As finals week approaches at Davis & Elkins College, this edition of the “Reflecting Along the Journey” column focuses on a coach and his teams that take journeying quite seriously. In fact, they journey 40 to 90 miles a week as they run through the Randolph County mountains and beyond.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams at D&E have had a fall season for the record books. Both teams won the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship and then won the Atlantic Region Championship. Both teams recently competed in the NCAA Division II Championships in Sacramento, CA. As proud as we are of these amazing student-athletes, we are equally proud of Coach Jason Pyles who was named MEC Coach of the Year and Atlantic Region Coach of the Year for both the men and women’s teams. I believe that is called a sweep!
Coach Pyles is in his 9th year as the head coach for both D&E Cross County as well as Track and Field. A WV native, Jason received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University where he competed in cross country, track and field, and basketball. His proudest accomplishment at Marshall was meeting his teammate and future spouse, Marian. Following a stint as the head coach at the University of Charleston, Coach Pyles joined the D&E community, attracted by the local terrain which is ideal for training runners.
Among D&E’s many outstanding coaches, Jason is a prime example of correctly building a program. His recruiting philosophy is all about fit. While running talent is a prerequisite, Coach Pyles adamantly believes that character, commitment, teamwork, and passion for the sport are essential. Over the years, he has built a program that is winning on the cross-country course but also stellar in the classroom. His teams are composed of individuals of character who enjoy the team’s success just as much as their own. These young men and women represent this institution with integrity, and we are proud to have them wearing the D&E jersey.
Passion and commitment are inherent in the members of the cross-country teams. A year-round sport, there is a structured training regimen for the teams that is a mix of aerobic running sessions and harder anaerobic sessions. There are three hard training sessions weekly that include long threshold running, hard interval running, and then a weekend long run that can be as much as 18 miles. Over the summer, 14 team members spent 6-weeks training in the high altitude of Flagstaff, Arizona. Their motivation and determination were on full display in this fall’s races.
Other higher education institutions have unsuccessfully reached out to Coach Pyles to lead their programs. I asked Jason why he has chosen to stay at D&E. His response makes clear why his teams are enjoying record success. He responded, “I feel a strong commitment to these student-athletes that have made their own commitment to come to D&E and to be part of this program. I love it here at D&E and I love this team. The college is filled with such great people – we have great leadership and support in this college! I’m just so thankful I have this opportunity to work and coach here!”
Congratulations to Coach Jason Pyles and our men’s and women’s cross-country teams. You make us proud!
The journey continues….
Chris A. Wood
President
Davis & Elkins College
