By Lynx Gregoire – Head Track & Field Coach Frank Wallace describes his team’s culture as “fun–but not normal fun.” It’s a culture built on working hard, grinding together, and pushing through challenges as a unit.
The team’s goals this season include moving up in the conference, but more importantly, becoming the best version of themselves. Coach Wallace values athletes who show strong comprehension, work ethic, respect, and the ability to be good teammates and people.
Mental preparation plays a major role in training. Workouts are designed to challenge athletes’ mindsets and prepare them for competition, while also offering emotional support for those those who need it.
Although track and field is an individual sport, Wallace emphasizes a team-first mindset. Individual effort directly impacts the team’s success – what athletes put in is what they get out.
For Coach Wallace, the most rewarding part of coaching is helping athletes reach their academic and athletic goals. One of the biggest challenges is wearing multiple hats as a head coach and meeting the needs of a diverse group of athletes.
His message to the campus community is simple: learn and respect the sport. Track and field is the foundation of all sports, demands a wide range of abilities, and is more taxing than many realize. As Wallace puts it, “It’s not a circle–it’s an oval. Put some respect on our sport.”
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