Sign of the times

Those of you who have been anywhere near my “office” space (in the James J. McCann Recreation Center) over the past decade will recall that it has been an “office” in name only. More like a glorified (and very cluttered) closet space. Not much work has been accomplished there. Perhaps its (only) defining important feature has been the repository for van keys, which are vital to our day-to-day operation.
 
Well, here in 2024, all that is changing. A lot is changing around here, actually! Within the past two years, we have added two coaches, both with head coaching pedigree, to our staff. To call them “assistant coaches” would be a misnomer. They are full-time and full steam ahead in remaking this track program into something special. Billy Poole-Harris was added last summer and his strong impact has been felt on a daily basis, with improved performances and improved recruiting. And this past summer, we added Alisha Samuel, who we know will have an equally profound effect on our program.
 
When Billy got on board last year, he was given an office, right down the hall from “mine.’’ He immediately transformed it into a modern workspace, with a TV monitor, standing desk, computer screens, whiteboard and chairs for meetings and video analysis. Alisha had no such space and there were no vacant offices for her. The solution? My solution? Convert my inefficient and cluttered space into a functioning office – her office!
 
Of course, this has been off-putting for some. Wait. The Director of Track doesn’t have an office? The assistant coaches are taking over? What’s going on here? Yeah, well. Two things: 1. It’s not true. 2. It doesn't bother me! Not at ALL! My solution to this non-problem dilemma is to rename it the “track office” – clever and highly original, don’t you think?
 
The transformation is a work in progress, and yesterday this sign from a long-ago Marist cross country invitational on campus (vintage 1970s for sure) almost became a casualty. Fortunately, my son James was part of “Randy’s crew” working on the transformation and threw it in the back of his truck rather than the dumpster that it would have been headed for had he not been there!
 
Anyway, much like Billy: Alisha has a TV. She has a whiteboard. She has added human, professional touches to replace the otherwise primitive stacks of folders, boxes and used coffee tumblers. The only thing I have insisted on throughout this transformation: Keep a functioning Keurig coffee machine in there. Hey, I’m flexible, I’m laid back, I’m OK being a no-office nomad, no problem … but dammit, I need my coffee! Otherwise? It looks nice. It smells nice. It’s got plants. It’s got organization. In other words? It’s an OFFICE.
 
As a new (academic) year dawns, the “fresh start effect” is in full force here. It’s out with the old and in with the new. Oh wait. I guess I’M the old, right? Well, I’m not quite “out” yet, but change is growth, and growth is inevitable, and growth and change can be quite exciting and intoxicating. Let’s get this track built. Let’s get Billy and Alisha going full force on recruiting and coaching (don’t worry; they’re well on their way!). And let’s see where we’re at in a few years. I think it will be a pretty special place. Stay tuned.