DVCC Head Coach Info

Coach Jessica Millanes Shearer enters her fifth year as Head Coach of the Desert Vista Cross Country program for the 2026 season and also serves as Head Coach of Track & Field. A proud Thunder alum, she graduated from Desert Vista High School in 2000, where she captained the cross country team for three years and helped lead the program to multiple state championships in cross country and track, including the school's first girls cross country state championship.

Coach Shearer competed in cross country at Saint Mary's College in Indiana while beginning her coaching career. She later served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, completing two tours in Iraq and leading Marines in demanding operational environments. The leadership, discipline, and resilience developed through her military service continue to shape her coaching philosophy and commitment to developing confident, accountable, and well-rounded student-athletes.

She is a USATF Level 2 Coach (Endurance) and is committed to continually growing as a coach through education and professional development. Under her leadership, the Desert Vista girls cross country team has earned Division I State Runner-Up honors twice, while both the boys and girls track and field teams earned Division I State Runner-Up honors in 2025.

Coach Shearer believes success is built through consistent daily habits, personal accountability, and a team-first culture where every athlete is challenged to pursue excellence on and off the course.

Outside of coaching, Coach Shearer and her husband, Rob, a retired Marine, are the proud parents of two daughters, Evelyn (Desert Vista Class of 2029) and Cecilia (Desert Vista Class of 2030). Their family is actively involved in athletics and enjoys fostering dogs for local rescue organizations.

Coach Kyle Hancock steps into his role as Head Coach of the Desert Vista Boys Cross Country program for the 2026 season, continuing a lifelong connection to the Thunder community. A proud Desert Vista alum, Coach Hancock graduated with the Class of 2003 and was a key contributor to one of the most significant milestones in program history as a member of the 2002 Boys State Championship team, the first in Desert Vista boys Cross Country history. During his time as an athlete, he established himself as a dedicated competitor. He ran 16:03 in the 5K, graduated ranked No. 2 on Desert Vista’s all-time list, and earned recognition as one of the original members of the Sons of Thunder.

After his time at Desert Vista, Coach Hancock continued his academic and personal journey at Brigham Young University, where he met his wife, Lorna. Together, they have built a strong and active family, raising seven children who reflect their shared values of commitment, perseverance, and faith. Two of their children, Jesse and Feliha’a, are current members of the Desert Vista Cross Country program, further deepening the Hancock family’s connection to the team.

Professionally, Coach Hancock works as an aircraft engine control systems engineer, bringing a high level of precision, problem-solving, and analytical thinking to his coaching. His ability to break down complex systems and focus on details translates directly into his approach with athletes, helping them develop both technically and mentally in their training and racing.

Coach Hancock’s return to Desert Vista as a coach reflects a full-circle commitment to the program that helped shape him. Since joining the staff in 2023, he has played an integral role in developing athletes and fostering a culture built on accountability, consistency, and pride in the Thunder tradition. As he steps into the head coaching role, he remains dedicated to mentoring student-athletes and continuing the legacy of excellence that defines Desert Vista Cross Country.