Describe your team using 3 words?

Pride, Tradition & Family (our motto)

Who inspired you to want to start coaching?

I had great coaches growing up in school as well as young teacher. My HS Coach John Smith at Punxsutawney took us to many championships and made us believe that we could always compete with larger schools (we were always in big school classification with graduating classes of 200 kids). He always said, “the best kids are right in your backyard” and I try to adopt that mentality of developing talent and creating a belief in yourself and teammates both in running and life.

When it comes to coaching, how do you learn new techniques/ training ideas?

Hands down the distance running community is the best in support system in the world. I’ve coached and played lots of sports, and the distance running community locally and online only wants to make the sport better. Anything to grow the sport and support each other is what is best for running.

Additionally, with the start of COVID, I have had the opportunity to meet and become friends online and in person with some of the best coaches in the entire country. We have had over 125 weekly Zoom sessions through our Portland Coaches Social where we are able to have a dialogue on training, racing, our schools, etc. It’s been the silver lining of Covid. It’s awesome to have met these great people who I now call friends.

What is your favorite sports quote?

“Cross country is a summer sport that’s played out in the fall” --Coach Sage Canaday

“We want volunteers not hostages” --Coach Mike Tomlin and “Don’t Blink!”

Favorite running book?

with the Buffaloes

What advice would you give any future coach?

Be passionate, be authentic, and take pride in every aspect of the sport

Were you an XC runner in high school or college? If yes, where, and when?

I was a 3-sport athlete in high school at Punxsutawney (1995). Played basketball, ran cross country and track. Loved the 800, but XC has really grown on me as a coach

What is the most challenging part of training your athletes?

In cross country, it’s always the logistics--where to train, what’s the weather, how to schedule, etc. The training is great because as running coaches we coach the best student athletes in the school. It’s the logistics and minutia of coaching that you need to have a system that works for you.

Should there be a XC relay meet with 5 runners all running 1.5 miles and passing a baton?

NO! NEVER!!!

There should be some races though where all the team’s #1 runners start together, then # 2’s, etc. OR more grade level or shorter races. Western PA courses are brutal, and kids need experience racing without getting destroyed.

Do you use social media to promote your XC team?

@NorwinXC and @NorwinTrack (TWITTER)

What are the summer expectations for your runners?

We meet for over 30 runs/ workouts in the summer. So the expectation is to prepare yourself and bond as a team. No shortcuts in XC. Just run, run and run some more. The season is entirely in YOUR HANDS (or legs). I can’t make you a great runner or great team: only YOU can. You truly get out of this sport what you put in.

What are your core values as a coach?

I am going to steal my buddy Coach Eric Dettman’s team at Lincoln HS in Portland mottos because they represent me and what I expect as a team, teammate, and individual in life & running.

Love your teammates

Be the best version of yourself

Wherever you are, be all there

Norwin High School