In Episode 403 of Airey Bros Radio, we head to Lansing, Michigan, to sit down with Coach Jim Robinson, longtime Head Coach of Lansing Community College Cross Country & Track.Now in his 19th year with LCC, Robinson has been part of seven NJCAA National Championships, earning three USTFCCCA National Coach of the Year awards. Since taking over in 2014, he’s led the Stars to four women’s titles (2015, 2016, 2021, 2022) and back-to-back Men’s NJCAA DII titles (2023 & 2024) — and as of Sept 2025, his men’s squad is ranked #1 nationally while the women sit #7.We dive deep into Robinson’s journey from Penn State runner to pastor to JUCO legend — exploring the parallels between ministry and coaching, the power of persistence, and how LCC has built a true family culture rooted in trust, hard work, and fun.

🎯 Topics Include:

• Robinson’s origin story and Penn State days under Coach Harry Groves
  
  
• Transition from ministry to coaching and building a program of purpose
  
  
• LCC’s four pillars of success: trust, excellence, hard work, fun
  
  
• Sustaining a dynasty in NJCAA DII Cross Country & Track
  
  
• Michigan’s running culture and the importance of team over individuals
  
  
• Academic and vocational opportunities at LCC
  
  
• JUCO vs NCAA pathways — why JUCO is a hidden gem for student-athletes
  
  
• Training philosophy: tempo work, team culture, and “every yes has a no”
  
  
• Reflections on faith, discipline, and lifelong learning
  
  

🎙 Hosted by the Airey Bros — shining a light on the coaches and programs we wish we’d had access to growing up.👉 Watch on YouTube: @AireyBrosRadio
👉 Listen on Spotify: Open in Spotify
👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts Link
☕ Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching

Howdy & aloha! We’re joined by Coach James Majenge, Head Cross Country Coach at Ranger College (@rangersxctf1926).  In just two seasons, Majenge has guided the Ranger women to a conference title and top-12 NJCAA finish, while leading the men to a top-15 national finish and producing multiple All-Americans and national qualifiers.We dig into his journey from South Africa → JUCO → NCAA All-American, mentoring international student-athletes, building a culture of family and discipline, and how Ranger’s small-town gravel-loop training grounds have become a distance runner’s dream.Highlights

• Origin story & culture shock arriving in New York
  
  
• Recruiting international and local athletes to West Texas
  
  
• Team bonding & Friday ugali nights 🍲
  
  
• Mileage-first training philosophy and “Kenyan track” approach
  
  
• Managing academics & mental health on a small campus
  
  
• Preparing for Fort Dodge Nationals & the NJCAA Half Marathon
  
  
• Afro House music, Mountain Dew addiction 😅 and life in Texas
  
  

Follow & Support
🎥 YouTube: @aireybros
📸 Instagram: @aireybrosradio | @rangersxctf1926
🎧 Spotify / Apple Podcasts: Airey Bros Radio
🏃‍♂️ Coaching Partner: Black Sheep Endurance
☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/aireybros



⏱ Timestamps / Show Notes

• 0:00 Intro – Howdy & aloha / ABR mission
  
  
• 1:18 Meet Coach Majenge – Ranger’s rise to JUCO power
  
  
• 4:15 From South Africa to the U.S. — Monroe → Cameron → LMU → Ranger
  
  
• 7:47 Culture shock & finding community
  
  
• 12:08 Recruiting balance — locals vs internationals
  
  
• 13:57 Parent trust & team meals (ugali Fridays)
  
  
• 16:54 Challenges for international athletes & support systems
  
  
• 24:51 Training environment — gravel “Kenyan track” & open roads
  
  
• 27:49 Coaching philosophy — steady mileage builds & development
  
  
• 29:05 Season recap & summer accountability
  
  
• 33:35 A day in the life of a JUCO head coach
  
  
• 35:13 Schedule preview — DBU Classic & Hobbs altitude runs
  
  
• 36:53 Preparing for Fort Dodge cold and the Half Marathon
  
  
• 38:13 Athletes to watch & program goals
  
  
• 41:44 Training cycles for older vs younger runners
  
  
• 42:23 Why he avoids double-threshold workouts (for now)
  
  
• 43:42 Advice to future international recruits
  
  
• 45:10 Language, identity & speaking seven tongues
  
  
• 47:02 Ranger’s small-campus advantage
  
  
• 48:17 Life & vibes — dogs, tea, Mountain Dew & house music
  
  
• 55:28 Closing thoughts + Fort Dodge outlook + next ABR guests

Howdy & aloha! Airey Bros Radio laces up with Coach Chase Englestead, Head Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach at Snow College (Richfield/Ephraim, UT). Hired in 2024 to launch the Badgers’ program, Chase already has the men ranked #6 and women #7 in the NJCAA national poll. We dig into Utah’s deep distance culture, JUCO recruiting, elevation training (5,300–10,000 ft), Lydiard-inspired aerobic development (with selective double-threshold), the benefits of a tight small-campus setup, LDS mission maturity, and why Snow wants to make D1s nervous at invites—then points to Fort Dodge in November and the NJCAA Half Marathon.What you’ll learn

• How to build a brand-new JUCO XC program into a national Top-10 in two years
  
  
• Why Snow College’s elevation, trails, housing, and price are a recruiting cheat code
  
  
• Training philosophy: big aerobic base, thresholds, strength, and when double-thresholds make sense
  
  
• Culture > times: selecting athletes who raise the standard and stick with the process
  
  
• How roster caps + Utah’s pipeline are reshaping the JUCO → D1 pathway
  
  

Links

• Snow College XC/Track: https://snowbadgers.com/sports/mens-cross-country
•  Snow XC: @snowcrosscountry
• Airey Bros Radio (YouTube): https://youtube.com/aireybrosradio
• Airey Bros Radio @aireybrosradio 
• Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching: https://www.blacksheependurance.com

Show notes & timestamps: 

• 0:00 Howdy & aloha + ABR mission (shine light on JUCO/NAIA/D2/D3)
  
  
• 2:36 Guest intro: Coach Chase Englestead — hired 2024; Men #6 / Women #7 NJCAA
  
  
• 5:08 Origin story: small-town Utah → discovering running → ownership & accountability
  
  
• 8:12 JUCO roots at UVSC/UVU: mileage jump, All-American, steeple/1500 records; D1 transition & probation
  
  
• 11:01 Choosing coaching: family of coaches; HS first to build & learn
  
  
• 12:26 Riverton HS culture build; Nike Cross regionals rise
  
  
• 15:25 Why Snow College: home state, elevation & trails, giving back; late hire & Year-1 scramble
  
  
• 20:50 Year-2 jump: full recruiting cycle; Top-10 expectations in Utah’s distance scene
  
  
• 22:31 Stigma shift: JUCO in Utah post-Isaac Wood; roster-cap effects
  
  
• 24:44 “Diamonds in the rough” development stories
  
  
• 25:54 Roster size realities; culture-first recruiting
  
  
• 28:05 A week in the chair: early mornings, Tue/Thu recruit calls, summer team runs
  
  
• 30:01 One year vs two years at Snow? Athlete-first pathways to four-year programs
  
  
• 31:06 Form check: confidence high; “make D1s nervous when Snow shows up”
  
  
• 32:07 Long run workout (pace toggles) + pack fitness
  
  
• 33:14 Training philosophy: Lydiard base, aerobic strength; when double threshold fits
  
  
• 37:05 Individualization; safe volumes before doubles
  
  
• 37:58 Campus fit: two campuses, on-campus housing, track ~200m, pool ~600m, bike path & mountain singletrack
  
  
• 39:58 Why a small campus helps serious runners (sleep, routine, fewer distractions)
  
  
• 41:25 Roster mix: Utah core + out-of-state; Americans-only pride vs international budget realities
  
  
• 44:30 Value case: ~$2k tuition/semester + ~$2.5k housing
  
  
• 46:09 Athletes to watch (W: Rhys Moss, Brighton Gold; M: Made, Tim, Carter Day, David Barlo, Brett Bailey, Von Wallace)
  
  
• 48:35 Slick transfers; NJCAA Half Marathon plans
  
  
• 49:36 Weather & Fort Dodge readiness; altitude advantage
  
  
• 50:35 Elevation menu: dorms ~5,300 ft; quick access to 8k–12k ft
  
  
• 52:00 Fall schedule: SUU (10/4), Utah State (10/10), hosting SWAC at Palisade State Park
  
  
• 53:48 LDS mission benefits: discipline, perspective, adversity skills
  
  
• 56:45 Final Four: no soda since 2000, routines, 60 mpw streak, books/pods, spikeball

• 1:03:37 Wrap: Badgers links; ABR back Wed with Ranger College

Airey Bros Radio hits Episode 400 with Coach Jesse Parker, Head Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach at Blinn College (NJCAA). Blinn brought XC back for the first time since 1995—and in year one Parker led both teams into the USTFCCCA NJCAA D1 rankings, qualified for NJCAA Nationals, and enters 2025 ranked #10 men / #11 women. We dig into rebuilding a program from scratch, Texas recruiting, the JUCO pathway (cost, credits, transfers), training philosophy (Daniels/Lydiard/Co.), Brenham’s “poor man’s altitude,” hosting Region 14 on a hilly course, facilities updates, and how to build a winning culture that actually fits the community.Who should listen: HS athletes & parents, JUCO/NCAA coaches, distance-running nerds, and anyone weighing JUCO vs. D1/D2/D3.

Follow Blinn XC: IG @blinn_xc
Follow Airey Bros Radio: IG @aireybrosradio | YouTube @AireyBros | Spotify & Apple: Airey Bros Radio
Fueled by: Black Sheep Endurance Coaching (ultra, nutrition, & performance)


Show Notes & Timestamps

• 00:00 Cold open & ABR Episode 400 intro; why we spotlight JUCO, D2/D3, and non-Power-4.
  
  
• 01:20 CTAs + sponsor shout: Black Sheep Endurance; share with athletes exploring JUCO.
  
  
• 02:03 Guest intro: Coach Jesse Parker, Blinn College—year-one rankings, NJCAA Nationals, 2025 preseason ranks.
  
  
• 03:11 Blinn socials & contact (IG @blinn_xc; email).
  
  
• 04:04 Parker’s origin story: football/powerlifting → track nerd → Sam Houston State → coaching break.
  
  
• 06:39 Building from zero: late-spring hire, no roster, recruiting sprint, getting athletes college-ready.
  
  
• 09:59 Why Blinn? Vision with AD; resources; becoming a Division-I prep program via JUCO.
  
  
• 11:01 Blinn history lesson: national titles, Pat Henry → LSU, Steve Silvey era; bringing a legacy back.
  
  
• 14:00 Program vision (1–5–10 years): meets, community pipeline, distance-led rebuild, culture.
  
  
• 16:52 Early success: how JUCO cycles accelerate competitive timelines.
  
  
• 17:53 2025 form check: UT opener, Texas A&M PR drops, next tests vs. JUCO & strong D2 fields.
  
  
• 19:32 Where’s Blinn? Brenham, TX (Blue Bell country) + terrain, hills, and “poor man’s altitude.”
  
  
• 21:03 Training rhythm: mornings, lifts, study hall; one-run-a-day philosophy.
  
  
• 21:50 Threshold talk: Daniels/Lydiard/Co. roots; cruise intervals & modern double-threshold context.
  
  
• 23:34 Recruiting year one: flipping decisions late, scholarship leverage, culture glue (Eric Lagat).
  
  
• 25:21 Culture building: standards, maturity curve from FR → SO, educating athletes to self-coach.
  
  
• 33:55 Region 14 Championship host (Oct 18): hilly Brenham HS course; true XC racing.
  
  
• 37:38 Facilities: no track yet (400m asphalt loop + park intervals), HS partnerships, complex plans brewing.
  
  
• 41:26 A day in the life: practice → admin, meet ops, budgets, recruiting—solo staff (assistant coming).
  
  
• 42:38 Recruiting channels: HS coach network > services; text/phone/Zoom; set culture during recruiting.
  
  
• 50:00 The JUCO advantage: real costs, same transfer credits, scholarships, better academic fit (nursing/engineering), smoother life balance.
  
  
• 55:02 Scholarship math that changes lives; keeping Pell; proud parent moments.
  
  
• 56:49 Transfer mindset: JUCO as the original portal—“come here to go there” (and thrive).
  
  
• 57:32 Admin shoutout: Chancellor support matters—great coaches need great leadership above them.
  
  
• 57:49 Coach’s bookshelf: Daniels’ Running Formula, Running to the Top (Lydiard); autograph stories.
  
  
• 1:00:58 Housing & campus life: biggest on-campus JUCO housing; suite & apartment options; athletic dorms.
  
  
• 1:02:23 Final Four: coffee (nope), routines, Jackson the terrier, music (Kevin Gates, Kid Cudi), NFL obsession.
  
  
• 1:07:02 Bills/Cowboys fandom; fitting culture to community.
  
  
• 1:08:37 Close: Fort Dodge goals (XC & Half Marathon), links, next guests (Snow CC & Ranger College).

Airey Bros Radio Episode 399. We sit down with Coach Chris Beene, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Odessa College. Beene is one of the most decorated coaches in NJCAA history, leading South Plains College to 32 national team championships, earning 14 National Coach of the Year and 25 Coach of the Meet honors, and coaching more than 20 Olympians and World Championship athletes, 50-plus national champions, and 150-plus All-Americans. He was inducted into the NJCAA Coaches Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Texas Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame in 2024. In 2024–25 he received four NJCAA Legacy Awards, the only JUCO coach to do so.We cover his coaching philosophy, recruiting approach, academic standards, rebuilding Odessa into a national contender, international athlete development, double-threshold training and distance strategy, and how West Texas culture shapes tough, successful programs.Follow

Airey Bros Radio:
YouTube: @AireyBros
Spotify: Airey Bros Radio
Instagram: @aireybrosradioFueled by: Black Sheep Endurance Coaching
Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/aireybros


Show Notes and Timestamps
0:00 Intro and show open
1:15 Coach Beene joins; Hall of Fame legacy and Odessa vision
3:00 The JUCO mission and why community college athletics matter
4:45 From South Plains to Odessa; rebuilding a winner
8:00 Why JUCO is his favorite level to coach
10:00 Myths about junior college coaching
12:00 Odessa early rise; top women and men preseason rankings
14:00 Global recruiting pipeline; Jamaica, Africa, and Texas roots
17:00 What makes a great recruiter and how parents factor in
19:00 Academics first; discipline, study halls, and accountability
23:00 Why Odessa College support systems are elite
25:00 International athletes adapting to climate, food, and culture
28:00 West Texas hospitality and community
33:00 Recruiting in 2025; relationships over hype
35:00 Family balance, time management, and staff roles
37:00 Mentoring moments; the hurdles story and athlete buy-in
40:00 Evolving as a coach; standards, discipline, and growth
43:00 Distance training; double-threshold, mileage, and VDOT
46:00 Olympians and world championship athletes developed under Beene
49:00 Academic excellence and GPA standards at Odessa
52:00 Key meets; OSU Jamboree, Regionals, Nationals in Iowa
55:00 Half marathon strategy and the quest to win all eight titles
57:00 Building a full track program at Odessa; next steps
62:00 Mentors, rivals, and respect across JUCO track and field
64:00 Texas roots, Von Erichs, and wrestling ties
66:00 Coaching mantras; love the process and habit over desire
70:00 The person behind the coach; family, movies, and Dr Pepper
77:00 Closing thoughts; Odessa’s next chapter

Ladies and gentlemen, howdy & aloha! 🌺🤙
On Episode 398 of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly-to-belly with Coach Jeremy Sudbury, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Iowa State University 🌪️.Coach Sudbury has built ISU into a Big 12 powerhouse, leading the Cyclones to:

• 🏆 USTFCCCA Midwest XC Coach of the Year (2021, 2024)
  
  
• 🏆 Back-to-back NCAA Indoor & Outdoor scoring seasons
  
  
• 🏆 25 All-Americans in 2024 + 21 in 2025
  
  
• 🏆 NCAA XC Runner-Up finishes in 2021 & 2024
  
  
• 🏆 2025 Preseason #1 Men’s XC ranking (USTFCCCA Coaches Poll)
  
  

We dive into championship culture, JUCO roots, recruiting philosophies, international talent, Big 12 rivalries, and the future of ISU Track & XC.

📺 Follow & Support Airey Bros Radio:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Instagram
 Black Sheep Endurance Coaching
☕ Buy us a coffee

Timestamped Show Notes
0:00 – Intro | Why we spotlight programs & coaches
2:00 – Welcome Coach Jeremy Sudbury | Career highlights & ISU achievements
5:00 – Origin story: growing up in Las Vegas, falling in love with running
8:00 – JUCO journey at Paradise Valley | 2008 NJCAA National Championship team
11:00 – Transition to University of Oklahoma & Martin Smith’s mentorship
13:00 – Early coaching, moving to Iowa State & building the program
17:00 – Recruiting philosophy: U.S. athletes, JUCO talent, international pipeline
19:30 – NCAA XC Runner-Up finish (2024) & lessons learned
21:00 – Managing roster depth, redshirting, and preparing for nationals
23:00 – Big 12 Championship strategy vs NCAA goals | Oklahoma State & BYU rivalry
27:00 – Iowa State’s home XC course & future of hosting big meets
30:00 – Early 2025 season opener & training cycles
33:00 – Women’s program growth & new Kenyan recruits
37:00 – Delegating, hiring coaches, and staff development
40:00 – Iowa State athletics culture | Wrestling, football, basketball synergy
45:00 – Training philosophies: double thresholds, lactic threshold work, workout structure
52:00 – NCAA contenders & key Cyclones to watch in 2025
55:00 – Upcoming races: Gans Creek Invitational & Nuttycombe
1:00:00 – Academics at Iowa State | Engineering, Kinesiology, Business
1:03:00 – Daily rituals, coffee routines, & Avicii playlists at practice 🎶
1:06:00 – Guilty pleasures: Superdog hot dogs, Wawa, and pork roll debates
1:08:00 – Final Four questions | Building legacy at Iowa State & staying present

We’re going belly-to-belly with Coach Quinn White, the legendary Taylor University XC coach who led the Trojans to the only two NAIA team titles in school history (Men 2020, Women 2022). With 12 straight Crossroads League titles, dozens of All-Americans, and 200+ scholar-athletes developed under his watch, Coach White has built an NAIA powerhouse grounded in faith, culture, and blue-collar work ethic.

As he prepares to retire after 16 seasons, we dive into his origin story, the “Mad Dogs” & “Jarheads” culture, double-threshold training (and why he protects athletes from junk miles), mental-health tools for coaches (“the gray dog”), and how Taylor keeps identity rooted in Christ first, athlete second. We also preview this season’s outlook (women #1, men #3 as of recording), the Florida State nationals course, and what’s next for Taylor XC.

If you love college running, team culture, and honest coaching wisdom, this one’s for you.

Watch the full YouTube replay
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 Buy Us a Coffee


Show notes / chaptered topics

• Intro & mission – why we spotlight NAIA/JUCO/D2/D3 programs
  
  
• Coach White’s origin story – from third-grade race to Taylor runner to coach
  
  
• Building Taylor into a champion – men ’20, women ’22; combined title pride
  
  
• Culture: Mad Dogs & Jarheads – team unity, pre-race “Prince of Peace” tradition
  
  
• Faith-driven coaching – passion vs. identity; Christ at the center
  
  
• Training philosophy – double-threshold days, individualized mileage, staying healthy
  
  
• Mental health for coaches – the “gray dog,” panic attack to tools & therapy
  
  
• 2025 season outlook – women #1, men #3; Florida State course; schedule cadence
  
  
• Recruiting & the right fit – like-minded, team-first, blue-collar workers
  
  
• Family in the program – coaching his son & daughter; legacy & leadership
  
  
• Taylor academics & community – exercise science, business, education; chapel
  
  
• Books & frameworks – Inner Excellence, One Word (this year: Love),
  In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day; picture-book read-alouds (e.g., Jumanji)
  
  
• Final Four – coffee, daily rituals, music (Rush!), guilty pleasures (dark chocolate & gum)

• Closing – retirement perspective, gratitude, and what’s next for Taylor XC

Crowder College Head Coach Jake Holt joins Airey Bros Radio to break down how a brand-new NJCAA program rocketed into the national conversation—#7 men, #5 women (preseason)—and why JUCO is a powerful springboard for recruits.

We cover Holt’s 20+ years at East Newton HS (17 conference titles, 17 district titles, 6 state trophies), the origins of SWMO Running Camp (400+ campers), Crowder’s international recruiting pipeline (Kenya), training philosophy (tempos, threshold hills, 1K benchmarks), life in the Ozarks (real trails, real hills), and a 2025 schedule that points straight at Fort Dodge—plus whether the team will double back for the NJCAA Half Marathon Championship.

If you’re a high school XC/TF athlete, parent, or coach exploring JUCO → NCAA D1/D2/D3/NAIA pathways, this episode is packed with real talk on scholarships, fit, culture, development, and competing right away.

📝 Show Notes / Chapters
00:00 Intro + mission of Airey Bros Radio
01:30 Guest intro — Coach Jake Holt, Crowder College head coach
06:00 Launching a brand-new program (2021–present)
09:45 Roster growth & preseason rankings (#7 men / #5 women)
13:00 Building a Kenyan pipeline (time trials, visas, trust)
15:30 Early meet check-ins: Memphis & SBU results
18:35 Supporting international athletes (housing, food, F-1 rules)
20:00 Training in the Ozarks (gravel roads, hills, “Kentucky Thunder”)
21:35 Housing, dorm life, team culture
23:30 Missouri A+ Program (tuition path HS→JUCO) explained
25:55 One team culture: buddy runs, retreats, integration
29:40 Weekly training: doubles, tempo-hill sessions, 1K benchmarks
33:20 Academics & majors (nursing/international considerations)
36:00 The “grading papers” of college coaching: budgets & scholarships
37:00 Recruiting in the social era (IG DMs, walk-on mindset)
41:20 Holt’s 800m coaching roots & relay culture
43:40 Multi-sport vs specialize for distance
44:40 The JUCO pitch: compete now, develop, move up
47:30 Goals: trophy hunt at Fort Dodge (top-3 both teams)
48:20 NJCAA Half Marathon plans
49:50 Why Crowder? Class sizes, support, programs, campus life
51:55 The Final Four (coffee, daily practices, what he’s listening to, guilty pleasure)
55:50 Sign-off + upcoming guests (Taylor University, Iowa State)


YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@Aireybros
Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/61TKhMCXCfmfZRYb22saFe
Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airey-bros-s-radio/id584404045
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio
Black Sheep Endurance — https://www.blacksheependurance.com/
Buy Me a Coffee — https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros
Crowder XC/TF — @crowdercollegexctf
Crowder College — https://www.crowder.edu/

On Episode 395 of Airey Bros Radio, we sit down with Coach Mike DeRoehn, Head Wrestling Coach & Director of Strength & Conditioning at Lakeland University (NCAA Division III).Now in his 7th year overall leading the Muskies (3rd in his second stint), Coach DeRoehn has nearly two decades of coaching experience at Lakeland, UW-Platteville, and UW-Oshkosh. He’s built a reputation for rebuilding programs, producing NCAA qualifiers and Scholar All-Americans, and creating the “Muskie Tough” culture that extends across Lakeland athletics.In this conversation we cover:

• Rebuilding Lakeland Wrestling with leadership & stability
  
  
• The “Muskie Tough” S&C system that guides every sport at Lakeland
  
  
• Community-first culture with Headlocking Hunger & Sharpen the Axe
  
  
• Lakeland’s Co-Op program (paid jobs + academic credit for athletes)
  
  
• Recruiting pipelines from Wisconsin, the Midwest & New Jersey
  
  
• Developing Scholar All-Americans & NCAA qualifiers
  
  

👉 Follow Lakeland Wrestling: IG @lumuskiesmenswrestling | lakelandmuskies.com/wrestling
👉 Follow Airey Bros Radio: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • IG @aireybrosradio
☕ Presented by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching


Show Notes with Time Stamps
0:00 – Intro: Why ABR spotlights JUCO, NAIA, D2, and D3 programs
• The mission: giving shine to overlooked coaches, programs & athletes
5:15 – Coach DeRoehn’s path to Lakeland Wrestling
• Coaching journey from UW-Platteville finalist → UW-Oshkosh → Lakeland
• What brought him back for his second stint leading the Muskies
12:40 – Rebuilding Lakeland Wrestling
• Taking the program from instability to sustained culture
• Developing Scholar All-Americans & NCAA qualifiers in D3
20:05 – “Muskie Tough” Strength & Conditioning
• Serving as Lakeland’s Director of S&C for all sports
• Training by vector: vertical, horizontal, rotational
• Wrestler staples: trap bar DL, front squat, kettlebells, carries
• Velocity-based training (VBT) vs chasing max loads
32:50 – Culture beyond the mat
• Headlocking Hunger food drive
• Sharpen the Axe leadership initiative
• FISH values: Fight • Integrity • Success-minded • Hardworking
45:30 – Lakeland’s Co-Op Education model
• Paid jobs + academic credit for athletes
• Examples of majors tied directly to career paths
• Why some athletes graduate in 3 years with full résumés built
56:20 – Recruiting & pipelines
• Wisconsin & Midwest roots, expanding into NJ/PA
• Matching athletes to majors & life goals
• Mentorship culture: upperclassmen guiding underclassmen
1:08:15 – Looking ahead
• Goals for Lakeland Wrestling this season
• Long-term vision for the program
• Final advice for recruits & families

On this episode of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly-to-belly with Coach Dean Freitag, the new Head Cross Country & Track & Field Coach at Wilberforce University—the nation’s first private HBCU.A two-time NAIA Race Walking National Champion, Freitag shares how he’s rebuilding Wilberforce XC/TF from zero athletes to over 50 in less than a year. We cover recruiting philosophy, HBCU athletics, building a team culture, double-threshold training, and what it means to “embrace the suck.”🔥 Episode Highlights:

• Restarting men’s & women’s XC/TF at Wilberforce (NAIA / HBCU)
  
  
• From walk-on athlete → NAIA national champ → head coach
  
  
• Creating a home cross country course on campus & hosting the first meet (Aug 29, 2025)
  
  
• Recruiting across Ohio & nationwide + HBCU pride on the chest
  
  
• Training philosophy: double threshold sessions, bike doubles, and volume building
  
  
• Campus culture: faith, rite of passage, student-athlete support, and alumni connections
  
  
• Short & long-term goals: winning year one, podium at NAIA Nationals in 3–5 years
  
  

📲 Follow Wilberforce XCTF: @WilberforceXCTF
📲 Coach Freitag: @freitagdean
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe & share to support programs that deserve the spotlight!⏱ 

Show Notes / Chapters
00:00 Intro – Why ABR highlights NAIA, JUCO, D2, D3 & mid-majors
00:36 Meet Coach Dean Freitag – Wilberforce University Head Coach
03:05 Origin story – runner, wrestler, race walker → coach
10:56 Building Wilberforce from scratch: zero athletes → 50+
14:20 HBCU culture & what it means for athletes
18:57 Recruiting across Ohio & beyond
22:18 First home meet, community prayer moment, early results
26:05 Year-one goals: win conference & qualify for NAIA Nationals
30:00 Team mantra: “Embrace the Suck”
33:38 Academics, majors, & alumni network
35:56 Facilities: new XC loop, Athletes in Action, Central State support
37:41 Multisport athletes & roster depth
40:24 Three-to-five-year vision: podium at Nationals
42:04 Training: double threshold, summer base, bike doubles
46:22 Staff support & building a coaching family
50:00 Recruiting passion, family-first culture, and accountability
55:00 Freshman captains stepping into leadership roles
1:03:00 Music, hype playlists, and guilty pleasures
1:06:30 Final Four Q’s + closing