Cross Country Coach Howard Collier, pictured above, on the Roosevelt Track
After 29 years, Howard Collier has decided to step down from his position as the Roosevelt boys’ cross country team coach.
Collier’s coaching career started at Ingraham High School in 1988. It was four years later, in 1992, that he first began coaching at Roosevelt. Since then, he’s grown the team from 12 runners to around 75.
Collier’s cross country program has been very successful over the years, with a variety of runners finding a sense of community on the team.
Seniors Liam Hutchinson and Ryan Boyle have been runners for Collier since their freshman year. Hutchinson says, “I’d say [Collier is] a really good coach. He knows his stuff, he’s really fast. Back in the day, you know, he was a really fast pro legit athlete, so he’s a really knowledgeable coach. He’s really funny, he likes making jokes and having a good time.”
Running has been a key part of Collier’s life for a long time. When asked about his running career, Collier says that he ran all through high school and a bit in college. “I ran 17 marathons, I ran all over. It’s just something that I started doing as a young man,” he explains.
All of his experience has paid off in his coaching career, with many Roosevelt runners finding that Collier’s long time commitment to the sport has opened doors for the team. Boyle states, “Because he’s been coaching for so long, he also knows a lot of other really good coaches and he can bring them in as assistants and it’s really been helpful.”
Collier takes great care of his team, often encouraging them to eat healthy, get lots of sleep and most importantly, keep their grades up. But on the track, Collier emphasizes that he wants his runners to push themselves and always try their hardest.
“He always says pain is weakness leaving the body,” says Hutchinson. “No matter what we’re doing he’s always trying to push us to our complete limit. He just wants you to try as hard as you can every practice.”
Collier believes that the “three D’s” are paramount to being a successful runner on the team: dedication, discipline, and the desire to run.
This coaching philosophy has led to a range of highlights in his coaching career. One that stood out to him was the 2001 season, in which the Roosevelt cross country team won Metros and then went on to state. He adds, “It was great because I didn’t believe we did it.”
Although Collier is retiring from his position with cross country, he plans on continuing to coach track this upcoming spring season. “It was time for cross country because, you know, I did all that I could do and I want to pass it on to someone else,” Collier explains. “Hopefully they can keep that going, and it’s just time to focus on one thing.”
Beyond the athletic program he’s built, Collier has also created a tight-knit community within the team at Roosevelt. “The team is always like a family, you know, especially in boys’ cross country,” he says.
When reflecting on his time in the sport, Hutchinson says he’s thankful for the people he’s gotten to meet as a result of Collier’s contributions to shaping the team. “Over the last four years there’s such an amazing group of people I’ve gotten to know.” With a new coach taking over, Hutchinson hopes that traditions within the team and their deep sense of family will be here to stay as the program continues to evolve.
When asked what Boyle would tell Collier, he says, “I would say thank you for the last four years. I can’t really imagine the team as it is without him and it will be interesting to see what happens in the future and how the team develops without him.”
While the boys’ team will be moving on with a new coach going into their next competitive season, it’s clear that the team appreciates Collier for his dedication and devotion to Roosevelt cross country.
