SCOTT DOWNEY
Special to The Leader
Fredonia’s cross country coach and alumnus Thomas Wilson has been named as the 2015 SUNYAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. According the Fredonia Athletic website, it is the first time a Fredonia coach has won the award since SUNYAC began awarding it in 1997. It is based on a vote from his coaching peers.
Wilson was born in Wheatfield, New York, a small town near Niagara Falls. After graduating from Niagara Wheatfield Central High School, he attended college at Alfred State for two years before coming to Fredonia for another two years. He graduated in 2002 with a double major in computer science and graphic design.
Right up to his junior year of college, he competed in cross country, track and field, and wrestling. During his senior year he focused on running, with a personal best 15’ 9” in the pole vault and 1:54 in the 800-meter run according to the Fredonia Blue Devils website.
For almost 10 years, he volunteered at Fredonia as the pole vault instructor and assistant coach, until 2011 when the former coach had to leave mid-season. Wilson accepted this position because he knew what an honor it was, and he could not fail at it. Just five months after Wilson became Head Coach, he was awarded the 2011 SUNYAC Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, the Fredonia website said.
When asked about how he feels when one of his runners succeeds, Wilson proved his modesty by quickly taking the conversation back to his athletes.
“I have had a lot of [athletes] become All-American,” Wilson said. “It is almost surreal when it happens. It is such a long drawn out process from when the kids start running in June. It is pretty emotional, more for them than for me [because] I knew they could do it.”
Wilson guided three Blue Devils to the NCAA Division III cross country championship this year after they finished in the top 10 in the NCAA Atlantic Regionals. The nationals took place on the Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wisconsin last Saturday.
Senior Collin Mulcahy sat out almost all of last season due to a leg fracture from over milage. He was running up to 75 miles a week and that killed his legs. Wilson worked up a personal training program for him. Mulcahy was one of the three runners in the NCAA Championship.
“He is a player’s coach,” said Mulcahy. “He is always willing to meet with you … his door is always open. [Wilson] has completely changed the culture of this program from top to bottom bringing in a winning attitude. I think the team is only going to get better with [Wilson] leading the way.”
Senior Kyle Collins was another runner who competed in the NCAA Championship and explained his relationship with Wilson as a coach. Wilson’s coaching style is that of a mentor that boosts confidence and helps the athletes help themselves.
“[Wilson] has helped me so much, mentally and physically,” Collins said. “He shown me how to really bite down and run a collegiate race and how to build my team bonding. There is no real word to describe how grateful I am for what he has done to give me the opportunity to come here and race against all these amazing runners and be part of the SUNYAC community.”
Laura Morrison, a senior cross country runner, was the first Lady Devil to run in the women’s nationals since 2002 after finishing 10th.
Wilson has built his program around leadership and teamwork. Wilson allows team captains to take control of the team and steps back himself. Once people get together with the same goal and get on the same page, every athlete can shine.
“That is what I have seen here. That is what I laid down,” said Wilson. “You don’t have to be a state champion for me to recruit you. I want my athletes to come to Fredonia, do the best they can and run for fun. If you are running for fun, chances are everyone is…and you are watching your team do better as a collective group instead of a sporadic individual.”
Wilson now lives in Fredonia with his wife and two children.
“I am proud to be an alumni and coaching here,” Wilson said, “the same place I had my successes.”