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Q: How many years have you been the cross
country coach and distance track coach at Wesleyan?
A: I just finished my 6th fall at Wesleyan.
Q: What have been the cross country teams' key meets of the year?
A: The New England Regional meet was the major highlight for both men’s and
women’s teams. The women placed 7th in the toughest region in the country
and the men placed 2nd to qualify as a team to the National Championships.
The men ended up placing 14th at nationals. The men placed four runners on
the All New England regional team and Owen Kiely was the New England
Champion. Owen Kiely and Ellen Davis both attained All-America status by
virtue of their finish at the National Championships.
Q: It's probably not an understatement to say most people don't understand
cross country. It's not just going out and running, is it?
A: Cross country is a simple sport. The first person to the finish line
wins. It’s not running, it is racing. There is a big difference. I am always
telling my team that time doesn’t matter, place does. Cross country is a
team sport. Most people think of it as an individual sport. A team is made
up of seven runners. The first five runners score for the team. Each runner
gets points based on his or her finish. If you place 5th, your team gets
five points and if you place 27th, your team gets 27 points. You add up the
points for your first five runners. The team with the lowest point total
wins.
Q: When did you start running, and for what schools/teams?
A: I started running the summer before my freshman year in high school. I
attended St. Anthony’s High School in Smithtown, Long Island. I then went
onto run at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. I also ran
competitively after college for about six years.
Q: What are your degrees in, and why did you decide to coach for a living?
A: I have a bachelor’s of science in management and a master’s of science in
administration with a concentration in sport and athletic administration. I
never really thought about coaching during or just after college. I was
focused on my running and I thought I might open a running store after my
competitive days were over. Then one day I saw an ad in a local paper for an
assistant track coach. I thought it might be interesting so I gave the
school a call. The athletic director ended up offering me the head coaching
job. The rest they say is history. I realized very early on that coaching
was what I wanted to do for the foreseeable future.
Q: Do you teach classes in addition to coaching?
A: Yes. I teach running for fitness in the fall and spring and I teach intro
to strength training in the winter.
Q: What specific training methods do you use for your runners?
A: The training methods I use are an amalgamation of the training methods
that my coaches used and what I found to work for me personally. All
workouts are tailored to each athlete. We try to keep the athletes in small
training groups.
Q: Is it easier to evaluate a prospect in cross country verses a prospect in a
sport like ice hockey or baseball since it has the element of time for a
distance which is a consistent measure?
A: I am not sure if it is easier or should I say more effective. I would
like to see a prospect race if I had the time and resources. I have no time
to watch athletes because I am in season all year. Cross country courses
vary greatly so I really look at a prospect's track times to get an idea of
the talent level.
Q: Is it difficult being a three-season coach since you handle the distance
runners in both indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country?
A: It is difficult because I am coaching both the men and the women all
year. I do get emotionally tired by the end of the year. But I have been
able to recharge the battery every summer.
Q: How many of your athletes run all three seasons?
A: Almost all of my athletes run all three seasons. The athletes need to
train year round to be successful at the national level.
Q: What gives you the greatest satisfaction after a meet?
A: Running to our potential.
Q: How would you rate NESCAC cross country at the national level?
A: On the women’s side it is without question the toughest conference in the
country. The national team champion and runner up have come from the NESCAC
the past five seasons. This fall was the first time in six years that the
national champion was not a NESCAC school. Last fall our women’s team placed
5th in the NESCAC, 5th in the New England region and 14th in the country.
The men’s side is very strong too but it is not the strongest in the
country. I would say it is in the top three or four of the toughest
conferences in the country.
Q: How many miles do you personally run a week? Do you participate in any
local races?
A: I run about 35 miles a week. I run with the team about three days a week.
I don’t do any road racing. My competitive fire is quenched by my coaching.
Q: What are your hobbies and interests aside from running?
A: I have an old house that I am fixing up. I spend most of the summer
working on it. When I am not coaching or working on the house I like to read
and spend time with friends and family. I am also a pretty big Yankee fan.
Q: Does your family live around here?
A: I have three brothers and a sister. I have a brother and sister living in
Connecticut. I get to see them more often than the rest of my family who
live in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Q: Is it true you and George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees,
have a hot-line connection?
A: Yes it is true, but George never seems to listen to me. I guess that’s
because he is a Williams guy.
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