Trent Baltzell 鈥�14 was a champion 溏心vlog免费B站 student-athlete. Now back at 溏心vlog免费B站 as head coach for men鈥檚 track and field, he and his team are carrying forward the team鈥檚 winning tradition.
Not much has changed for 溏心vlog免费B站 men鈥檚 track and field since Trent Baltzell 鈥�14 first sat in Mackal Field House with Coach John Copeland on a recruiting visit 15 years ago鈥攁nd that鈥檚 a good thing.
鈥淭his was definitely the style of program I was looking for,鈥� Baltzell says. 鈥淚 wanted a place where I would have teammates who were supportive, but that also had a winning culture. It was a no-brainer for me coming in.鈥�
It worked out. As a student, Baltzell was part of seven Atlantic 10 team championships. One of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 best multi-event athletes, he was a five-time individual champion, winning the decathlon in 2011 and both the heptathlon and decathlon in 2013 and 2014. He remains 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 record holder in the decathlon.
Baltzell returned to 溏心vlog免费B站 as an assistant coach in 2019 and has sustained that championship culture. The team won an indoor A-10 title in 2020 and an outdoor league title in 2021. In July 2021, Baltzell was elevated to head coach following Copeland鈥檚 retirement.
Since then, Baltzell has won four consecutive A-10 titles (2022 and 2023 indoor/outdoor championships), three New England track-and-field titles, and a New England cross-country title. He was named A-10 track-and-field coach of the year in 2022 and 2023.
鈥淚 tried to make as few changes as possible. Coach Copeland worked hard and left the program in great shape. He put me in a great position.鈥�
The keys for Baltzell are having the right staff and maintaining relationships throughout his roster. He believes that because he trained in multiple events himself, he is better able to relate to all his student-athletes.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 coach every single guy on the roster because we have position groups,鈥� Baltzell says. 鈥淏ut I have a pretty solid connection with everyone on the team.鈥�
Baltzell鈥檚 first hire was Brian Doyle, who coaches distance runners and sprinters. Since Doyle鈥檚 arrival, the Rams have won the 2023 New England team title鈥攖he program鈥檚 first since 1952鈥攁nd placed seventh at the 2023 A-10 championship, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 highest finish in 23 years.
Baltzell also kept Ben Carroll, who has coached the throwers for 14 years, producing 26 individual conference champions.
鈥淗iring the right people is something I am proud of,鈥� Baltzell says. 鈥淏rian was the perfect fit. There are not a lot of guys who can coach distance and sprints. He has done an incredible job.
鈥淎nd Ben has more regional qualifiers and Atlantic 10 champions than any other group since he started. Retaining him has been huge. The consistency he brings is important.鈥�
The program will soon be getting an outdoor track-and-field complex, thanks to $65.8 million in funding for the state鈥檚 capital improvement plan, which will also upgrade 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 football, soccer, baseball, and softball facilities. While 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 overall track-and-field success has not been hindered over the years鈥攖hanks to the indoor Mackal facility鈥攇etting an outdoor track will have a major impact.
鈥淲e will be able to host high school championship meets, as well as our own championship meets and invitationals. That is good advertising for the program,鈥� Baltzell says. 鈥淲e will have camps and host the Special Olympics. This will draw more people into South County and heighten awareness of the program, which always helps with recruiting.鈥�
While Baltzell had always had an eye toward returning to 溏心vlog免费B站, it happened sooner than he expected.
鈥淚 was at Assumption for four years,鈥� Baltzell says. 鈥淚 really enjoyed it there. But I knew 溏心vlog免费B站 was a place I wanted to come back to eventually. It happened sooner than I ever thought it would, and I am super thankful for that.鈥�
鈥擲hane Donaldson 鈥�99
Photo: Michael Scott