DyeStatCal
Boys
Coach of the Week
Bill Gregg
(Davis HS)
Week of 9/11-16, 2006
California
photo from Davis HS
Joe Hartman photo
Another coach
of both the Boys and Girls teams, Bill Gregg at Davis HS had the added
duties this week of starting recovery from a bike
fall that had him break a collar bone (ouch!). The Girls' program
at Davis on a four year roll of section titles, with the Boys' team two
consecutive
fall section cross country titles!!
In recent years his
fall and spring distance programs have taken their place as among the
best in the state, with a big double win boys/girls a week back at the
Granite
Bay Invitational, and a repeat performance this past weekend at the Valley
Lagoon Classic affair in the Sac Joaquin Section. His son, Brendan
(GB winner) has been joined up front by Patrick Lynch (Lagoon triumph),
with the Girls's squad led by double race winner Chelsea Reilly. With
the kind of summer we had as far as weather it is inspirational to see
a group
moving forward as the Davis HS crew is!! The state is equalling
out in quality--
With the start of school, broken bones and all, we certainly want to
thank Bill for taking the time to answer the questions below.
1) What is your own athletic background and how did you evolve
into a distance/cross country coach?
During my high school years in Chico, CA, I was a multi-sport athlete - cross
country in the fall, alpine ski racing during the winter, track in the spring,
and age group swimming in the summer. I competed in track and cross country
at Butte Junior College and in cross country at UC Davis while majoring in
exercise physiology. My first coaching job was during the summers while in
college, coaching a summer swim team in Quincy, CA. Starting in 1983 I spent
six years as an assistant coach at UC Davis with women's cross country and
track.
2) How long have you been in your current coaching position?
This is my 10th season with cross country and track at Davis High.
3) How much involvement did you have with your team this past summer timewise?
We had summer conditioning three evenings per week.
4) What are some of the conditions in your area that affect the preparation
you are able to do during the summer (heat, summer school, vacations, etc.)?
All of the summer activities were optional, so we didn't worry too much about
vacations, work, and summer school. We met in the evenings to lessen the
effects of valley heat and also because I am not a very good morning person!
The core group of returning runners on our varsity teams were very self motivated
this summer and they did a great job getting their miles in.
5) What have been the big influences on your and your philosophy of training?
Early on, the biggest influences were my cross country and track coach at
Chico High, Chuck Sheley, and my swim coach, Dr. Ernie Maglischo. UC Davis
Hall of Fame coach, Sue Williams, taught me a tremendous amount when I was
at UCD. I also credit my exercise physiology and biomechanics professors
at UC Davis for nurturing my interest in science as it applies to athletics.
As of late, I owe much to Murrieta Valley coach Steve Chavez. His clinics
are incredible. He willingly shares with his peers what he has learned in
the past decade.
6) Would you share your general Monday workout for the coming week with us
(does not have to be in super detail, just some general description would
be super)?
Depending on our meet schedule, Monday is either a threshold day (usually
repeat 2 miles) or a long run day.
7) Where do cross-country and track and field rate among the sports on your
campus?
Cross country is the second largest team (120 runners) at Davis High, but
we are still a bit under the radar. Track has even more participation, but
it's still pretty low profile. I would say that the most visible sports on
campus are soccer, water polo, football, and baseball.
8) What do you think have been the biggest forces in improving the sport
of cross-country over the last two decades (advent of state meet, etc.)?
In the last 5 years, I would say the Internet has the been the biggest
force. DyeStat and DyeStatCal have increased the visibility of cross country
and
track and created a sense of community with results and pictures from meets
being published so quickly. In Davis, we work to keep our website up to
date, use e-mail to communicate with athletes and parents, and get results
published
in the local paper after every meet. Big meet tradition (state XC meet,
MT. SAC, etc.) has also provided incentive for our runners as they try
to equal
or better the times of Davis High alumni.
Thanks Bill - best of luck - heal up!!!
Doug Speck - DyeStatCal.com
DAVIS HS CROSS-COUNTRY WEB SITE
is published by 