(Griswold) Described as one of the most positive people you’ll ever encounter, former Griswold coach Jane Chaillie is our “Why I Coach” guest this week.
Chaillie led the Tigers to great heights in cross country and track. She pinpoints one big key to all the success and that was family, “Everything was about being a family. So it was about how you performed, but it was also about how you encouraged each other. That’s probably one of my biggest takeaways and things that I miss the most from coaching.”
Before becoming a head coach the former C&M and CAM runner got a chance to coach under two all-time greats. She assisted both Bruce Henderson in cross country at Atlantic and Gary Bergstrom in track at Griswold. “Every piece of my life they became a coach to me. I watched how positive they were with each individual, how they took every kid that came out and figured out where they could be the best on the team, and how they nurtured each of them to be young adults. That’s something that I’m forever grateful for.”
The positivity element was a big part of Chaillie’s coaching philosophy. “Some of those athletes might say my positivity drove them nuts. But that belief in kids is something I wanted each and every one of them to know. We talked about everyday being a great day to run and to compete and do your very best.”
Chaillie admits it was difficult to move on from Griswold, noting the sea of blue will forever hold a special place in her life.
https://soundcloud.com/hyoach/jane-chaillie-why-i-coach
Previous Coaches
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)
Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Scott Yates, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center
