<b>On episode 457 of Airey Bros Radio, we sit down with Coach Jeremy Provence, Head Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coach at Jacksonville State University. Coach Provence shares his journey from growing up on a rural Arkansas farm to becoming a Division I head coach, building programs at the University of the Ozarks, North Alabama, and now Jacksonville State.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>We talk recruiting diamonds in the rough, developing gritty student-athletes, creating a family culture with athletes from 14 countries, the jump from Division III to Division I, Conference USA competition, double threshold training, ultra running, trail racing, and why Jack State is a program on the rise.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>☕ Support the show (Value for Value):<br />👉<a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AireyBros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AireyBros</a></b><br /><b>🏃‍♂️ Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching: 👉<a href="https://www.blacksheependurance.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://www.blacksheependurance.com</a></b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Show Notes</b><br /><b>2:04 — Welcome to Airey Bros Radio<br />2:16 — Introducing Coach Jeremy Provence of Jacksonville State<br />3:00 — Coach Provence’s coaching resume and program-building background<br />3:50 — Where recruits can find Jacksonville State XC/TF<br />5:17 — Jacksonville State summer track &amp; field camp<br />7:09 — Through line: Coach Nathan Rankin and the Ozarks connection<br />7:37 — Coaching a dual-sport wrestling and running athlete<br />12:16 — Coach Provence’s origin story<br />12:42 — Growing up rural in Arkansas<br />14:18 — Finding cross country through basketball conditioning<br />16:18 — Running at the University of the Ozarks<br />18:25 — Falling in love with coaching as a grad assistant<br />19:35 — Recruiting athletes with similar rural, gritty backgrounds<br />20:44 — Finding diamonds in the rough<br />25:15 — From Ozarks to North Alabama to Jacksonville State<br />25:54 — Biggest differences moving from D3 to D1<br />28:39 — What makes a good fit at Jack State<br />30:17 — Grit, growth mindset, and team-first culture<br />32:12 — Recruiting Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and internationally<br />34:31 — Building a unified team with athletes from 14 countries<br />36:16 — Creating family through community service and team activities<br />38:03 — Jacksonville State’s relationship with the town<br />40:13 — Conference USA outdoor championship preview<br />41:16 — Key event groups for Jacksonville State<br />43:11 — Double threshold training philosophy<br />45:51 — Athlete input, training debates, and coaching transparency<br />48:40 — How much coaching is science vs. art?<br />50:57 — Balancing coaching, family, and ultra running<br />53:22 — Pinhoti 100 and Alabama trail running<br />55:29 — Why it’s an exciting time at Jacksonville State<br />57:45 — Final Four: coffee, daily rituals, music, and guilty pleasures<br />58:32 — Running streak and coaching by example<br />59:28 — Listening to Zach Top and classic country sounds<br />1:00:38 — Disc golf as a guilty pleasure<br />1:02:08 — Closing thoughts with Coach Provence</b>