POCATELLO, Idaho- This Fall,
Brian Janssen will begin his 23rd season as the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach. Notably, Janssen coached Erica Wendt-Richardson to the first Big Sky Women's Cross Country Championship in Idaho State history in 2010. Last season, he led the women's team to a second-place finish at the Big Sky Cross Country Championships. Janssen is also an assistant track and field coach over distance runners.
What initially sparked your interest in track and field?
Well, I was fast. I actually didn't run track in high school—I was just kind of training for an intramural track meet in college when the track coach saw me. He asked me to come out and run track. That's how I got started. I mean, I always like to run, but I didn't run competitively until I was a sophomore in college.
When was your first coaching opportunity?
My first coaching job was as a graduate assistant at Western States College the year after I graduated.
Who has been the most influential person in your career as either an athlete or coach?
A coach from Adams State. I grew up coaching against his teams. He was someone you copied because his teams were so successful.
What's the most rewarding part of coaching?
For me, knowing how much fun it is to compete and deal with that and watching kids having those same emotions and enjoying something that you enjoy and are so passionate about.
What has been your proudest moment as a coach?
There have been a lot of them. We've had some pretty successful kids here. I think possibly my best moment has been with my daughter, watching her truly enjoy running. We did a long run up in the Teton area and it was fun. Once again, its finding someone who enjoys what you enjoy and is passionate about something that is so important to you.
Outside of track and field/cross country, what are your other interests and hobbies?
Currently, my other interest is dance. That's been something that I've been very into over the past year.
Can you say a little more about the dancing?
I got started a little over a year ago with a little 'Dancing with the Stars' deal. I was a bit of a clutz, but I ended up with a pretty good teacher. I've found that it's something that I really enjoy. I do ballroom and Latin, and I'm still not very good at it, but I'm getting better.
And the school website has you listed as the Ballroom Dance Club advisor?
I'm the advisor which means I don't do much coaching, but the Ballroom and Latin Dance Club needed an ISU staff member to be the advisor. So, I stepped up.
What kind of activities do you do with that team?
During the summer, actually, during most of the school year, we meet every Tuesday in Reed Gym for just kind of an open dance thing. We have different people come and teach different dances. So every week, people show up and sometimes its tango and sometimes its waltz or cha-cha.
