Juergens is Coach of the Year, Runners Earn Honors

cross country Coach Rob Juergens was named “Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year” by the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches this week.

Joining Juergens are Boys Track Coach of the Year, Robert Jenkins of Medina High School; Girls Track Coach of the Year, Scott Van Fleet of Medina High School; and Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year, Kerry Hunter of Brunswick High School.

A release from Jim Glessner, the District 3 representative said the coaches have won district championships and have conducted themselves with character and have portrayed that to their teams also.

Their awards will be presented to them at the State Clinic in January.

“It’s a great honor, but it has a lot more to do with what the kids did than what I did,” Juergens said Nov. 17. “If the kids weren’t doing well no one would know who I was.”

On Oct. 22, , their first ever. The team, which was ranked eighth in the state, previously earned titles in Division II.

Juergens gave the lion’s share of credit to his runners.

“When they make the commitment I can coach them,” Juergens said. “The kids need to make the commitment before I can coach.”

Juergens said he coached a few years “where we didn’t do too well.”

“It goes to commitment factor and talent,” he said. “They need to work hard. Especially when we’re talking Division I Districts and Regionals. We’re up against schools like St. Ignatius that are drawing from all over.

“Hard work will win every time.”

The hard work and commitment have paid off. Not only did the Shoremen have the Lorain County Runner of the Year in Trevor Norris, Norris, Connor Musial, Tommy Parson and Francesco Maiorca were named First Team All Lorain County; Mike Callesen  and Devin Arora were named Second Team All Lorain County and Nick Nix earned Honorable Mention.

Juergens said he noticed the talent in the current crop and began setting goals. 

“It probably started 3-4 years ago where we had kids I thought could do well and I gave them goals to start with,” Juergens said. “It was a process of two to three years to get that group on track and convincing them they could do well. We just keep it going. The younger kids see where the older ones have gone. We do small goals and work it.”