A coach\u2019s job is to instruct athletes in their respective sports. However, an exceptional coach goes beyond what is expected and helps athletes outside of practices, games and meets. For Mesa Allison, Steve Guymon and Don Hood are both exceptional coaches.<\/p>\n
Guymon, head track and field coach, helped Mesa Allison, a Harding alumnus find his dream job: the position of head cross country and assistant track coach for LeTourneau University, which will be competing in Searcy at tomorrow\u2019s Harding invitational. In addition, LeTourneau\u2019s head track and field coach is Don Hood, who previously ran against Guymon and has a daughter at Harding. It is also the first year LeTourneau has had a track and field program.<\/p>\n
The Harding Invitational will take place on Saturday, March 24 with five other teams. Rhodes College, Hendrix College, Southern Arkansas University and Christian Brothers University will bring teams, and William\u2019s Baptist University will bring a partial team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a home meet gives the athletes the chance to showcase their talents to their friends and families,\u201d Guymon said. \u201cI think this is something the athletes definitely look forward to each year, because we only have one home meet each year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Track and field meets are unique from other sporting events because they host several schools. Hood said having meets against other Christian schools provides good competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be good, we have to compete against good programs,\u201d Hood said. \u201cHarding is a great school to compete against. It is just refreshing to have clean competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hood said he is looking forward to growing the program at LeTourneau and through his connection with Guymon, has been able to find the perfect fit for Allison.<\/p>\n
\u201cMesa has a really positive attitude,\u201d Hood said. \u201cHe is strong in his faith, and he has fresh ideas to bring. Besides this, he is also a very successful athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allison, just having graduated in December, is looking forward to the opportunity but also reflects back fondly on his time at Harding.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, I am excited to be going to LeTourneau and the change,\u201d Allison said. \u201cI\u2019m OK with leaving here, but I will definitely miss things about Harding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allison said he will miss the Harding track team and the environment, but hopes to create the same atmosphere at LeTourneau. He said he hopes to make it a second home, like Harding\u2019s track team was to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth coach Hood and coach Guymon are light hearted and always able to lighten the mood,\u201d Allison said. \u201cThey lead with joy. Both also have the personality that everyone has a place on the team. I\u2019m getting a well-rounded aspect of what coaching in college should be like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allison said both programs are very Christ-centered. Even though he is moving on to the next chapter of his life, Harding will always remain a special place for him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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