How did you get into coaching?
I started off in 1978 as a football coach and coached for six years as an assistant while also serving as the Head Track Coach. As McIntosh HS came on line as a new school back in 1981, several of my track distance runners that had run cross country at other schools came to me and expressed an interest in starting a cross country program in 1984. I made the decision at that time to give up football and start the Varsity Boys & Girls Cross Country Program at McIntosh HS and have been serving as the Head Coach for the Boys & Girls Teams for the last 29 years.
What have been some of your proudest moments as a coach prior to this year?
My first cross country state championship was in 1996 with Boys AAAA. We had finished as state runner-up the year before to Brookwood and knew we had a chance to win the title the following year. We began the summer with a team goal of a championship season and enjoyed watching those young men work hard in the summer and fall to achieve that goal and extremely proud of their achievement. This was quickly followed by my first Girls State Championship in 1998 as we continued to build the program . The other memorable event of my career was in 2005 when Emily Borsare collapsed 200 meters from the finish line on the Carrollton course after leading Emily Reese by over 400 meters in the race. After losing my number 1 runner, I was concerned the we might not finish as champions that year. However, my other girls were so determined to win and pushed themselves hard to overcome the deficit that they were still able to win the Girls AAAA Cross Country Championship. They endeavoured to persevere!
What has it been like being at the same school for a long tenure?
McIntosh has been a great place to teach and coach for the last 32 years. Peachtree City is a very unique (all the golf carts) community with wonderful, caring parents that provide great support to the athletic programs. My cross country and track parents have been very supportive and feel as though we have created a true McIntosh Cross Country & Track family atmosphere over those 32 years.
What in your opinion has been the biggest change in XC/Track in Georgia since you started coaching?
The competition continues to become more intense as many new distance programs have emerged throughout the state with quality athletes. Winning a state championship continues to be tough and requires every coach to focus on growing their distance programs and attracting talented athletes especially in light of the addition of new high school varisty sports and the need to recruit those athletes into your cross country or track programs.
What was it like having your last year include an XC State title and individual champion, Foot Locker Finalist, and Track State title and individual champions?
I knew this was going to be my last year teaching and coaching as I began the Fall 2012 Cross Country season. After finishing 4th place the last three years in Boys AAAAA, I knew we had a legitimate shot of winning another Boys State AAAAA Cross Country Championship if we prepared properly in the summer, worked hard in the fall and avoided any injuries. Fortunately, we had great talented athletes with Brad Hort and Sidney Speir to lead the way. Taylor Huntley, Artie McCarty and Andrew Jaeger also worked hard and had outstanding seasons to give us the edge to win the title. I am very proud of Brad Hort for winning his second Boys AAAAA Individual Cross Country title and he is our first ever Footlocker finalist at McIntosh. He will be missed. Also, I am very proud of Sidney Speir for his 3200M Track Championship and Taylor Huntley for giving us the memorable 800M Run 1st Place finish in Jefferson a couple of weeks of ago that enabled us to score the points necessary to win our first Track & Field Championship in the history of McIntosh HS. What a great way to go out with two state championships in the same school year.
What will you miss most about coaching?
I will miss the interaction with the kids and parents. It is a great feeling to begin a season with a goal to win a state championship and see them work hard to achieve that goal. I have been fortunate as a coach to win four cross country championships in 29 years and now my first state track title. I leave the teaching/coaching profession after 35 years with lots of great memories and friends. I have enjoyed my involvement with my fellow coaches of the the Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Association and wish everyone well as we continue to grow the sport in the state of Georgia.
by Coach Andy Christie