DyeStatCal Boys
Coach of the Week
Madera HS
Rich Paris

Week of 10/23-27, 2006
California


photo by proracegroup.com
Coach Rich Paris of Madera (far left) and team on a familiar stand, the victory one!!!

Another super program out of the Central Section, Madera HS, has Coach Rich Paris continuing the school's great tradition in the sport.  The annually very deep and talented (aptly named) Coyote pack will be one of a number of strong squads at the Division I level statewide battling for one of those team plaques.  One question we have of schools like this is where the heck they put all the cross-country trophies they have earned!!! 2006 has been no different than recent ones, with a string of successes statewide that would be the envy of any program in any sport.  It will be another great close to the statewide season in Fresno come Thanksgiving turkey time, with Madera prominent in the action there!!

Congrats - good luck
Doug Speck
DyeStatCal.com

1) Briefly summarize your Invitational season around the state thus far this Fall-

We have been very fortunate this Fall with our invitationals. We really believe in the invitationals we go to during the season. We try to include all levels when thinking about a meet. Looking at our season it has been filled with many positive experiences. Everywhere we run teams, coaches, and spectators are very supportive of our program. We try to look for the best competition in the state based upon our emphasis at that time of the year. We have had a lot of success for all our runners, on account of the invitationals we attend meet the various needs and strengths of all of them. We started the season with a 4th place finish at the Granite Bay Invite, 1st as an overall team at the Early Bird Invite in Salinas (Awesome Invite), 6th at Woodbridge, 10th at Stanford, 1st at the Dee DeWitt (Named after the great distance coach at Madera) Invite, 3rd at Clovis, 3rd at Mt. SAC, 1st at John Seaman's Invite in Kingsburg.

2) How has the team done compared to what you felt their potential was coming into the fall season?

We have had an incredible season thus far. Looking at the start we wanted to be very competitve with other programs in the big meets we chose to attend. The team has done well. We came into the season knowing that our track times were competitive with other programs;our 6th man from 2005 ran 9:46 at the Central Section T&F Finals this past Spring. We felt we could (if healthy, positive, and focused) run with the great and well respected programs from throughout the state. We are very thankful to be in the position we are right now. We are looking forward to the remainder of our season. The team has really been great: they work hard, care about each other, remember the little items that have helped to make them better, and remain one big family.

3) Where does running fit in among the different sports at Madera HS--it has such a great tradition, but I know teams like football are on the rise and very popular in your town--do the runners get their due as far as publicity and support?

Football seems to take center stage at almost any high school. We have an amazing sports writer at our local paper who tries very hard to meet the needs of our 45 year tradition. Our program is supported by our school board, district, and community 100% of every day. This makes it easier to be successful. At our own invitational board members, our principal and AD have made it a priority to attend and lend their support;with their support comes a lot of expectations though. We are lucky that many past runners still live in the area. In fact some of the great past runners have children on the team. We will always have to compete with the other sports on campus, but the runners are respected, admired,and looked up to by their peers.

4) How has the team's health been as we turn the corner into November of the year?

This years' team has been plagued mainly by aches and pains attributed to them growing and maturing. We have delt with the flu, sore knees, IT bands, etc. However, the athletes have made to take care of the pains immediately. A lot of conversations have taken place with each one of them. We have been in the best health of any team I have coached this year. We still encounter the typical colds, but they have been proactive in taking care of themselves.

5) If you could would you change the schedule where you have your Section Finals two weeks prior to state, or do you think that is an advantage?

I wish our section would change our finals date to coincide with the majority of other areas. I believe having our finals early has helped to remedy any concerns coaches have with their athletes, but I would keep teams more focused if we changed the Section Finals schedule. I think the current schedule does more harm than good.

6) I know the weather starts to turn as we head into November in your area--do you have to make any adjustments for that in your training?

We do not make too many adjustments to our training. We merely give the athletes more advice on what to do to avoid getting sick or harming their bodies, as the weather changes. We have more dialogue as an entire team on what to do in order to have a great finish to the year.

7) Have you adjusted how you approach the Woodward Park course with athletes over the 5000m distance through the years, or has the philosophy of how to run it remained pretty much the same? Explain a bit--

Our philosophy has always been to have a strong pack. We expect them to be aggressive runners on the course at all times, and stay alert. But, each team is different from year to year. We stick to the basics. A lot of how we train our athletes is based upon the great runners of the past who valued hard work over everything else. This has never changed over the years.

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

The two biggest influences have to be Arthur Lydiard and Mark Wetmore as I began to think about the development of the overall athlete and long term goals for each of my runners. However, on a personal level my high school coach Marty Hauck at Fallbrook High. He taught me that through running all other aspects of a person's life are like a race;you have control of how you finish it (if you work hard and believe that the small parts of your training/life can be succeessful, they will). My college coach Bill Cockerham for his never ending faith in his athletes. He is the most charismatic individual I have ever met.

9) How many years have you been involved with the Madera program and describe what you do there besides Coach?

I am in my 7th year at Madera High. I was an assistant coach for two years, and for the past five years have been fortunate enough to be the head coach of the girls and boys programs. I am an English teacher at Madera High. I teach 9th and 10th grade literature.

12) What kind of an organized summer program of training do you have and how do you have to adjust for the heat?

Our runners are expercted to run between 500-900 miles per summer. We meet after 5:00 pm and generally finish around 9:00. Generally, we lift weights the first 45 min. of practice and after 6:00 pm we will run our workouts. The first part of summer is generally dedicated to fundraising in order to take our team to Mammoth Lakes for eight days so our summer training usually begins at the end of June.

13) Do you have any benchmark workouts that you do during the fall season?

One of our trade mark workouts is 6x1mile with 3-4 min. rest at or above race pace. Another is 2 miles at road pace, 1x400, another 2 miles at road pace, 1x800, 2 miles at road pace, 1x1200, 2 miles at road pace and then 1x1600, followed by 2 miles. Lastly, is the miracle 3 mile: 2x800, 4x400,8x200 with 5 min. rest between each distance.

14) What advice would you offer to a beginning coach?

First of all, I still consider myself a beginning coach. Do not become afraid to push your kids to a new limit of hard work. Listen to and ask questions of the veterans. I am constantly asking for ideas from guys like Jesse Morales (Hollister), Don Salyers(Don Lugo), Ryan Luce(Royal), Mike Wilson(Upland), Walt Lange(Jesuit), Gus Ibarra (North Monterey County), Lalo Diaz (Loyola) and Tim McIntosh (St. John Bosco). They will always help anyone to become a better coach. Utilize the IAAF clinics that are available at Mt.SAC. The individuals that donate their time have a wealth of knowledge. Lastly, believe in your athletes!!!

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