inducted into the Indiana Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2015. IHSAA State Champions in Track & Field and Cross Country include Alexandra Banfich (three-time cross country, three-time 3200, two-time 1600), Waverly Neer (1600, 3200 and cross country) and Addison Coy (two-time 300 Low Hurdles).
His philosophy in regards to the programs he heads is to provide a quality environment for improvement for all levels of athletes while learning about sportsmanship, training, competing, and living life in a responsible manner.
