Casey Green is taking a different approach this season. With all of the challenges and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the Bryant & Stratton College Cross Country head coach is tapering down his expectations and making sure his athletes have a season they can be proud of. 

"One of the biggest challenges is finding meets," Green said. "We've been forced to find new competition with so many schools and conferences restricting fall activities. We're going to be doing a lot of traveling this year and some of it will be overnight, which we haven't done in the past. I believe it's important to make sure we're putting the kids in a balanced season where they can feel like they are getting a true collegiate experience, while also keeping them safe."

Green expressed that his original expectations were to build off last season's success progressively. Those expectations have now changed a bit due to the circumstances surrounding this unique season.

"We had three international students that were supposed to be here this fall, but unfortunately, none of them could come because of the issues with their embassies regarding COVID. Having international kids on the team brings another level of diversity and culture that I feel is an essential team building element, it's unfortunate we won't have that this season."

 Green also pointed out that most of the Bobcats' competition this season will be unfamiliar.

"We're racing in places we've never raced before and we're racing against teams we've never seen before because of our schedule changes. I'm more focused on how our athletes can grow both individually and as a collective group over time. I'd like to have a good showing at nationals, but we also recognize we are still a very young program. I can walk away from this season feeling I did my job as the leader of this team if we can get these kids in a good place where they can have fun and feel confident about their progression as athletes."

An integral part of Green's coaching philosophy is that he develops athletes, not runners. Developing those athletes will be more efficient with a new weight room being added to BSC's campus this fall.

"I got a lot of positive development once I started lifting with regularity in college. I want these kids to be strong, fast, and agile, have vertical jump ability, and move well laterally. Even though cross country doesn't seem like something where you need to be super strong or quick, you're going to have to use those skills at some point in a race. We do a lot of work with resistance bands and medicine balls, so having a weight room facility to actually do those traditional power lifts, deadlifts, and back squats is going to make all the difference, not only in performance, but also in health and making sure they don't get injured."

The Bobcats start the season September 12 in Hastings, Neb.