Allen Community College cross country head coach Vince DeGrado believes this year’s Red Devil squad has what it takes to reach the national championship.
The Red Devils have been in a lull the past two years, following a decorated 2020 campaign where they finished as the NJCAA Division II National runner-up, the highest finish for any sports program at Allen.
“Trying to get them to understand that consistently doing things correctly, not expecting to be successful, and then adding those up gives you a better chance of being successful,” DeGrado said. “Just because you do all the right things doesn’t mean you’re going to win.”
Allen has eight men and two women on the team.
Expected to lead the pack are returners Prince Ntozo, Ethan Ramos and Nathan Canterberry. Ntozo hails from Kansas City while Ramos comes from Texas and Canterberry is from Florida.
DeGrado believes in a culture where his runners are aiming for conference, regional and national championship titles as well as keeping a focus on improving.
“I’m not going to sacrifice our training and progression for a conference championship,” said DeGrado. “It’s different from other sports in that the end goal is a trophy and a national championship, a conference championship, but the training never really stops.
“It’s not necessarily about winning. I want to see us get better,” said DeGrado.
The longtime coach is focused on bringing an abundance of runners back to the school and creating another powerhouse program.
“This time next year the plan is to have 30-35 runners, male and female, with a half mile of space for the track side,” said DeGrado. “It’s the first time in 19 years I actually have a vision and I’m excited I get to do it.”
DeGrado has been with Allen for 15 years.
DeGrado has been named Cross Country Coach of the Year by the NJCAA 14 times. DeGrado credits his wife, Martha, for her motivation and enthusiasm for his success.
“There have been some championships in my career and she’s (Martha) earned them more than anyone,” DeGrado said. “She got me to stop focusing on things I can’t control and to figure out what’s in front of me. It’s helped me step back and look at things differently.”
In 2013, DeGrado led Allen to its first conference championship since 1986. Since then, DeGrado has helped lead the Red Devils to eight straight Jayhawk East Conference titles and were three-time defending Region 6 champions at one point as well.
DeGrado also coached at Cowley Community College from 2008 to 2011. He holds a number of accomplishments at both schools.
In his time at Cowley, DeGrado helped the Tigers to eight men’s Jayhawk Conference titles, one Region 6 men’s Outdoor Championship title and a relay national championship in the 4×800-meter relay. He’s also coached over 100 All-American athletes.
“One of my biggest messages to the kids is not getting instant gratification, Don’t get mad at the results you didn’t earn,” said DeGrado. “Don’t get mad at the results because you didn’t put anything in. You might put in all the work and you’re still not the best, that’s OK.”
