From Student to staff: katie saunders re-joins Samo

Katie Saunders (’17) poses.for the camera!

Santa Monica High School alumni Katie Saunders (’17) is returning to Samo as an assistant coach and teacher. Saunders is leading cross country, track and field and Sports Medicine classes regular and advanced, while additionally training to teach physiology for a future Sports Medicine pathway. With ambitious goals set for her dual roles, Saunders is back at her alma mater, bringing wisdom and experience as a staff member.

After graduating from Samo, she pursued her educational career at Santa Monica College and got her associates degree in Kinesiology with a minor in business. She then went on to Cal State Monterey Bay to get her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology . 

Saunders has had plenty of experience in both track and field and sports medicine. Going back to her highschool days, Saunders was on the Samo track and field team from 2013-2017. While attending SMC, Saunders volunteered with Samo’s track and field team during her first year and went on to serve as an assistant coach for the following three years. Saunders transferred to CSU Monterey Bay in 2021, where she worked as a physical therapy aid and athletic training aid while also throwing for the school’s division two track and field team. Her past experiences have prepared her for her time here at Samo, and have shaped her coaching philosophy over the years. 

“You can’t teach to want to, but if you want to be here I can give you all my information, all my expertise, all of my knowledge. I can answer all your questions and feed your passions with maximum enthusiasm,” Saunders said. 

Although Saunders has experience in track and field and sports medicine, this is her first year of coaching cross country and she faces a learning curve as she familiarizes herself with the sport. However, she is not only focused on learning the sport but achieving various other goals. 

“I’m learning about how to structure workouts for distance runners and reasonable expectations and things to look out for. Injuries wise, my goal, I think probably for the rest of my time as a cross country coach, will be to have the fewest injuries possible,” Saunders said. 

With her background in sports medicine, Saunders is able to directly apply her knowledge of injury prevention and recovery on the field when coaching. This same expertise guides her approach in the classroom, where she also has goals for her students. 

“I will be getting my students CPI and AED certified. I'll get them certified by the end of the year. So I want them to be able to feel safe and feel confident making others feel safe,” Saunders said. 

Saunders is dedicated to providing her students with critical life skills. By offering these certifications, Saunders is giving her students the tools they need to get one step closer to success.