Kinesiology Paths: Track and Field Coach

Alex Paille, BS Kinesiology and Health Sciences – Louisiana Tech (2021). Currently Pursuing Master of Science- Kinesiology and Exercise Science – Southeastern Louisiana University

My name is Alex Paille, and I am currently the Distance Coach for Southeastern Louisiana University Track & Field and Cross Country. I am also currently a graduate assistant in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences while enrolled in the Master of Science in Kinesiology program, concentrating in Exercise Science. I entered the world of distance running as an 8th-grader, and over four years of high school, my love for the sport only grew stronger. While I knew that I did not have the athletic ability to be a competitive collegiate runner, I knew that I wanted to be involved with the sport in some capacity as an adult. This, along with a multitude of eye-opening experiences during my high school career, led me to study Kinesiology at Louisiana Tech.

My first introduction to distance running started back in 4th grade during PE class, when the whole class ran a 1 mile fitness test. Even though the idea of running fascinated me at the time, that side of me lay dormant for several years. My primary school did not have a track team, and cross country season was during football season, which held my undivided attention at the time. Things remained that way until 8th grade, when I joined the track & field team at St. Paul’s School in Covington, LA. I had come off of a disappointing experience with football that season, and considering that I weighed under 100 lbs. as a 13-year old, it was only a matter of time before my genetics got in the way of my NFL career. Once I came to that realization, cross country seemed a lot more appealing. My father had been an All-District distance runner in high school, and I quite liked the idea of following in his footsteps. So, as a rising freshman, I decided to hang up my cleats and lace up my running shoes by joining the cross country team.

From day one, cross country felt like home. My teammates were incredibly welcoming, and our head coach, Terryl Chatham, is still one of my favorite people in the whole world. His love and passion for the sport and his athletes played a massive role in my life, including introducing me to ultra-endurance races. He has completed two Ironman® triathlons, and while I have never completed one myself, I chose to compete in ultramarathons after high school. Besides being an incredibly knowledgeable coach, what really stuck with me was his devotion to all of his runners, not just the fastest ones. One day, after a relay race at practice, which my team won, Coach Terryl pulled me aside and told me, “I saw how well you were managing your runners. You’ll make a great coach one day.” For years, that brief conversation lived on in my head, hoping that one day I could make it a reality.

My quest of fulfilling Coach Terryl’s prophecy inadvertently continued once I decided to study Kinesiology and Health Sciences at Louisiana Tech. Once again, I was following in my father’s footsteps, as he is an alumnus of Louisiana Tech, class of 1993. While at Tech, I had trouble pinning down my exact career choice, which can be distressing for underclassmen. However, I still had running, and that was all I needed to keep me content. First, I toyed with the idea of physical therapy, since around this time, I had learned about the legendary ultrarunner Scott Jurek, and I learned that he was a physical therapist during his day job. It made sense to me that PT would be a good profession for a dedicated runner, so that’s what I thought I wanted to do. Unfortunately, for most high schoolers, that is the only job associated with kinesiology. Thankfully, the Department of Kinesiology at Tech provided numerous perspectives on what career options exist in our field.

After learning more about the profession, I realized that PT was not the right path for me, and my focus then shifted to athletic training. Even though I had developed a strong foundation for athletic training, including completing my undergraduate internship with Mandy Miller (now at LSU) and Louisiana Tech Sports Medicine, I still felt like my best fit was elsewhere. Somewhere around this time, I completed my first 100 mile endurance run. As I stated earlier, I had taken up ultra-running during my college years. This was my way of testing what my body was truly capable of, and searching for the limits of human potential. As I kept competing in race after race, something inside me was starting to take shape. More and more I began to discover that I did not want to work with injuries and rehab, but I instead wanted to work in human performance.

This then shifted my focus to performance-based career paths, zeroing in specifically on personal training and strength & conditioning. In accordance with this, I became a NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) before graduating from Louisiana Tech with a BS in Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2021. From there, I entered the workforce as a personal trainer at the West St. Tammany YMCA in Covington, LA, where I still work today. While I was enjoying working with my clients, I could tell that there was still something missing from my life: the competitive drive of athletics. So, in 2023, after a two-year hiatus from education, I decided to return to academia and pursue a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies, with a concentration in Exercise Science, at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Once accepted into the program, I was accepted for a graduate assistantship in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. I now work primarily as a research assistant for Dr. Brandi Decoux (Biomechanics) and Dr. Dan Hollander (Strength & Conditioning and Sports Psychology). I have been involved with several research studies so far, and the experience I have gained is invaluable. I am now able to use these tools to further develop my understanding of running, both inside and out. Most importantly, I have further developed my critical thinking skills. Because of this, I can confidently make my own decisions on how to interpret information, and that is more powerful than anything I could find in a textbook.

Before the start of my first semester, I reached out to the Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at SLU, Michael Rheams, Jr., asking if I could be involved as a volunteer assistant coach with the team. He said yes, and I began working with the team’s Distance Coach at the time, Clayton O’Callaghan (University of New Orleans). Early into my first season, when Coach Clayton accepted a position at UNO, I assumed the role of Distance Coach. While I was not sure I was ready for that role yet, I put my fear aside and rose to the occasion. After our first few days of practice, I knew I had found my path. “Work” did not feel like work at all, and before I knew it, all of my doubts and fears washed away. Coach Terryl’s prophecy had been fulfilled. I was home.

Now, as I continue to progress through my curriculum, I look to continue to advance my career as a cross country/track & field coach. Through one full year of competition, I have learned numerous lessons, especially lessons of what not to do in certain situations. However, I have viewed everything that has happened this season as a learning experience, and that is what I believe will make me a better coach. I aim to use the skills I have learned throughout my life to become the best coach that I can possibly be, hoping that I can help some young men and women become the best versions of themselves, as Coach Terryl had done for me.