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AR: Where'd you go after high school, what was your major?

JB: After high school I went to Siena College to pursue a major in history education. I fell in love with the campus and community and had a great four years there.

AR: I understand you teach Social Studies at GCHS. What made you decide to go into teaching?

JB: I think by the time I was a junior in high school I had made up my mind that I wanted to teach. I was really influenced by teachers like Herr Fuchs who brought a lot of stories and life lessons into their teaching. I can’t think of anything in the world I would rather do than work with young people.

AR: How'd you feel about coming back to teach at your former HS? Was that weird at all?

JB: Haha, good question! I’m extremely excited to be back at Guilderland. I feel really blessed to be in this district. There are a few weird things about coming back, such as calling my former teachers by their first names, and sometimes walking through the halls I get this eerie feeling that I’m late for class...but G-land is always going to be home to me.

AR: Cool, had you thought at all about coaching? How'd this all come to fruition? Did Coach Oates approach you?

JB: I think as I began pursuing teaching, coaching was always in the back of my mind. My grandfather was the head baseball coach at UAlbany for years and was always a big inspiration to me. I also felt like coaching was the best way to connect with students on a deeper level. Earlier this year Coach Oates had approached me about this position and about being mentored by him and I felt like this was an absolute once in a lifetime opportunity.

AR: What are some of the things you're most excited about as you become a part of the coaching staff?

JB: I’m most excited about rejoining the X-country community at Guilderland, but also having the opportunity to work with Coach Oates and learn about the other side of the sport that I didn’t get to see as a runner.

AR: What sort of issues worry you most as you make the transition to head coach?

JB: I try not to let many things worry me. I’m a fast learner and I have a great passion for this sport. I know that the journey I am
starting this fall will be a long and challenging one, but I’m excited at the prospect of joining the legacy that Coach Drake and Coach Oates have left behind.

AR: How would you describe your training philosophy? Will you stick to workouts similar to what you had when you were a runner or change it in any way?

JB: I believe that a runner’s greatest strength is his or her will to mentally push beyond the strains of fatigue. The best way to
accomplish that is to practice with a certain degree of exertion, but not to the extent that we might harm or exhaust ourselves. I think that coaches in former years have done a tremendous job of finding that balance and runners can expect to see many workouts similar to those in the past. However, I have been known to improvise on the spot and can make no promises about my spontaneity.

AR: With coaching changes in the past we've seen coaches change the home course at Tawasentha. Do you have any plans to do so?

JB: I think that this is a decision that will collectively involve the entire coaching staff, but my feeling as of right now is that the
course is well designed and suited to challenge runners and still be fun.

AR: What about the schedule? Do you plan to keep the same invitationals or perhaps travel to any new ones?

JB: It’s hard to say at this point what the next few years will bring in terms of the schedule. I like the relationships that we have
built over the years with different schools and organizations, but you never know what new and exciting venues might pop up.

AR: Do you have any plans to become involved with the track teams?

JB: At this point I’m limiting myself to modified track at FMS, but somewhere down the road I would love to increase my involvement at the high school level.

AR: What kind of vision do you have for the future of the program? NTN just announced that NY will have it's own region. Do you think we'll ever see a Guilderland team eventually qualify for that?

JB: I think that we can always expect this program to grow and with each year there comes the potential for talent and training to achieve new heights. There is no doubt that we will continue to challenge our runners to make the best of themselves and with that in mind, the sky is the limit. If Nike decides to give NY our own region then I would love to set our aims on putting together a qualifying team for the future. Having lived my whole life here, there is no question that Guilderland students can do anything they desire if they commit themselves to it.

AR: What would you like to say to the current runners who may be pessimistic about your joining the staff?

JB: Coach Oates once gathered us before an invitational in the dank locker room of the Guilderland Public Pool and imparted these words of wisdom on us. “Your life is a gift from the Creator. Your gift back to the Creator is what you do with your life.” Some runners may recognize this Billy Mills quote. My runners should know that I devote myself 110% to everything that I do, and coaching will certainly never be an exception.

AR: Thanks for your time Jason! We look forward to having you join the staff and being an active online member!

Coach Burlingame can be reached at burlingamej@guilderlandschools.org if you have any questions for him!

Head Boys Coach Bob Oates has announced that the fall 2007 season will be his last in a coaching capacity. After twelve seasons at the helm of the Guilderland XC team, he has decided to step down from his position and focus on his family and truly being retired. While Oates has pledged to continue prepping the course for home meets and help organize the annual Invitational, he has appointed a former runner and current teacher as his replacement. Jason Burlingame will serve as an Assistant Coach this fall then become Guilderland's seventh Head Boys Coach in the fall 2008. We recently caught up with Mr. Burlingame to get to know the future of Guilderland XC!

Andrew Rickert (AR): I understand you are a former runner! What are some of your favorite memories from running on the team?

Jason Burlingame (JB): A lot of things quickly come to mind, but to name a few: catching a rabbit by hand during practice at Tawasentha, capture the flag, Coach Oates’ motivational speeches, team stretches. I think in general there was a lot of laughter and a sense of community
and hard work.

AR: What were you like in high school?

JB: I feel like I was pretty well rounded. I always had good grades and a lot of close friends. I really enjoyed track and cross country, but I had a really goofy side too and was always exercising my humor.