Coaches together since competng on same UNL team |
| Posted by Administrator on Feb 13 2008 |
Photo by Amanda Bell
Coach Bailey shares his coaching knowledge as he review film with Graduate Assistant Katie Kosmos during ractice on Monday. Kosmos is a Doane College graduate in her first year of coaching.
By Amanda Bell
Antelope Staff
As indoor track season progresses, the credit must not only go to the athletes themselves, but to the coaching staff here at UNK. The three men that make up the coaching staff are not only compatible at making a winning team, but they are all previous teammates. They were on the same track team in college at UNL.
Brady Bonsall never intended to coach at the college level after he'd found his comfort zone in coaching high school track. Originally from Burwell, NE, this UNK coach has spent his last three years coaching in Broomfield, CO.
"I never really pursued coaching at the collegiate level. I had a general interest, but I didn't want to move anywhere in the country to find a job," Bonsall said. When he first began coaching high school students, he wanted to "pull his hair out." As time passed though, he realized that he was capable of coaching anywhere.
"I'd become very fond of coaching at the high school level."
That all changed when the opening at UNK arose, though. Bonsall was offered the position of head cross country coach, and assistant track coach. As he enters his first year of coaching here at UNK, he works primarily with cross country runners, and sprinters.
"I love that UNK is a high level of competition, at a low cost. It is easy for me to recruit because I'm not selling anything. I just share my interests, and explain to them why I came here," Bonsall said.
Mike Bailey has been here for two years now and works primarily with jumpers. He is a UNL graduate, and came to Kearney after leaving Lincoln because he liked the atmosphere and smaller school.
"The program here is more hands-on. Here we are all connected as a student body and a team. At UNK, our athletes have the opportunity to be closer as a team and also with other teams on campus," Bailey said.
The veteran of the three is Coach Andy Meyer, who has been here for six years. He has been nominated at RMAC Coach of the Year six times now. Before coming to Kearney, he was the assistant strength coach at UNL.
While this trio and their history make for a nice story, it's how their athletes feel about them that makes it so intriguing.
"Bailey is a very supportive coach. He is always giving me positive, constructive feedback. He is not just my coach, but also my friend, and he knows when to be a coach and when to be a friend," said Kelli Dring, a senior from Kearney.
The team is also lucky enough to have two graduate assistants helping with their progress on a daily basis. Lance Pfeifer, former UNK track star, helps with the throwers while Katie Kosmos helps with the runners and sprinters.
"Bonsall has helped keep the atmosphere mellow. He sees a lot of things that I don't, and he's good at seeing other points of view," Kosmos said.
These coaches also coach for their love of the sport.
"My favorite thing about coaching, especially at UNK, is that I can impact lives. If you coach to seek fulfillment through yourself, then you will lose sight of the importance of coaching. I have a desire to impact lives, and I am able to do that through this avenue of coaching. My success is gained through the lives that I impact," Bonsall said.
The track team is now competing indoors, but they will be moving outside soon enough. For a full schedule, please go to lopers.com.
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