Coaches Corner: Creekview Coach Kirk Scharich

Looking back at the history of this program, what was the "turning point" that moved it from a standard high school team to what it is today?

I think the turning point for our boys program came in the fall of 2022 with the arrival of Malachi Burnett. He brought a tremendous amount of energy, confidence, and competitiveness to our team. His work ethic and commitment helped raise the expectations for everyone around him.

As our athletes trained alongside Malachi, more and more of them began finishing workouts stronger and gaining confidence with each race. They started to believe that they could compete at a higher level. That confidence became contagious, and our athletes began pushing one another and holding each other accountable.

How do you honor the traditions or past top athletes and teams while still pushing the current roster to carve their own path?

Recognize school records, championships, All-State athletes, and other major accomplishments. Make former athletes feel like an important part of the program's history.

The goal isn't to recreate the exact same team. It's to build the best version of the current roster.

"Respect the past. Learn from those who came before you. But don't spend your season trying to become the team that came before you.

What has been the most memorable race, championship, or milestone achievement of your coaching career so far?

It was our State Championship Boys team from last year, and that accomplishment will always hold a special place in the history of our program. It was not only the first state cross country championship for Creekview High School, but also the first state XC team championship for Cherokee County.

For me personally, it was also the first team state championship of my coaching career. After many years of coaching, to see our athletes come together, believe in one another, and accomplish something that had never been done before was incredibly rewarding.

Beyond podium finishes and state titles, how do you define a truly successful season for your runners?

Our motto at Creekview Distance is getting better one day at a time! Ultimately, I want our runners to finish the season better than they started-not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. If they leave our program with a stronger work ethic, greater confidence, better character, and a desire to continue challenging themselves, then I consider that a successful season.

Team Culture

Cross country is unique in that a team's success often relies heavily on the 4th and 5th runners. How do you cultivate a "pack mentality" and ensure every runner feels their finish matters?

Coach Higgins makes an important point that we really emphasize with our teams: every place matters. When we get to the county meet, region meet, and especially the state meet, we want every athlete to understand that their finish can make a difference.

We really push that message leading into the county meet. A runner might think that finishing 25th instead of 26th doesn't make much difference, but in a team sport like cross country, that one place can change the outcome for the entire team. The same is true throughout the race-passing one runner, fighting through the final 400 meters, or refusing to give up can ultimately mean the difference between winning and losing.

You manage a wide range of athletes, from elite front-runners to developing JV runners. How do you foster a sense of "one team" when everyone is doing such different work and running at different paces?

We also encourage our faster runners to be leaders. They have an opportunity to set the example in workouts, encourage younger runners, and show what a strong work ethic looks like. At the same time, our younger and developing runners bring energy and enthusiasm that can motivate our experienced athletes.

Ultimately, I want our athletes to understand that we may run at different paces, but we are all moving in the same direction. Everyone has a role, everyone matters, and everyone has an opportunity to make the team better.

One of the ways we build that "one team" mentality is through our expectations on meet day. After an athlete finishes their race, we ask them to stay and support the next race. Then those runners support the next group, and it continues throughout the entire meet.

We want our athletes to understand that their responsibility doesn't end when they cross the finish line. Everyone needs team support and encouragement not just from their parents, but from their teammates. There is something powerful about coming down the final stretch and hearing your teammates cheering for you.

If you had to describe the "vibe" of a regular afternoon practice in only a few words, what would they be? On our speed days, we try to create an atmosphere that is competitive, exciting, and energetic!

What is the "non-negotiable" rule in your program that every athlete, regardless of talent level, must follow? That is a big part of the culture we try to build in our program. We expect all of our athletes to show up on the hard workout days and finish the workout. We understand that not every athlete will run the same pace or complete the same amount of work, but we expect everyone to give their best effort and finish what they are capable of doing.We also must have everyone stay until the meet is over.

Summer base training is the foundation of a successful fall. How do you keep athletes connected and accountable when they are logging miles away from the team?

I send out a weekly training plan that outlines each day's work, including the running workout, warm-up, cool-down, weight training, and core work. I always say summer miles brings on November smiles

Coaching Philosophy and Workouts

In the era of super-shoes and advanced data, how much of your coaching is "art" (intuition/feel) versus "science" (splits/physiology)?I really believe it is both the art and the science of coaching. The data gives us valuable information-splits, heart rate, mileage, workout times, race results, and other technology can help us understand what an athlete is capable of and how they are responding to training.

However, coaching is not always one size fits all. You still have to know your athletes, build relationships with them, and understand when to push, when to back off, and when to simply believe in them. Two athletes can complete the same workout and have completely different responses to it.

What is your favorite staple workout that tells you the team is physically and mentally ready for a championship race?

For me, it's the Michigan Workout developed by Ron Warhurst. It has become one of those workouts that our athletes really look forward to because they know how challenging it is and what it represents.

We traditionally do the Michigan Workout the week before the sectional meet. By that point in the season, our athletes have put in a tremendous amount of work, and this workout gives them an opportunity to test themselves both physically and mentally.

We have been doing it for several years, and I think one of the most valuable parts is how our athletes feel when they finish. They know they have accomplished something difficult, and that gives them a tremendous amount of confidence heading into the championship portion of the season.

How do you handle the "mental side" of the sport, particularly for high-pressure meets like Sectionals or State?

Last year, we really emphasized getting comfortable running on hills because we knew that being strong and confident on hills could make a difference when championship races arrived. Before the season began, I also reminded our athletes that after every race, we were going to discuss results, not excuses. I wanted them to learn to take ownership of their performances, learn from them, and move forward.

I really feel like we achieved that last season. Our athletes became more confident in their preparation and more willing to embrace difficult conditions and challenging races. They learned that preparation creates confidence.

I have an old saying that I learned early in my coaching career: "He who goes to the starting line nervous is ill-prepared. He who goes to the starting line excited is well-prepared." That's the key to becoming a confident runner. You can't always control the outcome of a race, but you can control how prepared you are when you step onto the starting line.

I think the same principle applies in the classroom. When a student walks into class on test day nervous because they didn't prepare, they are already fighting an uphill battle. But when they have studied, practiced, and prepared, they walk into that test with confidence.

Preparation creates confidence. Confidence creates excitement. And excitement allows you to perform at your best.

What is your approach to tapering and ensuring your runners peak at the exact right time at the end of the season?

"The hay is in the barn" an old coach once told meet at the end of our season! At this point in the season, the work has been done. Now we need to rest, stay sharp, trust our training, and get excited about racing.

How do you balance pushing athletes to their limits in workouts while preventing overuse injuries or mid-season burnout?

I think that is one of the most important lessons in coaching: running is not one size fits all. There isn't always an easy answer when it comes to training, mileage, intensity, or tapering because every athlete responds differently.

I try to remind our athletes not to get caught up reading about some running phenom who is doing an incredible amount of mileage or a particular workout and then assume they need to do the same thing. What works for one athlete may not work for another. Every runner has a different sweet spot and breaking point when it comes to mileage, intensity, recovery, and overall training load.

I've had teammates at the high school, college, and post-collegiate levels, and I've seen firsthand how differently athletes can respond to training. Some thrive on higher mileage, while others perform better with less mileage and more recovery. Some athletes need a lot of intensity to feel sharp, while others can break down if they do too much.

That's why I believe knowing your athletes is so important. You have to listen, observe, and adjust. The goal isn't to copy someone else's training plan; it's to find what allows each individual athlete to become the best runner they can be.

There is no magic mileage number or perfect workout. The magic is finding what works for the individual athlete.