Welcome back to Airey Bros Radio — your #1 resource for college wrestling, cross country, and track &amp; field programs across the country.<br /><br />On Episode 444, we went belly to belly with Coach Mark Fairley, Head Men’s &amp; Women’s Cross Country Coach and Head Distance Coach at Taylor University.<br /><br />Fresh off the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track &amp; Field National Championships, Coach Fairley breaks down Taylor’s national success, including:<br />🏆 Jaynie Halterman — NAIA 5K National Champion<br />⚡ Championship Record — 15:52<br />🔥 Outstanding Performer of the Meet<br />⭐ Multiple NAIA All-Americans<br />📈 Taylor Men finish Top 15 NationallyBefore Taylor, Fairley spent 8 years at Liberty University (NCAA D1) helping build a powerhouse program with 27 conference championships across XC, indoor, and outdoor track.<br /><br />A former NCAA Division III National Champion (Steeplechase), Fairley now brings elite experience, culture, and development to one of the fastest-rising programs in the NAIA.🎯 Topics Covered:<ul><li>Coach Fairley’s journey from athlete to national-level coach</li><li>Building a championship culture at Liberty University</li><li>Transitioning into leadership at Taylor University</li><li>Inside the NAIA Indoor National Championships</li><li>Developing All-Americans and national champions</li><li>Recruiting philosophy in 2026 (fit, culture, development)</li><li>The future of Taylor Cross Country &amp; Track</li></ul>💡 Why We Do This:<br />At Airey Bros Radio, we shine a light on the programs and coaches we wish we had access to coming up. If you or someone you know is looking for the right fit at the next level — this is the show for you.<br />🔔 Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone chasing their next opportunity.<br />☕ Support the show:<a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros<br /></a>🏃‍♂️ Black Sheep Endurance Coaching:<a href="https://www.blacksheependurance.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://www.blacksheependurance.com/</a><br /><br />⏱️ TIMESTAMPS<br />0:00 — ABR Show Intro (Howdy &amp; Aloha ) Airey Bros Radio opening, mission of spotlighting college XC, track &amp; field, and wrestling programs.<br />1:45 — Guest Introduction: Mark Fairley (Taylor University) Overview of Taylor XC/Track + recent NAIA Indoor National Championship success.<br />4:30 — Athlete Background &amp; Running Career NCAA Division III National Champion (Steeplechase) → competitive roots and transition into coaching.<br />8:50 — Getting Into Coaching / Early coaching experiences, influences, and lessons learned starting out.<br />13:20 — Liberty University (NCAA D1) Experience 8-year run at Liberty → 27 conference championships across XC, indoor, and outdoor track.<br />18:40 — Building a Championship Culture / What separates good programs from great ones — standards, accountability, and consistency.<br />24:10 — Coaching Philosophy &amp; Athlete Development / Long-term development, maximizing potential, and building complete student-athletes.<br />29:30 — Transition to Taylor University / Taking over the program, vision for the future, and building momentum.<br />35:00 — NAIA Indoor National Championships Recap (2026) Jaynie Halterman’s 5K national title<br />Championship record (15:52) Outstanding Performer of the Meet Multiple All-Americans + team success<br />43:20 — Program Growth &amp; National Impact<br />Taylor men finishing Top 15 nationally + what that means for recruiting and exposure.<br />48:30 — Recruiting Philosophy (2026 Landscape)<br />Finding the right fit, culture-driven recruiting, and developing athletes vs chasing hype.<br />54:10 — What It Takes to Win at the National Level<br />Daily habits, mindset, and consistency required to compete for titles.<br />1:00:45 — Building the Future at Taylor XC/Track<br />Program goals, long-term vision, and sustaining success.<br />1:06:30 — Advice for Recruits &amp; Student-Athletes<br />What coaches are really looking for + how to stand out in recruiting.<br />1:10:15 — Closing Thoughts + ABR Outro<br />Final message from Coach Fairley + Airey Bros Radio wrap-up.<br /><br />🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS<ul><li>Championship programs are built on culture, not just talent</li><li>Development &gt; hype in recruiting</li><li>Consistency and daily habits drive national-level success</li><li>Taylor University is a rising NAIA powerhouse in XC/Track</li><li>Liberty’s success model = transferable blueprint for winning programs</li></ul>