What was your most successful moment as a XC coach?
Without question, it was the girls’ State title in 2019. The 12 months leading up to that point played out like a book that had already been written. I was incredibly proud of that group of girls and what they were able to accomplish. It was EXTREMELY satisfying as a coach/teacher to see hard work pay off like that.

Who inspired you to want to start coaching?
I attended Baldwin High School, so watching Coach Ed Helbig and Coach Rich Wright first hand was all the inspiration that I needed. I saw how influential they were to all of the athletes on our team. It didn’t matter if you were a State Champion or someone who was struggling to finish a race, you were important to the team and Coach Helbig and Coach Wright were invested in who you were as a person.

Who is your favorite coach in any sport?
I grew up as a Larry Bird fan watching the Celtics play in the late 80’s. When he took up the coaching position with the Indiana Pacers, I was curious as to how that would go. Although he only coached for 3 years in the league, I was instantly a fan of his coaching style. He wasn’t going to scream and yell at his players because he would often say, “If I’ve done my job leading up to that game to prepare my players, I shouldn’t have to say anything”. Although I am certainly more animated, I live by the philosophy that there is nothing that I can do for my runners once the gun goes off. It’s my job to make sure that they are prepared physically and mentally for each race before it ever starts.

What is 1 major challenge you face as a XC coach?
The greatest challenge (and I suspect the reason why I enjoy coaching so much) is being tasked with “figuring out” how to unlock the most from each athlete that walks through your door. We pride ourselves on the idea of being the “Distance Factory”. The mentality is that we can “manufacture” distance runners no matter where they start with their natural abilities. Each athlete is unique and that’s the challenge when it comes to taking an athlete to places that they may not have known were possible for themselves.

How would you best describe your coaching style?
I would say that my coaching style can best be described as “genuine”. I sincerely care about each of the kids that come through our program. I have the utmost respect for anyone who is willing to commit themselves to the team. I genuinely LOVE cross country and think that it brings out the best in people. When it comes to coaching, you can’t fake enthusiasm. Your athletes will be able to see right through you. I think that’s one reason why we have been able to build such a great environment here at SF. We have athletes and coaches that genuinely care about every aspect of the program.

South Fayette High School