The women’s cross country team has gone through multiple head coaching changes in the last four years, bringing to mind the old adage that the only constant in the program is change. But, despite the lack of consistency in coaching, this year’s team, led by Coach Kyle Flores, has climbed its way up to the ninth spot in the Midwest region for the first time since 2017.
“The coaching this year has been the best so far out of all the years before,” senior Portia Carrera said.
Since her first year at Augustana, Carrera has been through four separate head coaching changes, which have not been easy on her or any of the seniors on the team.
Coaches are supposed to understand the student athletes as a person and build a deep connection with them. With four coaches in four years, that is something that Carrera, as well as others, never had a chance to build.
“It’s been interesting because when you’re a student athlete, you’re supposed to make a big connection with your coach, and they’re supposed to get to know you throughout the years,” Carrera said. “Building that connection with a couple different people has been hard.”
However, Oct. 1 marks newcomer Flores’ second month as head cross country coach. Flores took the job because it was close to home and Augustana was recommended by his peers and mentors.
“The people here are really nice, and my bosses are great. You don’t get that everywhere,” Flores said. He also describes Augustana as a school that really cares about athletics with a real support system to take this team far in both conference and regionals standings.
Flores has a lot of experience as a cross country coach. He was an assistant coach for four years and worked his way toward the position of head coach for two years, coming from a college in which he took the team to regionals. This will be his third year in the head coaching position.
Bringing Augustana’s team to regionals is the ultimate goal of this season. With his past experience, support of Augustana athletics and the team morale itself, is a surefire plan and solid combination that will help get the team to regionals.
Flores has made some positive changes to the cross country program. His arrival has both structure and guidance that was previously missing. Without much information, he dove deep into work with the team, changing things as he saw fit.
“I just kind of came in here and started doing my own thing,” Flores said. “What I have been able to gather is that [the team] didn’t have as much structure, guidance, morale boosting or motivational type skills. They clearly wanted more structure and guidance.”
The team has implemented new workouts and training sessions, lifting twice a week since Flores’s arrival. “They [the coaches] are definitely pushing us a lot more than before,” Carrera said. “But it’s also good because we’re actually doing a lot better.”
These new additions to the schedule have been major changes that may have been hard for some to adapt to. “I think they’re handling it great and they’re accepting it,” Assistant Coach Doug Sand said. “It’s showing because our performances so far this fall have been tremendous.”
Bouncing from coach to coach has only made the Viking runners closer. According to some of the runners, this team has become one big family, which further aids in team bonding and performance. “It’s nice that we’re able to constantly have each other’s backs, and we’re able to lift each other up,” sophomore Ellie Defarno said.
Not having constant coaches has led to this team’s tight knit bond. Having a change of coaches not only brings this team closer than they ever have been before, but it also brings new enthusiasm to the team, improving the team overall.
“Coach Flores is very enthusiastic and very excited, and that’s something new,” Carrera said.