Claude Toukene Accepting His Award
Claude Toukene
Western Branch High School
It gives us great pleasure to recognize Claude Toukene as the Chesapeake Coach-of-the-Year. Coach Toukene is an educator and coach at Western Branch High School. Coach Toukene is married to his lovely wife Joann and they have three children, Johanna, Olivia, and Jean-Claude.
Coach Toukene currently serves as a Special Education Teacher and has been the Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Western Branch High School since 2004. He received a Baccalaureate degree in math and physics in 1994 from Cameroon. He graduated from Norfolk State University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Exercise Science and a minor in math. He then received a Master’s Degree in Education from Cambridge College. Coach Toukene is fluent in five languages.
Coach Toukene ran track as a college and post-collegiate athlete. He was the captain of the Cameroon National team from1998 to 2005. He competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Games as a sprinter. He also competed in 4 World Championships meets (Sweden 2005, Greece 2007, Spain 2009, Canada 2011).
Coach Toukene has led high school, collegians, and Olympian athletes to distinguished success during his coaching career. He has:
• Coached 1 Olympian, 3 African Championship medalists, and 12 collegiate athletes at the club level with 1 Silver Medalist at the Junior Pan-American Games
During his coaching tenure at Western Branch High School (WBHS), he has:
• Coached 13 Virginia High School League (VHSL) State Championship Teams and 10 State Runner-Up squads in both boys’ and girls’ track.
• His former runners from WBHS currently holds 11 VHSL State records.
• He has won 30 VHSL Regional Team Championships and has 11 Regional Team Runner-up finishes.
• His squads have captured 40 Southeastern District/ Conference Team Championships, and more than 20 Southeastern District/Conference Regular Season Titles.
• Has produced 78 individual high school All-American athletes, coached 13 National Champions, 144 All-State Athletes, and 41 State Champions at the High School level (including relays).
• He has helped secure college scholarships for 82 former WBHS athletes (52 at the Division I level)
• He has been named the Milestat coach-of-the-year seven (7) times.
• In 2014, he was named the USTF Virginia girls coach-of-the- year.
• And finally, last season he was named 2014 New Balance Outdoor National High School coach-of-the-year.
Coach Toukene takes pride in guiding youth and and positively developing them into student athletes as wells as young men and women throughout their high school career. Being referred to as a father figure is a humbling experience. Having former athletes return to both continue training and serve on his coaching staff is a tremendous feeling.
Congratulations to the Chesapeake Sports Club Coach-of-the-Year, Claude Toukene.