DANIELLE COMBS
Staff Writer
From the moment he wakes up until the second he drifts off to sleep, this man has just one passion: running. He’s Pepperdine’s Robert Radnoti, and to say he is driven is an understatement.
The Pepperdine track coach wakes up before the sun even rises and reads e-mails only to ensure his runners are happy and healthy, and that his new prospects will join the Pepperdine track team.
At 7: 30 a.m. track practice starts and Coach Radnoti is explaining drills, healthy eating habits and visualization methods that will help improve the skills of his runners.
After practice Radnoti heads back to his office and waits for a promising young recruit or continues to think of more ideas to better his track program. Radnoti often stays late to finish answering e-mails and work with each runner individually to ensure they are able to perform to the best of their ability.
“ He is really passionate,” said sprinter Grace Lanier “He really cares about running and having him as my coach is an opportunity to experience his passion for the sport.”
At the end of the day Radnoti is a man with one dream. “To be the best running program in the nation,” he stated.
Before Radnoti became Pepperdine’s track coach he worked as a chemical engineer for Exxon. While at Exxon he created a worldwide corporate track and field team, which he coached for 17 years. After ending his successful run at Exxon he became head coach for Thousand Oaks high school in 1998.
As head coach for Thousand Oaks Radnoti’s track and field team scored a record of 209-12, while his cross country team was 416-17. His greatest achievement, though, came in 2005 when he led the girls’ cross country team to the Division I California State Championship.
Radnoti dedicates much of his free time to helping others in community service projects. This year the track team will travel to Florida and volunteer at a Christian school for young children. He has also set up a fundraiser for Project Serve in which a track meet will be held at the Malibu Country Club against UCLA.
Radnoti, who is well known for his kind heart, determination and love for running, learned all these qualities from his parents. As a child he came to America from Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. He came from a family with very humble beginnings, his father worked as a box boy at a local grocery store. He spoke no English and was submersed into the culture until he finally began to speak English when he was in elementary school.
“My parents are my role models,” said Radnoti. “They taught me the value of hard work in all you do”. Through his parents he learned to always follow his passions. It seems that ever since his parents told him to do what he loves Radnoti has never given up his dreams.
In high school Radnoti was a cross country phenomena at Greeley West High in Colorado. He was a school record-holder in the 880, mile, 2 mile, as well as cross country. He was the runner-up in the 1975 state Cross Country Championships and he also placed third in the mile and fourth in 880 in the 1976 State Track & Field Championships.
Radnoti’s success continued after high school when he was accepted into the University of Colorado, well known for its prestigious distance-running program.
While running for Colorado he led an impressive track career that consisted of him becoming a four-year varsity letterman, a member of four straight Big Eight Cross Country championship teams, competing in two NCAA cross country championship events. Then in 1980 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
With such an impressive record it only seemed fit that Radnoti would take the head coaching position at Pepperdine. “When I stepped on Pepperdine’s campus I felt a spiritual connection, a feeling of love, and I knew it was the right place for me,” said Radnoti.
“What’s great about him is he has a never ending desire to learn, a creative business mind, he’s competitive and besides developing his runners as athletes he strives for them to learn life lessons,” said wife Jan Radnoti.
Distance runner Page Knudsen agrees. “It’s only his third year here and he’s doing a great job at building this program. He is personable and not only does he want you to do well for the team but he wants you to do well for yourself.”
It seems that a man with this much drive, passion and heart will surely succeed in his quest for greatness.
04-10-2008
