COURTNEY PRICE
Staff Writer
Robert Radnoti is not your typical power-tripping coach. You will not find him running his team out of vengeance or screaming obscenities. Many agree that the head cross country coach is a caring person who values the relationships he’s built over the years, especially through running.
While leaving an NCAA function, former cross country and track coach Dick Kampmann and his then-assistant Radnoti were behaving so amicably, they were asked by a stranger if they were father and son. Radnoti, who is taking a retiring Kampmann’s place as head coach for the cross country and track programs, was immensely flattered by the situation.
“Coach Kampmann and I have become very close,” Radnoti said. “He is one of my best friend. I expect it to be that way for a long time. It’s become an incredibly great relationship.”
Kampmann, who remains a volunteer assistant coach, has brought the cross country and track programs to a respectable place. He was named West Coast Conference women’s “Coach of the Year” in 1999 and also named “Coach of the Year” by the university in 1993-94.
“Robert brings success,” Kampmann said when he hired Radnoti as an assistant. “He is a solid, blue chip coach who will be a tremendous asset in recruiting and fund-raising, as well as in the overall day-to-day operations of the track program, as well as coaching on the track.”
Radnoti used to work for Exxon Company in Los Angeles, where he founded, coached and competed on the corporate track team. At the 1981 Runner’s World Magazine’s Corporate Cup Relays, he met his wife, Jan, who captained and competed with the Adolph Coors Company team.
Radnoti has two children, Kristina and Tom, where he found his motivation.
“I wanted to coach my kids — this is what inspired me to leave my full-time chemical engineering job at Exxon to coach,” Radnoti said.
He enjoyed coaching all of their American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) teams and was able to coach Kristina and Tom on their high school cross country and track teams.
“A kid’s spirit is contagious at any age: elementary, high school and college,” he said. “Each age brings forth a newfound spirit.”
Here at Pepperdine, he applies the same idea. He feels that it is crucial to establish a Division I mindset amongs the runners. Changing their mental outlook will elevate the program and generate success. Coaching is finding a way to motivate the runners to spark the motivation in themselves, Radnoti said.
The affects of this philosophy take form through the positive morale of the runners, and the overall success of the team.
Courtney Young, a junior runner on the women’s cross country team, has already been impacted by Radnoti’s ideals in her first year on the team.
“He’s very personal, almost like a father figure,” Young said. “He’ll answer all your questions. He doesn’t just care about you as a runner, but as a person as well. That’s his best quality.”
Athletic Director John Watson described the qualities that he sees in Radnoti that aided him in making his appointment decision.
“His experience, commitment to a strong training program and growing the sport, his strong reputation in California, his commitment to academics and graduation, and his strong endorsement by references,” Watson said. “He will bring energy, passion for the sports, commitment to individual development and growth, and realistic expectations for success.”
Radnoti’s previous coaching job was as head coach for the Thousand Oaks High School cross country and track teams. He was named LA Times High School Coach of the Year after leading the cross country team to the state title in 2005. He also received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the California Coaches Alliance in 2000. Radnoti ran for the University of Colorado, which has one of the best running programs in the nation.
Though he leaves behind prestige programs, he is very content with his position.
“There is nothing else I would want to do other than coach cross country and track at Pepperdine,” Radnoti said. “No place else I would rather be. The only improvement would be to have a house in Malibu near the beach.”
Radnoti is looking toward the future for cross country and track. A short-term goal of his is to defeat Loyola Marymount University in a league meet, and to defeat Portland in the long run. He is highly anticipating the women’s track season, as he is looking for more members to expand the program.
Radnoti takes extreme pride in being a part of Pepperdine athletics.
“The friendship and camaraderie is incredible,” he said. “I’m so happy to be part of a united team.”
11-09-2006
