<b><a href="https://www.cmueagles.com/sports/wtrack/coaches/Anderson_Kenny?view=bio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coach Kenny Anderson</a> joins Airey Bros Radio following a historic weekend for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cmueaglesxctf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Methodist University Track &amp; Field</a> at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor National Championships.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Under Anderson's leadership, the CMU men finished 7th nationally with 10 All-Americans, while the women also earned a Top-10 national finish with 9 All-Americans. The conversation dives into national championship performances, athlete development, recruiting philosophy, faith-based leadership, and what it takes to build a nationally competitive program in the NAIA.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Coach Anderson shares his unique journey from electrical engineering and basketball coaching to becoming one of the most respected track &amp; field coaches in the country. We discuss creating a family culture, developing overlooked athletes, handling the transfer portal era, and why student-athletes can thrive at smaller schools.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Whether you're a recruit, coach, parent, or track &amp; field fan, this episode provides an inside look at one of the fastest-rising programs in the NAIA.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Connect with Airey Bros Radio</b><br /><b>📸 Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio/</a></b><br /><b>📺 YouTube:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Aireybros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://www.youtube.com/@Aireybros</a></b><br /><b>🎧 Spotify:<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/61TKhMCXCfmfZRYb22saFe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://open.spotify.com/show/61TKhMCXCfmfZRYb22saFe</a></b><br /><b>🍎 Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airey-bros-s-radio/id584404045" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airey-bros-s-radio/id584404045</a>☕ Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/aireybros</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 &amp; Timestamps</b><br /><b>0:00</b> Why Airey Bros Radio shines a light on NAIA, NCAA DII, DIII &amp; NJCAA programs<br /><b>1:00</b> Introduction of Coach Kenny Anderson &amp; Central Methodist University<br /><b>2:05</b> CMU's Top-10 finishes at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Championships<br /><b>3:20</b> Social media, recruiting and Coach "Cut The Check"<br /><b>4:08</b> Kenny Anderson's coaching origin story<br /><b>6:36</b> From hurdler to coach: favorite events to train<br /><b>7:22</b> Recapping the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Championships<br /><b>8:18</b> Women's 4x400 relay DQ and lessons learned<br /><b>9:31</b> The rise of CMU's 800-meter program<br /><b>10:31</b> School records and All-American performances<br /><b>11:11</b> Handling pressure on the national stage<br /><b>12:27</b> Coach accountability and leadership philosophy<br /><b>13:44</b> Creating elite expectations regardless of division<br /><b>14:25</b> Building for next season before nationals even end<br /><b>15:12</b> Graduates, transfers, NIL and roster management<br /><b>16:03</b> Developing athletes who move up to NCAA Division I<br /><b>18:02</b> Recruiting athletes who want to stay four years<br /><b>19:44</b> Central Methodist culture: Communication, Trust &amp; Family<br /><b>20:32</b> Faith, leadership and building relationships<br /><b>22:16</b> Athlete-led accountability and team ownership<br /><b>23:37</b> Why recruits choose Central Methodist University<br /><b>25:20</b> Faith opportunities on campus and within the program<br /><b>27:00</b> Watching student-athletes grow as people<br /><b>28:46</b> Coaching at a faith-based institution<br /><b>30:06</b> Popular academic majors at CMU<br /><b>30:26</b> Marine Biology in the middle of Missouri?<br /><b>32:20</b> Taking over the program and exceeding expectations<br /><b>34:43</b> Three freshmen headed to the U20 Championships<br /><b>35:29</b> Why U20 qualification is huge for the program<br /><b>36:24</b> Recruiting athletes who want the small-school experience<br /><b>38:22</b> Recruiting locally, nationally and internationally<br /><b>40:00</b> Building international recruiting pipelines<br /><b>41:48</b> Being a Director of Track &amp; Field<br /><b>42:34</b> Leadership, staff development and delegation<br /><b>45:24</b> Managing budgets, travel and expense reports<br /><b>46:04</b> Comparing NAIA National Championship venues<br /><b>48:08</b> Coaching the 800 meters and training philosophy<br /><b>49:44</b> What CMU looks for in recruits<br /><b>51:11</b> Creating a memorable student-athlete experience<br /><b>52:25</b> The Final Four Questions<br /><b>53:15</b> Daily habits and morning routines<br /><b>54:11</b> Music, playlists and New Orleans bounce mixes<br /><b>55:09</b> Florida roots, seafood boils and playing saxophone<br /><b>56:12</b> Kenny Anderson's guilty pleasure: Burger King<br /><b>57:10</b> Closing thoughts and appreciation for NAIA coaches