DyeStatCal California Coach of the Week 10/20-24/02 - Tim Butler (Dana Hills, Dana Point)

Coach Tim Butler with some of the recent hardware from Orange County Championships (Dana Hills HS photo)

Dana Hills Cross-Country has always stood for excellence, with the Boys' program under Coach Tim Butler over the last three decades of his control 13 League Championships and a myriad of honors beyond that topped by a State Championship back in 1988 for the Dolphin group. 2002 seems like a special group once again for the Orange County power, with a veteran crew that was third in last year's state meet and some fine races under their belts already this Fall, capped by an Orange County Championship last weekend. They will be on the hills at Mt. SAC this week, with the blue and white clad group surely near the front of the action once again. As one of the "Deans" of Cross-Country statewide, it is an honor to name Coach Tim Butler this week's "DyeStatCal Coach of the Week."

Congrats - Best of continued luck Tim - Doug Speck - DyeStatCal

1) Briefly describe your successes in cross-country as a coach at Oakmont and other situations you have been in--

23 consecutive post-season appearances
13 South Coast League championships
1 Orange County Championship-2002
2 Div 1 CIF-SS Titles-1987,1988
1 3rd in state meet-2001
1 2nd in state meet -1987
1 state champion-1988

3 Coach of the Year-Times/Register
30 years at the helm of DHHS cross country

2) Describe your personal career as an athlete and coach that led you to Oakmont HS--

Graduated from San Clemente HS in 1968
MVP in football MVP in Track ATHLETE OF THE YEAR -68
Still holds 2 football records and 2 track records

BA from Biola University-1972
NAIA All-American 1972
still holds 3 relay records 4x400 4x800 Distance Medley

never coached at any other school other than dhhs

3) What would you describe as the couple biggest things you have learned about working with teenage distance runners over the years?

1 make them accountable in everything
2 continue to make it fun-use humor frequently
3 Love them unconditionally

4) How is this year's team the same or different than recent groups that you have coached?

This team has the same work ethic and comraderie as the 1987-88
teams

5) How much running did you ask your varsity team to do this summer?

Started July 15 - Aug averaging 30-50 miles a week.

6) Is the season going as planned or how have you had to adjust things in some way during the first month and a half of racing and training during the meet schedule?

Actual periodization plan has been altered very little.
But individual training schedules have changed for all but two of my
top 10 because of injuries

7) What do you think is your "core" workout during the cross-country season (Monday workout during a week when you are concentrating on a week of good training, not peaking near the end)--?

20-30 stadiums(steep)
or 1 mile -timed,3 repeat hills(5-10% grade-600m),1 mile -timed

8) What advice would you have for a new Coach to the sport?

1 Learn as much as you can from other successful coaches-be willing
to grow as a coach
2 Be organized and plan ahead
3 Develop a philosophy and be able to sell it
4 Give ALL the kids attention-talk to your runners daily!

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