DyeStatCal California Coach of the Week 10/27-11/1 - Billy York (Woodcrest Christian, Riverside)

Another super small school power, with a level of team all out of proportion to school size is Woodcrest Christian of Riverside, with the defending State Div V Champs another powerhouse this Fall. Coach Billy York has been around a few years, and below talks about how he has developed one of the State's top programs. The team appears in the midst of the Championship hunt once again this Fall, with a high ranking, and some great races already!!! Should be fun come December and we look forward to the newest of the Hawaiian shirts worn by Billy!!

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

1) Briefly describe your school's successes in Cross-Country in the past few years?

Woodcrest Boys have been undefeated in league, as well as league champions for the past 13 years. 2000 - 4th state championship, 2001- 1st state championship. Mt Sac Sweepstake winners D5 2001 and 2002.

2) Briefly, what is your personal history with athletics and coaching?

Growing up I was small for my age. I was not gifted with athletic ability. I was always picked last for every team. Finally I just quit trying and started reading books when the other kids were playing games on the playground. In 7th grade a read a story about a runner named Glenn Cummingham, a runner from the 30s. He was in a terrible accident and his legs horribly burn but he persisted and eventually became on of the greatest runners of his era. I stated running that very day. About a month later I entered my first school race, a ½ mile race and came in last. I was determine to get better and keep reading every thing I could get my hands on that was available at the time. I ran 4 years of track and cross country in high school and was never more than a middle of the pack runner. I really feel that my lack of athletic ability worked out to my advantage. I studied to make myself a better runner but use that information to be a better coach. I also can relate to the runner who is middle of the pack or end of the pack and I have always geared my programs to give them the attention they deserve.

As an adult I married and have had 3 children. In 1980 I was walking down the street and a flyer blew up in my face concerning cross country race for elementary schools in a park in Riverside. The last race happens to be that very day. When I went over to the park it was over before it stated. The director stated that only 3 runners showed up. The following year I started a cross country team at the elementary school I was working for. On the first race day we showed up with 139 runners. In 1987 the boys won the National AAU Championship.

My Children ran for me as they grew up. My oldest son started high school cross country and his following year the AD from Woodcrest Christian asked me to become the High School cross country coach where I have been every since.

3) Briefly, how has the season gone so far for your team?

Last year we had to fill some hole filled by departing seniors. We only got one new athlete that could help us fill a spot in the top 7. It became very important that the remaining runners reach there full potential in order for us to improve as a team. So far we have exceeded our own expectations. We have won every event we had entered with the exception of the Clovis Invitational where we finished 2nd.

4) Did you do anything different with this group in preparation during the summer than past teams? Explain briefly –

Because of the previous experience by members of the team we will able to put more time into the actual training. Briefly we were putting in 10 more minutes of actual running per workout than the previous team. Those extra 10 minutes add up at the end season.

5) How do you look at the competition at your level as we go into Championship time of the year?

Flintridge Prep is a great team with an incredible coach. We have nothing but the deepest respect for the runners and their program. They have an incredible history. Team wise we do not think of anyone but Flintridge Prep everyday. They keep us motivated. Individuals throughout the state are getting better every year and we are anxiously anticipating meeting them in the State Championship.

6) What workout is the core of your fall cross-country "during the season" Mondays?

Every one of our workouts is segmented with a combination of distance, strength and speed. We do not have easy days, hard days, fast days or slow days. Segmented workouts bring out the best results.

7) What are some of the good and some of the maybe not so good items about working with a smalller, private school in the area of athletics?

Woodcrest Christian is an extremely involved school with after school programs. Athletics, band, cheer, mock trial, choir, performing arts, service clubs as well as other activity involved events. It is very difficult to find bodies who want to run cross country. It is very rare to have a talented athlete who is not involved with another activity. The truth is sometimes the only ones left are the one who do not have the athletic ability to make other teams. The challenge is to convince them that running 3 miles in the heat of the beginning of the season is a good and enjoyable activity. From that moment I look at the athlete as a 4 year building project if they are freshmen.

On the positive side, I am a walk on coach and the school is just like one big family where everyone knows everyone else. I have the freedom to go and do anything I want at the school to better the Cross Country program. Woodcrest administration is very supportive of the cross country program and does whatever it can to assist me.

8) Some particulars about the area that your school is at that make it especially good for training, or maybe a challenge in some ways?

Our home course is on our campus but we never train there because of so many activities. We have to travel by bus to the local park. This takes up training time. However the area we run in idea for training because of the dirt and hills. Almost zero time on hard surfaces.

9) Who has influenced you along the way in your coaching philosophy?

My high school coach, “Doc Diller”, was a big influence. He was always cheerful and positive and made me feel very important even though I was not that good. I have tried to use his approach throughout my coaching career.

The Cross Country clinics that have been put on every year have really helped me develop a training program to prepare for ever increasing competition. George Ramos from Chadwick really help me out a lot with his advice and emails on post-season training. Ray Irv philosophy has made a huge impact on our program.

10) What advice would you have for rookie coaches out there in the sport of Cross-Country?

Learn all you can. Be Patience. Be positive in every situation. Give out praise everyday. Have fun! Most importantly focus on developing the inner qualities of the athlete. Respect, honor, duty, diligence, commitment, persistence, hard work. If you develop these characteristics in each one of your athletes first and make this a priority winning will be the by-product. We do not focus on winning or think about it that much. We focus on developing each athlete mentally, physically and spiritually. If you develop these in the individual the team will win. Winning will just happen.

DyeStatCal News

is published by

Editor: Doug Speck
Publisher: John Dye

�2002 by DyeStat