Bill Corcoran and Rick Scott have coached the GPRC Wolves Cross-Country team for the last 29 years.
Together, they have nurtured and produced some of the most successful athletes in both the ACAC and CCAA, some of whom have gone on to compete at an international level. As GPRC prepares to host the 2019 CCAA Cross-Country National Championships, Corcoran and Scott reflect on their longstanding partnership and how it has shaped the running program at GPRC.
What made you decide to be a coach?
Corcoran: I really fell into coaching when I got to GPRC 29 years ago, when the XC coach at the time, Glen Chilton, asked me to help. I was competing at a semi-competitive level, so I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to train with some of the better varsity runners. When Glen left GPRC the next year, I was asked to take over as the head coach.
Scott: Bill was looking for a van driver to help with getting the team to races, and I also enjoyed running, so I started training with the team which eventually led to helping with the coaching duties for 28 seasons.
What are the highlights of your career path that brought you to GPRC?
Corcoran: My academic degrees and work experience got me a job teaching business. That's how I ended up here in the first place. Athletically, I had the good fortune of training with and being coached by some of the top athletes/coaches in the country during my late teens and early 20s. When you grow up in an environment where you hang out with people who compete at a national championship, make the national team, and even go to world championships or the Olympics, you get to observe first-hand what it takes to be a top athlete. That experience really helps me to guide up-and-coming athletes who want to strive to be the best on their team, in the Conference, or even in the country.
Scott: I came to GPRC in January 1990 to work as the biology lab technologist after earning my B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the Department of Botany at the University of Alberta. I began helping with the running team in the Fall of 1991.
What's one thing you think every coach should know?
Corcoran: "Champions are born in every neighbourhood." This is my favourite quote from Arthur Lydiard – the best endurance coach ever to grace the earth with his presence.
Scott: Coaching should be fun.
How would your athletes describe your coaching style?
Corcoran: Fun. We expect hard work and commitment, but if running XC at GPRC isn't the highlight of your student experience, Rick and I aren't doing our jobs to the best of our abilities.
Scott: They would say Rick provides lots of encouragement and takes lots of pictures.
Final thoughts on this farewell season?
Corcoran: Rick and I are really looking forward to hosting Nationals in November. We'd like the home team to put in a good performance against the best collegiate runners in the land. After that, it's time for Rick and I to ride off into the sunset. 29 years is long enough – it's time for some new folks to experience the great pleasure of coaching XC and indoor track at GPRC.
This is Bill and Rick's last season with the Wolves and their last CCAA National Championships. GPRC Athletics and the entire running community is really going to miss your passion and enthusiasm for the sport.
Enjoy your retirement as you both run off into the sunset!
Source: GPRC Wolves Athletics
