Men's cross country coach, a rock star away from field
Taylor Poulin
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: Sports
"At Boston, Bill Squires incepted in me that I was a marathon runner," said the husband and father of two.
Since their meeting, Gregory has run 54 marathons, 17 at Boston and 12 at Los Angeles.
Leaving UMASS Boston with a bachelor's degree in exercise science, he started his coaching career at Notre Dame High School, an all-girls catholic school in Hingham, Mass., in 1989. In his one year of coaching, he led the girls to place third at the state championships.
Moving back to California once again, and under different circumstances, he took coaching jobs year-to-year until he found a home at East Lake High School in 1992. In 1995, he moved to Grossmont High School for three years until making his community college debut at Cuyamaca Community College. In his three years there, he had an outstanding track record, leading the 2000 women's team to third at championships.
In 2002, he took thecoaching position at Southwestern College, where he stayed for five years. During his five seasons, he led the women's team to Pacific Coast Conference Championships five years straight.
In the fall of 2007, he accepted the head coaching position on campus.
"The last two years have been really rocky for us, but this is the best team I've had," Gregory said. "All have been recruited and most have been running competitively for four to eight years."
Gregory pushes all his runners' volume and says it's easy to plan workouts since they are all in the same ability bracket.
"He's not like any other coach I've had," said Rey Rebadelloh, who is the number one runner on the team. "We connect with him so well and he's almost like our friend that we respect."
The husband, father, coach, runner and drummer doesn't let his extracurricular activities get in the way of his job as a respiratory cardiac therapist at Alvarado Hospital Medical Clinic in Mission Valley.
"This has been my base job for 18 years," Gregory said. "It helps me do everything else I do."
Gregory has much aspiration for his 2009 season. He looks to take this team to the state championships, the first team in 23 years.
"If we knock off one of the teams in the conference, then we're making history," Gregory said. "State, that's what I'm shooting for."
One of Gregory's runners turns to him as they finish their huddle before the race and says, "Hey coach! You're running with us?"
Gregory smugly responds, "Of course! You guys are just lucky I'm not in shape."
Since their meeting, Gregory has run 54 marathons, 17 at Boston and 12 at Los Angeles.
Leaving UMASS Boston with a bachelor's degree in exercise science, he started his coaching career at Notre Dame High School, an all-girls catholic school in Hingham, Mass., in 1989. In his one year of coaching, he led the girls to place third at the state championships.
Moving back to California once again, and under different circumstances, he took coaching jobs year-to-year until he found a home at East Lake High School in 1992. In 1995, he moved to Grossmont High School for three years until making his community college debut at Cuyamaca Community College. In his three years there, he had an outstanding track record, leading the 2000 women's team to third at championships.
In 2002, he took thecoaching position at Southwestern College, where he stayed for five years. During his five seasons, he led the women's team to Pacific Coast Conference Championships five years straight.
In the fall of 2007, he accepted the head coaching position on campus.
"The last two years have been really rocky for us, but this is the best team I've had," Gregory said. "All have been recruited and most have been running competitively for four to eight years."
Gregory pushes all his runners' volume and says it's easy to plan workouts since they are all in the same ability bracket.
"He's not like any other coach I've had," said Rey Rebadelloh, who is the number one runner on the team. "We connect with him so well and he's almost like our friend that we respect."
The husband, father, coach, runner and drummer doesn't let his extracurricular activities get in the way of his job as a respiratory cardiac therapist at Alvarado Hospital Medical Clinic in Mission Valley.
"This has been my base job for 18 years," Gregory said. "It helps me do everything else I do."
Gregory has much aspiration for his 2009 season. He looks to take this team to the state championships, the first team in 23 years.
"If we knock off one of the teams in the conference, then we're making history," Gregory said. "State, that's what I'm shooting for."
One of Gregory's runners turns to him as they finish their huddle before the race and says, "Hey coach! You're running with us?"
Gregory smugly responds, "Of course! You guys are just lucky I'm not in shape."
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posted 2/18/10 @ 12:08 AM PST
I like this news.
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posted 3/10/10 @ 9:04 AM PST
Wow, he is certainly an accomplished runner, and it's cool that he took time to pursue his passion for drumming too.
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