DiscoverAirey Bros.'s RadioEP401 — Snow College XC with Coach Chase Englestead: Building a Top-10 NJCAA Program, Utah Distance Culture, Lydiard Roots & JUCO Pathways
EP401 — Snow College XC with Coach Chase Englestead: Building a Top-10 NJCAA Program, Utah Distance Culture, Lydiard Roots & JUCO Pathways

EP401 — Snow College XC with Coach Chase Englestead: Building a Top-10 NJCAA Program, Utah Distance Culture, Lydiard Roots & JUCO Pathways

Update: 2025-10-14
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Description

Howdy & aloha! Airey Bros Radio laces up with Coach Chase Englestead, Head Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach at Snow College (Richfield/Ephraim, UT). Hired in 2024 to launch the Badgers’ program, Chase already has the men ranked #6 and women #7 in the NJCAA national poll. We dig into Utah’s deep distance culture, JUCO recruiting, elevation training (5,300–10,000 ft), Lydiard-inspired aerobic development (with selective double-threshold), the benefits of a tight small-campus setup, LDS mission maturity, and why Snow wants to make D1s nervous at invites—then points to Fort Dodge in November and the NJCAA Half Marathon.What you’ll learn
  • How to build a brand-new JUCO XC program into a national Top-10 in two years

  • Why Snow College’s elevation, trails, housing, and price are a recruiting cheat code

  • Training philosophy: big aerobic base, thresholds, strength, and when double-thresholds make sense

  • Culture > times: selecting athletes who raise the standard and stick with the process

  • How roster caps + Utah’s pipeline are reshaping the JUCO → D1 pathway

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Show notes & timestamps: 
  • 0:00 Howdy & aloha + ABR mission (shine light on JUCO/NAIA/D2/D3)

  • 2:36 Guest intro: Coach Chase Englestead — hired 2024; Men #6 / Women #7 NJCAA

  • 5:08 Origin story: small-town Utah → discovering running → ownership & accountability

  • 8:12 JUCO roots at UVSC/UVU: mileage jump, All-American, steeple/1500 records; D1 transition & probation

  • 11:01 Choosing coaching: family of coaches; HS first to build & learn

  • 12:26 Riverton HS culture build; Nike Cross regionals rise

  • 15:25 Why Snow College: home state, elevation & trails, giving back; late hire & Year-1 scramble

  • 20:50 Year-2 jump: full recruiting cycle; Top-10 expectations in Utah’s distance scene

  • 22:31 Stigma shift: JUCO in Utah post-Isaac Wood; roster-cap effects

  • 24:44 “Diamonds in the rough” development stories

  • 25:54 Roster size realities; culture-first recruiting

  • 28:05 A week in the chair: early mornings, Tue/Thu recruit calls, summer team runs

  • 30:01 One year vs two years at Snow? Athlete-first pathways to four-year programs

  • 31:06 Form check: confidence high; “make D1s nervous when Snow shows up”

  • 32:07 Long run workout (pace toggles) + pack fitness

  • 33:14 Training philosophy: Lydiard base, aerobic strength; when double threshold fits

  • 37:05 Individualization; safe volumes before doubles

  • 37:58 Campus fit: two campuses, on-campus housing, track ~200m, pool ~600m, bike path & mountain singletrack

  • 39:58 Why a small campus helps serious runners (sleep, routine, fewer distractions)

  • 41:25 Roster mix: Utah core + out-of-state; Americans-only pride vs international budget realities

  • 44:30 Value case: ~$2k tuition/semester + ~$2.5k housing

  • 46:09 Athletes to watch (W: Rhys Moss, Brighton Gold; M: Made, Tim, Carter Day, David Barlo, Brett Bailey, Von Wallace)

  • 48:35 Slick transfers; NJCAA Half Marathon plans

  • 49:36 Weather & Fort Dodge readiness; altitude advantage

  • 50:35 Elevation menu: dorms ~5,300 ft; quick access to 8k–12k ft

  • 52:00 Fall schedule: SUU (10/4), Utah State (10/10), hosting SWAC at Palisade State Park

  • 53:48 LDS mission benefits: discipline, perspective, adversity skills

  • 56:45 Final Four: no soda since 2000, routines, 60 mpw streak, books/pods, spikeball
  • 1:03:37 Wrap: Badgers links; ABR back Wed with Ranger College


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EP401 — Snow College XC with Coach Chase Englestead: Building a Top-10 NJCAA Program, Utah Distance Culture, Lydiard Roots & JUCO Pathways

EP401 — Snow College XC with Coach Chase Englestead: Building a Top-10 NJCAA Program, Utah Distance Culture, Lydiard Roots & JUCO Pathways

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