The Watauga High track, where Thomas McDonough coached athletes for 9 years.
Whether through spending time on the Cross Country or Track team or just through his well-known positive attitude, everyone seems to know Coach Thomas McDonough. He’s been a coach for 9 years and has been an integral part of the success of the running programs at Watauga. The beloved coach has been promoted to head coach of the Cross Country and Track and Field programs at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina.
“I will be the assistant Track and Field and Cross Country coach at Lees-McRae, focusing on sprinting, hurdles, jumps, and throwing,” McDonough announced at the Cross Country team’s end-of-season banquet.
McDonough’s passion for running and coaching has been evident since he was a student athlete himself.
“I've been around coaches and the sport since birth. I've been running in some form since kindergarten,” said McDonough. “I really got excited about it when we ran the mile in 3rd grade. I started coaching Cross Country in 2014 and started Track in 2015.”
McDonough is known for his dedication to his athletes and his ability to develop them into top performers.
“[Coaching] has meant everything to me,” McDonough said. “I love seeing people find their strength and it's something that has taken me on some amazing adventures. I didn't expect to be a coach when I left college, but it's the first job I’ve ever had that doesn’t feel like work. It's hard sometimes, but it's something that I enjoy throwing myself into.”
McDonough’s experience and passion for coaching will undoubtedly inspire his athletes to reach new heights both on and off the field. He also encourages everyone interested in running to take a chance and try it out.
“Progress isn't linear and never has been,” McDonough advises. “Don't measure your progress against others. Find a way to enjoy it. A lot of people hate running because they start off too fast. You want to do most of your daily running at a pace you can have full conversations at. A running buddy, a group, or a super awesome team is a huge way to hold yourself accountable and give you people to talk to while you run. It's a sport of momentum: keep building it day to day and focus on being consistent over heroic efforts. Always remember you don't train to make it painless: you train to tolerate the pain.”
McDonough’s promotion to assistant coach at Lees-McRae College is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and passion for coaching. His impact on the Cross Country and Track programs at Watauga will not be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to inspire athletes for years to come.
McDonough final piece of advice is, “Don't wait for motivation to take action; motivation comes with action. Don't wait for results to start believing in yourself; believe in yourself first, and the results will come.”
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