It wasn’t a conversation that foreshadowed an extended coaching career when Dawn Podolske was persuaded to take over the girls cross-country program at Stillwater in 1984.
It wasn’t a conversation that foreshadowed an extended coaching career when Dawn Podolske was persuaded to take over the girls cross-country program at Stillwater in 1984. “I told (Athletics Director Connie) Knoche, ‘I will do this for one year and one year only.’ That one year turned into 38 more years,” Podolske said. “I did enjoy it.” It was a long-running tenure for Podolske and Stillwater boys coach Scott Christensen, who each completed their final seasons with the Ponies at the conclusion of the state track and field meet on June 10. With more than a combined 80 years and 160 seasons in two sports between them, Podolske and Christensen have left an indelible mark on the Stillwater cross-country and track programs — and countless athletes — in those four decades. “I’m not happy to see them go,” Stillwater Activities Director Ricky Michel said. “Obviously we’re going to miss both of them. “Those four programs have been in good hands for over three decades. That is amazing in this day and age to have two coaches lead four programs for that long. It won’t probably happen in another AD’s lifetime. They are both wonderful people and they will be missed. I can’t say enough good things about both of them.”
The right time A number of factors led to Christensen joining Podolske in also stepping down this spring, including his wife Shelly’s decision to not seek reelection after two terms as a Minnesota State Representative and the graduation of the second of his two grandsons to run for the Ponies. Scott is not calling it a retirement, however, as he will continue to instruct and mentor other coaches and athletes through his involvement with USA Track and Field and other groups. After 42 seasons of sustained success at Stillwater, he also knew there would always be another promising group of runners in the pipeline tempting him to stay even longer. “Dawn leaving, Shelly not running, and my grandson not running, I couldn’t think of a better time,” Christensen said. “But it’s also a horrible time because I have all these sophomores I want to coach.” “Just because I’m not doing this aspect of running or track and field, doesn’t mean I’m not going to have these fantastic highlights, both professionally and personally. I’ll be able to spend more time with my wife and she can take some of these trips with me like she did before she ran for office.” In 42 years, Christensen’s teams racked up a remarkable 60 section titles (31 in cross country, 29 in track) and 10 Minnesota State High School League state championships (five in cross country, five in track), along with three victories at the True Team track and field state meet. To date, he has been inducted into seven hall of fames. “There’s no denying I’ll miss the thrill of the big moments,” Christensen said. “We’ve had so many big moments here. It’s just been so many numerous examples of track meets where we’ve just taken over the last third of the meet and powered through to a championship. I’ll miss the momentum of sports. The getting on a roll and just a group of guys working together to accomplish something in the moment.” Podolske’s Ponies were also consistent contenders in the conference and region/section. She’s ready to be done with coaching, but admitted feeling more sentimental about departing at various points during the season. “I was so emotional from the conference meet on that I could hardly even talk about it,” Podolske said. “It is easier now, but I feel like it will hit me in the middle of August when I’m not going to a cross country meet.” She’s following a core group of distance runners out the door who contributed to regular state appearances and strong finishes the past several years. “I did fall in love with these seniors,” Podolske said. “They’re a very special group of runners and human beings and I just wanted to stick with it. Avery (Braunshausen) has been around since seventh grade and Morgan (Peterman) and Brooke (Elfert) since eighth grade. They held their own until they were seniors and they were really the reason I stuck around. “Nobody is dying here. I will not miss the bus rides, but I will miss most of the kids.”
Different paths Christensen’s first season as head coach for the Ponies came in the fall of 1981, three years before Podolske showed up. Unlike Podolske’s unlikely entry into coaching distance runners, the path was more predictable for Christensen, an outstanding runner at Lakeville High School and later at Gustavus Adolphus. “I had such an influence from coaches and teachers that I wanted to be one,” Christensen said. Attending high school in Rochester, Podolske played volleyball and basketball as a prep before joining the field hockey team at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “We made it to nationals and it was a huge part of my life in college,” Podolske said. The interest in running came a little later. “I fell off my bike and broke my arm and couldn’t do anything, so I started running,” Podolske said. “I wasn’t able to do anything else for a couple of months.” After agreeing to coach the sport, Podolske and Christensen became fast friends. “He helped a lot,” Podolske said. “I knew he was very talented and that he knew what he was talking about and he always had my back. Early on he would help me with workouts and talk through things. He has always been there for me. He always supported me and we’re really good friends. He was a huge factor.” Their tactics and demeanor didn’t always match, but the programs remained in good hands throughout. “My daughter Megan ran for Dawn and she couldn’t have had a better coach,” Christensen said. “Of course our human relations style is different. I’m hard on my boys, but she goes about it in a different way.”
Differences, similarities Christensen drew much inspiration from his high school and college coaches. Their influence was clear, even if he didn’t strictly adhere to all of their coaching tactics. He recalled an early lesson after his first college cross-country race. There were 10 team members competing, but only seven lunches were provided after the race — an incentive program likely frowned upon today. “Seven guys,” Christensen said. “I was in the top seven, and three weren’t. I didn’t know what to do, but then I saw the older kids tearing a sandwich in half. We had a close team, believe me, and maybe it was because of that. “That was a defining moment with me. There were many others, but that’s my first vivid memory. It was always like, you’ve got this and we’re together, so figure it out.” Their approaches were different with regard to the offseason. Christensen rarely missed those summer workouts and the team also takes a training trip each summer. Podolske took a more laid-back approach when it came to summer training. “I think we’re so different,” Podolske said. “I will do anything to win, but running is his life. For him, it was 12 months out of the year. He put in so many hours in the summer. I wasn’t quite that intense at all and very rarely met with the kids. He’s put in so many more hours, it was one of the reasons his group is so successful.” But Christensen didn’t hesitate when asked about the biggest similarities in their coaching styles. “We’re totally the same,” Christensen said. “We coach the athlete, not the sport. That’s about the end of the story. When you coach the athlete and not the sport, that’s what true coaching is. In the most important — the only important aspect — we’re identical. We both always coached the athlete, not the sport. That’s why we see eye-to-eye on nearly everything. “The coach is where the athlete meets the sport and if you’re not meeting the athletes at the sport based on talent and gender then you’re not going to be successful.” The results and the way their athletes and teams arrived there is a credit to each coach, Michel suggested. “They’re different people and they went at it from a different angle, but both were successful doing it,” he said. “I’ll miss Dawn being a great female role model and mentor. As far as people, I loved them both and respected them both. They were easy to work with and they both did it the right way. I think they both did a great job of putting high school sports in its proper perspective.” The mutual support between the coaches benefited both programs. “She’s definitely made me a better coach,” Christensen said. “She’s also shown me that you can do it in different ways. She has pointed out many times that there’s different ways of doing things, and really, she’s been a great sounding board. We got through a lot of agony together. “She sort of calibrates the day or maybe filters me. Even though I try to live in the moment, she keeps things in perspective with me. I tend to let the moment get away at times.” Both coaches focused on making participation a rewarding experience regardless of times and achievements. “I talk about winning your race,” Christensen said. “That’s what I tell the kids almost every day, win your race. Hardly anyone is going to actually win a race. Luke (Watson) did, Ben (Blankenship) did, but everybody can win your race wherever you are. Wherever you are there’s a race taking place. You might be back in the 30th spot, but 28th and 29th are just in front of you and that’s what defines success — not winning a race, winning your race.”
Lasting memories Podolske certainly didn’t anticipate a four-decades coaching career and Christensen just didn’t give it a lot of thought along the way. Christensen’s final year in the classroom was 2012 and Podolske retired from teaching in 2015, but both stayed involved with the coaching for several more seasons. “I think we‘ve created programs we’re very proud of,” Podolske said. “I hope it continues and I‘m sure it will. It’s just a labor of love in so many ways, you have to really enjoy the kids and who you work with. “I need to find a hobby now. I have so many books I need to get to. I’ll keep busy, but it’s a huge chunk of your life.” Pressed on some of the events and athletes that stand out, Podolske recalled the state track meet in 1991 when Holly Hargroder hit a hurdle during the prelims and barely advanced, but came back in the finals to win a state championship in the 300 hurdles. “That was one of the most exciting things that ever happened,” Podolske said. There was also the surprise victory for Ladia Albertson-Junkans at the state cross-country meet in 2001 and Ana Weaver’s run to state titles in cross-country (2019) and track (2021) to bookend a prep career hampered by restrictions due to the pandemic. “The other one that stands out with cross-country was Ladia,” Podolske said. “She just came out of nowhere to win the state meet and I’ll never forget that feeling. Ana’s season was just the perfect season, but unfortunately COVID was in there and not quite the same, but she’s such a talent.” Christensen said it would be impossible to point to one or two things he’s most proud of during his tenure with the Ponies. “I felt pride all the way along,” Christensen said. “I was proud the whole time it was all happening. I have cried more times than you can ever imagine and it was never out of anything other than the kids just made me so proud of how and what they did. I don’t have to look back, because I was proud the whole time. “I don’t have any good stories (to share), but probably 1,500 good stories because I have something on nearly every kid I coached.” And both coaches expect more positive stories down the road. “The tradition of strong track and field and running in Stillwater will continue,” Podolske said.
Christensen ruined more good athletes than he created.
In his final year, he had no athletes under 1:55, none under 4:20 and none under 9:40
Why is this guy teaching other coaches?
This is such a whiny, do nothing, little b statement. You'll likely not amount to half of what Scott has done and probably be miserable while doing it.
Christensen ruined more good athletes than he created.
In his final year, he had no athletes under 1:55, none under 4:20 and none under 9:40
Why is this guy teaching other coaches?
I know. There are only what, 4 Stillwater alums to have gone sub 4? I remember when there were only two Stillwater alums in the 5k finals the trials.
Remember the time Ben Blakenship made the Olympic final? Or when Stillwater was ranked #1 in the nation for a few years in the late 90’s.
There have been Superbowl winning coaches fired within a few years of Superbowl victory. There have been NBA coaches fired within a few years of NBA championship victory. Many know of World Series victorious managers fired not too long after winning World Series. Do any readers remember how Notre Dame alumni & students treated Lou Holtz his last couple of seasons, Notre Dame? If Scott Christensen gets praise for conference championships and state championships, why not ask: What have you done lately? Please stop with the exaggerations. Scott Hansen did not coach anyone to a sub-4 mile or onto an an Olympic team. Many U.S. Olympic jumpers, sprinters and throwers played youth American football and youth baseball. If we don't give Pop Warner Am. football coaches and Little League baseball coaches credit for athletic development, we need to stop giving Coach Scott Christensen credit for sub-4 mile development. Give Scott Christensen a clap of the hands for his teams' success.
the only time Stillwater was even remotely relevant after 2010 was when they had a good freshman in 2013. Krahn ran 4:09 in the 1600 as a freshman (I think it was a freshman record) and 8:58 that year. He never PR'd again in high school.
Christensen went on the lecture circuit for 2 years bragging about how he got his stud freshman so fast. Turns out he burned the kid out really badly and caused a lot of injuries.
Blankenship only ran 4:09 in high school then got down to 3:34 as a pro before superspikes. Olympic finalist int he 1500. Christensen could only get him to 4:09?? Blankenship had a successful career DESPITE having Christensen as a coach, not because of him.
the only time Stillwater was even remotely relevant after 2010 was when they had a good freshman in 2013. Krahn ran 4:09 in the 1600 as a freshman (I think it was a freshman record) and 8:58 that year. He never PR'd again in high school.
Christensen went on the lecture circuit for 2 years bragging about how he got his stud freshman so fast. Turns out he burned the kid out really badly and caused a lot of injuries.
Blankenship only ran 4:09 in high school then got down to 3:34 as a pro before superspikes. Olympic finalist int he 1500. Christensen could only get him to 4:09?? Blankenship had a successful career DESPITE having Christensen as a coach, not because of him.
Stillwater was relevant in 2011 and 2012 as well. They won state both years, and they went to nxn in 2011
