Q-and-A with NAU's Jarred Cornfield: Says He Won't Change Much About Program

Promoted replacements for a departed long-time coach rarely if ever make significant changes to how the program is run. They were part of running the old coach's program as an assistant, after all. It would seem rather weird for him to take the reins and then turn everything they'd been working years together on completely upside down.

You’d be surprised how often this happens especially in the corporate world.

In the corporate world, yes of course, though it's economics that typically dictate a substantial change in direction (plus a lot of tenured CEOs get forced into "retirement", or jump to another company or similar for company performance reasons). Not as much in college sports.

Name some coaches who took over a long successful program from a departed superior, and completely changed the program's philosophy and approach.

It's also possible likely examples to the contrary were a form of that, where the long time coach hadn't been winning recently and was coaxed into "retirement". In that case, of course the replacement would try and make significant changes.

The interviewer kind of asked this question but I'd like to know more about coming from an evangelical place like Liberty how he coaches people who are much more "diverse"

Don't know much about Flagstaff running news but I always enjoy their interviews.

Probably because he doesn’t feel his religious views keep him from accepting as you put it “diverse” people. As much as the current politics want to persuade you otherwise- many Christian’s are accepting and loving to ALL people. As someone who was raised in the evangelical church I can assure you we are not all filled with hate and contempt for others that are not like us. Many groups in this country unfortunately are including some “Christian’s” but not all.

It's not the current politics that drive my question, it's Liberty's stance

Swoosh!!: have you ever been to Liberty? Have you ever been to Lynchburg? How many LU graduates do you know? I'm amazed at how people assume things.

I'm from Lynchburg and was not raised in the church and did not attend Liberty. I can currently see LU from my current place of employment. There are many wonderful people who attend and work at LU. Don't make judgements based on what the media tells you!

+1. Especially with a devout Muslim on the team as well.

this is truly a bizarre post.

He's got big shoes to fill and the competition has changed a lot with the new willingness and ability on the part of rival programs to fill their programs with mature East African talent that is already at or above the elite NCAA level before they step on campus. That, I believe, is a big part of why Mike Smith chose this time to leave, in addition to the graduation of Nico Young and the graduation of Drew Bosley next year, giving him a full group of home-grown pros.

Also had a good interviews with Geordie Beamish on the Coffee Club Podcast. First time I’ve listened to Cornfield and sounded very thoughtful and capable. Good pick up a torch of pushing the Mike Smith voice, but was listening at 1.5 speed.

Liberty has earned every bit of its negative reputation. However, I wouldn't judge Cornfield based on that school. If he was an intolerant hardliner do you really think he would have lasted all these years at NAU of all places?

Some Christian's what?

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

The recent Coffee Club interview with Cornfeld was particularly enlightening. I personally had never heard him interviewed, let alone talk in the long form podcast format. Not only does he seem like Mike Smith Jr. in his diction but also seems similarly process focused. Such striking similarities would explain why he has stuck around NAU for so long. Part of NAU's success seems lie in their perspective on competition. Remaining process focused seems to be the new fad in running thanks to NAU's success and is appealing to more "go with the flow" runners.

Cornfeld expressed his satisfaction with remaining in Flagstaff, which makes sense. It is the best place to train in the United States. Why leave if you're already on top? And in NAU's case, why bring in someone new to run the program when you already had a successor in training?

Perhaps Cornfeld's experience in coaching Cranny with translate to a run of success on the women's side similar to that on the men's.

podcasts.apple.com

How to become the Head Coach of NAU XCTF (with Jarred Cornfield)

Podcast Episode · COFFEE CLUB · 10/03/2024 · 51m

Open link

The NAU program will shift to a major down cycle under Cornfield. He’s not a leader and copying workouts won’t cut it

sorry they didn't hire you Sean Brosnan, but don't be so bitter.

huh?