In ABR Episode 439, Airey Bros Radio sits down with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thefaheymethod/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devin Fahey, Head Cross Country Coach at Cerro Coso College (3C2A)</a>, after one of the most impressive first-year JUCO coaching seasons in California community college cross country.<br /><br />In Year 1, Fahey led Cerro Coso to program-first milestones, including their first team score, a conference podium finish, a SoCal Regional appearance, and the program’s first-ever 3C2A State Championship qualifier. Devin breaks down how he built a culture of psychological safety + accountability, why “show a sign of life” was the perfect early-season standard, and what it really takes to recruit and develop athletes at the community college / junior college level.<br /><br />We also dig into Devin’s coaching influences — including his time as a Division I athlete at the University of Houston under Steve Magness and as a coach at Gonzaga under legendary Pat Tyson — plus why Cerro Coso’s high desert trails, facilities, and affordability can be a sneaky advantage for JUCO runners looking to level up.<br /><br />If you’re a high school runner, JUCO prospect, distance coach, or someone who loves the behind-the-scenes reality of building a program from scratch, this one is packed with value.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blacksheependurance.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching 🐑🏃‍♂️</a><br /><a href="https://BuyMeACoffee.com/AireyBros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Value-for-value: Support the show</a> <br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cerrocosoxctf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cerro Coso XC/TF: @cerrocosoxctf (IG)</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Follow ABR: @aireybrosradio</a><br /><br />Podcast Show Notes<br />03:11 ABR show open + welcome (Howdy &amp; Aloha)<br />04:08 Devin Fahey intro + Cerro Coso’s Year 1 milestones<br />05:31 Where recruits can find the program (IG / recruiting links)<br />06:03 Devin’s origin story: Houston running, family influence, early coaches<br />07:26 The coach who saved his life + why mentorship matters<br />07:46 High school training culture + “wild” workouts and building a winning team<br />09:21 University of Houston: team identity, competing at D1 level<br />10:19 Coaching through COVID + keeping athletes motivated<br />10:58 Breaking into coaching: emailing 100+ programs + taking the volunteer leap<br />11:16 Gonzaga opportunity + Pat Tyson’s honesty about the grind<br />12:43 “31-hour drive for a volunteer job” — earning your way into coaching<br />15:13 Why Cerro Coso: AD interview, community support, trails, facilities<br />16:10 High desert training environment + “runner’s paradise”<br />18:48 Year 1 goals: “show a sign of life” + what actually happened<br />20:53 Ryan Morrison + mixing experienced runners with brand-new athletes<br />22:58 Devin’s thesis: it wasn’t the workouts — it was trust + psychological safety<br />23:58 Adjusting expectations as an elite athlete coaching beginners<br />26:53 Taking JUCO athletes to D1-level meets + reframing results<br />29:30 Season design: getting “punched in the mouth” early, peaking when it counts<br />31:00 Steve Magness culture: autonomy, ownership, and team accountability<br />34:39 Building culture at Cerro Coso: community + improvement + support<br />37:44 Emotional turning point: conference weekend + the “5th man” story<br />40:49 Private team moment by the hotel pool — realizing it’s real<br />42:12 JUCO stigma: how Devin talks recruits through myths and misconceptions<br />45:33 “Nobody asks where you started” + the long-game mindset (master’s vision)<br />47:07 Recruiting reality: local pool vs out-of-state (Alaska/Nevada/etc.)<br />50:33 Why affordability can be a recruiting advantage in California<br />51:29 Track program launch: distance-first approach + meets they’ll attend<br />53:20 Event range philosophy (400–10K) + early season plans<br />54:15 Athlete spotlight: Walker Fleming + winter mileage jump and big upside<br />56:55 Academics: majors, engineering/computer science + the “general major” option<br />59:47 What Devin wants recruits to know most: “this is a family — show up”<br />1:04:17 High Desert ultramarathon in Ridgecrest + trail system talk<br />1:05:52 Favorite Pat Tyson story: servant leadership + cleaning the locker room<br />1:09:15 Fun quick-hitters: chocolate milk recipe, hot water “coffee” ritual<br />1:11:25 Daily rituals + mirror mindset practice before big meets<br />1:13:19 What he’s listening/reading: jazz, Kid Cudi, Siddhartha<br />1:15:11 Favorite coaching book: Pat Tyson’s How to Coach Cross Country Successfully<br />1:18:14 Guilty pleasure: ramen obsession + Houston food scene<br />1:21:42 Closing thank-yous + future 3C2A roundtable tease<br />1:23:00 ABR outro + next live show plug