National honor for Flathead coach Jorgensen
Paul Jorgensen likes to say that if you hang around long enough, you're bound to get recognized.
Well, that might be somewhat true, but it also doesn't hurt to have a successful coaching record. And that's what really earned Jorgensen the National Boys' Cross Country Coach of the Year honor. The announcement came last week from Colorado Springs, Colo., at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association convention.
Jorgensen did not attend the festivities.
"I've been nominated before, and I've been in the final group five times," Jorgensen said.
"Some of those were for girls (cross country), too.
"It's tough (to win it)," he said.
"And after 35 years, I must have moved up into the ranks of people who have been around for a long time."
Jorgensen's record speaks for itself. The FHS boys have won 11 state championships under his watch. He has had eight individual state champions.
Four of his runners - David Vidal, Seth Watkins and Brett Winegar and Zoe Nelson - competed in the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. Nelson won the national championship in 2002.
The Braves have been nationally ranked four times, holding the No. 2 position in 2000.
"I've been pretty lucky with the talent we've had here at Kalispell," Jorgensen said.
"I've had some kids with ability, but kids who also worked hard."
Jorgensen has been named Montana Coaches Association (MCA) Coach of the Year 25 times, 12 for boys' cross country.
He is a member of the National Coaches Hall of Fame in cross country and is in the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame.
"I really don't coach for the awards," Jorgensen said.
"The kids and the success they have is reward enough for me."
Jorgensen says he has been blessed with an assortment of talented paid assistant coaches - Fred Longhart, Bill Brist, Mary Ann Arnone, Shannon Thompson, Nick Hanson, Luke Johnson, and Jesse Rumsey - and many volunteers over the years.
"I've definitely learned from them and they might have learned from me; I don't know," Jorgensen said.
Jeannie Jorgensen, Paul's wife, has also been a big factor in the program's success. She coaches cross country in the junior high ranks, getting the kids involved in running and enjoying it.
"She's a big part of our program, of our success," he said.
"She relates very well with the kids."
Jorgensen said 43 athletes, boys and girls, from FHS have run cross country or track at the college level during his stay.
"I'm proud of that fact," he said.
"I'm also proud of our runners who aren't as successful, but who have come out and worked hard every day. They are successful by improving and getting better."
Jorgensen is the second straight Montana coach to get the national honor for boys' cross country. Browning's Randy Sheppard won it last year. He's also the second coach from Flathead to be named. Joe McKay won it for track.
Whitefish High School's Terry Nelson has received it for his achievements in golf.
Other previous winners from Montana are: Jug Beck, wrestling; Ralph Halvorson, track; Jack McGowan, track; Roger Megerth, tennis; John Polich, track; Richard Lindgren, tennis; and Jim Street, wrestling.
"I know I've put a lot of time into it," Jorgensen said of coaching.
"It's nice to be recognized for it.
"I now spend more time coaching in the off-season than the season," he added.
"To be successful anymore, you have to outwork your competition."
Flathead boys' track coach Dan Hodge and Flathead swim coach Paul Stelter were also finalists for National Coach of the Year awards.
The MCA honors coaches for the national award.