a new Don A new coach brought his experience to the track and field team. Cross-country and track saw a new face on the coaching staff for the 2019-20 season when Head Cross-Country and Track Coach Don Hood joined the team. Hood replaced Steve Guymon, who coached the team for 17 seasons and led them to 25 conference championships. Hood said he looked forward to his first season at Harding with enthusiasm but hoped to continue the successes of the team. "You guys are kind of intimidating," Hood said. "Most places I've been, there's been some rebuilding to do, so I can come in and kind of fix things. ... Here, I don't want to mess up because it s been so good for so long, but Coach Guymon left the program in very good shape." Hood aid, despite the changes to the team, the athletes helped smooth his transition into leadership. "What I've gotten has been just tremendous excitement and buying into it," Hood said. "There's been some adjustments, and I'm still learning how schedules work here with 90 to a hundred kids on the team.... But the kids are tremendous, and that allows me to sleep at night a whole lot better." Hood welcomed the challenge of a new team and used the knowledge he acquired as a coach at several universities before coming to Harding, including LeTourneau, Abilene Christian, Texas State and Texas Tech. There were 40 new recruits to the cross-country track team for the 2019-20 school year, including several athletes concentrating in special events. Hood said he was excited to train students in a variety of events. "With more opportunities and more scholarship, we can bring in a more diverse team," Hood said. "So now, we can bring the hurdlers, and the jumpers, and the pole vaulters and the throwers." Junior heptathlete Darcy Sanford said she was grateful Hood was knowledgeable in more than just distance running and relays. "Coach Hood has already established a higher standard of the team all around," Sanford said. "This elevates the program as our team is rising up to what is required of us. The team as a whole is learning what this looks like more every day." "This elevates the program as our team is rising up to ■ what is required ofus." Junior middle distance runner Bryce Wiedower said Hood's determination for success set the tone for the 2019-20 season. "He comes in with the mentality [that] a conference championship is just what's going to happen, like it's just going to be a byproduct," Wiedower said. "We're going to win a national championship." story by Emma Aly & Kinsey Stubblefield athletics 223
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