Pogue to lead Mahomet-Seymour Track and Field Program
By FRED KRONER
Athletic Director Matt Hensley didn’t need to look far to find the next Mahomet-Seymour High School boys’ track and field coach.
He was already in the building.
In fact, the new coach already has a long history with the Bulldogs’ program. Keith Pogue served as the head coach for 13 years, before stepping aside in 2014.
Even during his semi-retirement, Pogue wasn’t removed from the program.
“I’ve still been helping every year,” Pogue said, “sometimes officially (as a paid assistant) and sometimes as a volunteer.”
When the next track season starts – and it is scheduled to begin in May, 2021 – Pogue will again serve as head coach. His hiring was approved by the M-S School Board at Monday’s meeting. One of the two paid assistant positions was also filled with the selection of Neal Garrison.
Pogue originally resigned from track six years ago in order to focus more attention on the other sport where he was a head coach, football. However, he left that sport after the 2018 season, making the timing right when Todd Lafond announced his departure from track after leading the Bulldogs to top three team finishes at state in 2018 and 2019.
“It was a good time to jump back into track,” Pogue said. “I missed track.”
He will make his comeback during a trying time.
Pogue will not coach anyone who ran track outdoors in 2020. The IHSA canceled all sports last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The season will be different,” Pogue said. “We’ll run in May and through June. School will have been out for five to six weeks and we’ll keep running track.”
If school is not totally in-person by then, Pogue said coaches will face another disadvantage.
“Not being in contact with kids (on a daily basis) makes it tougher to recruit them (for a sport),” said Pogue, who hopes for a roster of at least 50 athletes when competition next gets under way.
“Being a recruiter, that’s an aspect of track that appeals to me. I’m good at conveying the benefits.”
His emphasis is not necessarily on how the sport and the training will be helpful for athletes in other sports.
“When I started, that’s how I went about it,” Pogue said, “but kids don’t have that long view.
“That’s why my No. 1 priority is to go out and have fun with a bunch of guys.”
Pogue believes that attitude helps to promote participation in the sport.
“When you have numbers, you have success and when you have success, you get the numbers,” Pogue said. “We’ll talk about having fun, enjoying practice, the time together and see what that will turn into.
“We’ll try to supply that ‘best’ experience.”
He also likes what track has to offer.
“In football, it’s ‘Did you win or lose,’ but in track you see a kid compete against himself to improve,” Pogue said. “There are so many success stories in track.”
During Pogue’s first stint as the M-S track and field head coach, he guided three teams to Class 2A sectional championships in a six-year period. Twenty-five of his athletes earned All-State honors, either individually or as part of a relay.
Part of the success can be attributed to the coaching staff that was assembled. Among the veteran coaches who joined Pogue previously were Tom Willard, Jim Risley and Gary Garrison. Neal Garrison, the Bulldogs’ cross-country head coach, also had a previous stint on the track staff.
With the exception of Neal Garrison, the remainder of the boys’ track staff for the 2021 season has not yet been finalized, but Pogue said, “we’ll put together a similarly skilled staff.”
Pogue is looking forward to reuniting with Neal Garrison.
“From my point of view, we will work well together,” Pogue said. “He has a diversity of knowledge (in different events).”
Pogue hasn’t yet made assignments on which events staff members will coach, but said, “I anticipate I will work mostly with sprinters.
“I’ve been fascinated by speed and enjoy working with speed. I have some theories on how to get faster.”
Though Neal Garrison works with distance runners in cross-country, Pogue said there are multiple areas where he could use the former collegiate hurdler.
“I want to see what his vision is,” Pogue said. “He has a vested interest in running and I’m excited to have him back.”
A former lawyer, who spent six years practicing before turning to education, Pogue is starting his 22nd year on the faculty at M-S. He teaches government and law, Advanced Placement History, World History and civics.
Also rehired on Monday by the Board of Education was Darren Tee, who will continue as the girls’ track and field head coach.
