Eileen and Jim Kilbreth, cross country and track and field coaches at Spartanburg High School resigned Nov. 17, making the announcement at the school's cross country award ceremony.
Jim Kilbreth started to coach in 1965 at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill. Jim Kilbreth took the time to answer a few questions.
scrunners: What made you decide to resign this year?
kilbreth: By completing 28 years, we could retire, and still be able to get employment. We would like to finally end up in the Charleston area and this will give us a head start.
scrunners: Making the announcement at the Nov. 17 award ceremony, what was the reaction of the audience?
kilbreth: The reaction was simply shock and disbelief that we were leaving Spartanburg.
scrunners: How many years did you coach at Spartanburg?
kilbreth: I coached and was athletic director from 1978 to the present.
scrunners: When and where did you start to coach?
kilbreth: I began my coaching career at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill. in 1965.
scrunners: Are you looking to continue coaching?
kilbreth: Yes, I hope to be able to continue coaching at another school.
scrunners: What else in your plans for the future?
kilbreth: The plans are to continue teaching math and coaching cross country/track.
scrunners: What will you remember the most from being a coach at Spartanburg?
kilbreth: There are just too many good things to put into print about our experiences at Spartanburg High School. Being around athletes who want to excel and the support from the community and administration will never be forgotten.
scrunners: Over the years, as running and the sports of cross country and track and field continue to improve, what major factors have you seen in why these changes are occuring?
kilbreth: The changes I have seen in track and cross country since 1978 have been wonderful. The coaching in both sports has been improving each year, and the number of quality programs gets bigger and better each season. I hope I have helped in that regard.
scrunners: How many hours on an average week did you spend with coaching responsibilities?
kilbreth: I do not ever count the hours I have to put in to get things done..........if you want a competitive program, you do whatever it takes.
scrunners: What other areas of Spartanburg High were influenced by your work?
kilbreth: I was given the responsibility of being in charge of all football ticket sales, from varsity games to both junior varsity and ninth grade games, keeping the varsity girls and boys basketball scorebooks, and keeping the clock for home wrestling matches. It was a great situation to be able to see the many good teams we have at Spartanburg.
scrunners: As a coach and role model to athletes, what was your biggest challenge as a coach?
kilbreth: The biggest challenges were in the areas of doing the "right thing" at all times,and getting the runners sold on what it takes to be successful. Many think success in running just comes naturally and do not realize it takes time and dedication to become a very good runner.
scrunners: How did you motivate athletes to achieve their best on a daily basis in life, academics and athletics?
kilbreth: I always tried to set the example by not missing a practice and telling the runners every day that each of them cannot afford to let down in any practice. Such things as being on time, doing your best in the classroom ,doing the "right thing," and never missing practice, etc. all have carry-over value to what happens in your future life. They are simply "life skills" and should be talked about every day. There are parents in Spartanburg who think their sons were pushed too hard...........but they found out later that their sons could do what is necessary to succeed and learned that they can come through under pressure.
Want to share your thoughts and have them posted underneath this article on Eileen and Jim Kilbreth? E-mail your comments to john@scrunners.com. scrunners.com reserves the right to edit and refuse comments.
Jim Kilbreth started to coach in 1965 at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill. Jim Kilbreth took the time to answer a few questions.
scrunners: What made you decide to resign this year?
kilbreth: By completing 28 years, we could retire, and still be able to get employment. We would like to finally end up in the Charleston area and this will give us a head start.
scrunners: Making the announcement at the Nov. 17 award ceremony, what was the reaction of the audience?
kilbreth: The reaction was simply shock and disbelief that we were leaving Spartanburg.
scrunners: How many years did you coach at Spartanburg?
kilbreth: I coached and was athletic director from 1978 to the present.
| "The changes I have seen in track and cross country since 1978 have been wonderful. The coaching in both sports has been improving each year, and the number of quality programs gets bigger and better each season. I hope I have helped in that regard." --Jim Kilbreth |
scrunners: When and where did you start to coach?
kilbreth: I began my coaching career at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill. in 1965.
scrunners: Are you looking to continue coaching?
kilbreth: Yes, I hope to be able to continue coaching at another school.
scrunners: What else in your plans for the future?
kilbreth: The plans are to continue teaching math and coaching cross country/track.
scrunners: What will you remember the most from being a coach at Spartanburg?
kilbreth: There are just too many good things to put into print about our experiences at Spartanburg High School. Being around athletes who want to excel and the support from the community and administration will never be forgotten.
scrunners: Over the years, as running and the sports of cross country and track and field continue to improve, what major factors have you seen in why these changes are occuring?
kilbreth: The changes I have seen in track and cross country since 1978 have been wonderful. The coaching in both sports has been improving each year, and the number of quality programs gets bigger and better each season. I hope I have helped in that regard.
scrunners: How many hours on an average week did you spend with coaching responsibilities?
kilbreth: I do not ever count the hours I have to put in to get things done..........if you want a competitive program, you do whatever it takes.
scrunners: What other areas of Spartanburg High were influenced by your work?
kilbreth: I was given the responsibility of being in charge of all football ticket sales, from varsity games to both junior varsity and ninth grade games, keeping the varsity girls and boys basketball scorebooks, and keeping the clock for home wrestling matches. It was a great situation to be able to see the many good teams we have at Spartanburg.
scrunners: As a coach and role model to athletes, what was your biggest challenge as a coach?
kilbreth: The biggest challenges were in the areas of doing the "right thing" at all times,and getting the runners sold on what it takes to be successful. Many think success in running just comes naturally and do not realize it takes time and dedication to become a very good runner.
scrunners: How did you motivate athletes to achieve their best on a daily basis in life, academics and athletics?
kilbreth: I always tried to set the example by not missing a practice and telling the runners every day that each of them cannot afford to let down in any practice. Such things as being on time, doing your best in the classroom ,doing the "right thing," and never missing practice, etc. all have carry-over value to what happens in your future life. They are simply "life skills" and should be talked about every day. There are parents in Spartanburg who think their sons were pushed too hard...........but they found out later that their sons could do what is necessary to succeed and learned that they can come through under pressure.
Want to share your thoughts and have them posted underneath this article on Eileen and Jim Kilbreth? E-mail your comments to john@scrunners.com. scrunners.com reserves the right to edit and refuse comments.