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<strong>A closer look at the people behind the magic...</strong></p>
In just a few short years at Regis Jesuit, Ryan Taylor has made some serious coaching marks of his own, and he draws from a deep well. Contributed photo.
I confess to an ongoing envy of those coaches who had great high school coaches who simultaneously taught them the art of coaching even us they made them stronger and faster through the various workouts and drills. In three years of high school track, I had three different coaches, and at least two of them were there only because of pressure from school administration to do the job. I still find myself asking, "I wonder how a coach who really understood what he was doing would deal with this situation?"
Today's interviewee is one who did spend his high school career at the feet of a master. I invite you to spend a few minutes with us and get to know Regis Jesuit's Ryan Taylor a little better.
You told me once that you ran high school track at St. Mary's under Ed Latimer--what were some of the highlights of that experience for you?
Coach Latimer was on of my favorite coaches while I was in high school. Some highlights were: three league championships, one state runner up, I was the long jump state champion in ’96, ran on the state championship 800m relay team in ’97, second in the triple jump (also in '97), and I still hold the school record in the triple jump.
The story that I most remember about Coach Latimer and high school is while at a meet at Manitou Spring High School I was standing next to him when he was hit in the head with a discus. Coach Latimer went to the hospital, got stitches, and returned to the meet. We all would have understood his absence from the rest of the meet, but that is a testament to Ed’s dedication and care.
What are a couple of things you took away from Coach Latimer and made your own as a coach?
Ed Latimer planned workouts and taught us techniques, he brought back to practice drills from other coaches like Gentry and Wells, but what I took away the most is that Coach Latimer cared for each runner as an individual. He still made us all run the 400, but we knew he loved us. I hope to affect the lives of my young runners as well as he did.
Did you go on to run collegiately?
I played football at the University of Northern Colorado - I did run one indoor season for the Bears
You went from St. Mary's in high school to--eventually--Regis Jesuit as a coach. Obviously, there's some investment in the Catholic schools there for you. What's valuable about that experience for you?
The initial move back into Catholic education was comfort; I had been teaching and coaching in public education for eight years and felt as if something was missing. Being a product of private Catholic education made looking into the job opportunity at Regis Jesuit seem right. These past four years at RJ have reminded me how my role in the lives of others is so much bigger than if we win or how many students are on the team. To be in a school with a strong Catholic message is very powerful. I think the biggest value I take from St. Mary’s and now Regis Jesuit is that I have purpose.
You took over for something of an institution at Regis Jesuit. What were the first year or two of following in Rod Card's footsteps like?
The first job I had as a head track coach in Arizona at a school of 1900 students came after a season where the program finished the season with 17 total boys and girls. My thought then was, “I am sure that I can’t mess this up too bad.”
When I stepped onto the campus at Regis Jesuit after Rod Card, my thought was more like, “If I’m not careful, I can mess this up real bad.” My first years were great and we had great leaders in all of our event groups and, like most head coaches, I am thankful for the assistant coaches that I had on my staff. Coach Card and the late great Coach Ken Libby stayed around to help me get started.
Last spring, you were coaching one of the nation's premiere athletes in Ana Holland. Did you feel a little extra pressure with that?
If I told you that I didn’t feel any pressure I would be lying. From her sophomore year, I knew Ana was born to run. She was injured as a junior so I really felt a duty to help Ana succeed.
Did you expect what she accomplished at the state meet, or was that just completely outside the box?
After she ran on Thursday, I knew that Saturday was going to be special. What had me in complete shock was how Ana continued to improve after Liberty Bell. I would spend hours after that meet looking at the times she would have to hit in her workouts thinking there is no way she can do this volume and this time, but she would crush every workout. That was all Ana. The craziest words that came out of my mouth were, “You ONLY have to run 13 sec 100 splits on this 4."
What is your favorite aspect of coaching?
Definitely the growth I get to see in these students. They come in so small and have no idea of how much work they are capable of doing, and when they put in the time they are different people four years later.
Are there any up-and-coming Raiders we need to be on the lookout for this season?
I will only say that we are glad to have our leaders back on the boys and girls teams, but, if they work hard, we have some freshman and sophomores who have an opportunity to qualify.
