02/14/2026
The message is out. It's time I made this post.
Today, I say goodbye to something that has shaped my heart for so many years. Coaching cross country has never simply been a job to me — it has been a calling. It has been early mornings in the dark, chalk talks before big meets, bus rides filled with nervous energy, and finish lines where courage was written all over your faces. It has been watching you grow not only as runners, but as resilient, determined, compassionate young people.
To my athletes — thank you for trusting me. Thank you for showing up on the hard days. Thank you for running through the rain, the heat, the hills, and the doubts. You have inspired me more than you will ever know. Every mile you ran, every personal record you chased, every time you lifted up a teammate — those moments are forever etched in my heart. I may have been called “Coach,” but it is you who taught me what perseverance, teamwork, and heart truly look like.
To the spectators — parents, families, friends, and faithful supporters — thank you for standing along muddy courses and winding trails, cheering until your voices were hoarse. Thank you for sharing your children with me and for trusting me to guide them. Your support built the spirit of this program. You were the steady encouragement behind every stride they took. It is not easy to step away. There is a deep ache in knowing I won’t stand at the starting line giving last-minute reminders, or wait anxiously at the finish watching each of you fight to the end. I will miss the nervous smiles before the gun goes off. I will miss the hugs after tough races. I will miss being part of your daily growth. But I step away filled with gratitude. Grateful for every season. Every mile. Every laugh. Every lesson. This team has been a family to me, and that is something retirement can never take away. The stopwatch may be set down, but my pride in you will never fade. Keep running with courage. Keep lifting one another up. And remember — the strength you’ve built here will carry you far beyond any finish line.
With love, pride, and a full heart, Coach Lewis
