Some athletes grow up with the desire to coach. The thought of maximizing the potential of other athletes entices various individuals.
Men's and women's cross-country and women's track and field coach Vicki Mitchell is one of these athletes. Mitchell started running at Amherst Central High School, where she had her focus on running in the future.
Mitchell's time at college was when she gained interest in coaching. She graduated from Cortland State in 1991 with a degree in physical education. At Cortland, Mitchell studied and researched the physiology or running, distance runners and energy systems.
"I started running in 10th grade in high school, but my interest in coaching really didn't develop until I was in college and after working with a fantastic coach," Mitchell said. "I was a [physical education] undergrad and as I got a little more interested in running and the research and physiology of running, that's where I decided I wanted to coach at the collegiate level."
Mitchell began to coach at Holy Angels, an all-girls catholic school in Western New York, while in college. She spent several years there before moving to Kansas City, Mo. where she coached at a collegiate level at William Jewell College. Mitchell spent less than a year in Missouri before she got a phone call from the program coach at Buffalo saying that there was an opening and she should apply.
After spending three years as an assistant coach for Buffalo, Mitchell finally became the head coach of the cross-country team in 2002. Ever since then she has provided her runners with constant support and advice.
"Thanks to her help, I'm getting so much better this year than I was last year," said sophomore Jackie Bozich.
Bozich said Mitchell really connects well with the team. Mitchell cares about her runners, ensuring that they feel good physically and emotionally.
Despite turning her focus onto coaching, Mitchell still found time to dabble in running. Mitchell competed in the 1996 U.S. Olympic 10,000-meter Trials. She also qualified for the 2000 U.S. Marathon trials thanks to her performance in the 1999 Hong Kong Marathon.
But Mitchell still has all of her focus on coaching. She says she has found her perfect job and will provide her runners with an expertise they would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Whether running herself or helping others run their best, Bozich feels that Mitchell is a great inspiration and role model for all aspiring cross-country athletes.
"I think she's helped [us] so much, Bozich said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
