PARIS—When two friends tease each other, it often ends with some uncomfortable laughter or maybe a punch in the arm.
It’s not often that teasing leads one to become an Olympian.
But that’s just how BYU men’s track and field coach Ryan Waite convinced sophomore James Corrigan to chase after the Olympic dream.
Becoming a Coach
Waite was on the track and field team during his time at BYU and was a five-time All-American. After a successful track career, he wanted to become a coach, but coaching seemed like a pipe dream.
“I always wanted to get into coaching, but I didn't think it was realistic,” Waite said.
Before Waite graduated, BYU’s track and field head coach Ed Eyestone offered him an opportunity to work in a student position for the team.
“I just absolutely loved it and haven't looked back since,” Waite said.
Waite worked as a student assistant coach at BYU for three years before he left to be the head coach at Delaware. However, Waite missed working with BYU’s track and field program.
“I went to Delaware for six years and had a lot of really good success there,” Waite said. “I think Coach Eyestone was initially surprised at how excited I was about [returning to BYU], because I was the head coach at Delaware. It was leaving being the head track and cross-country coach and coming and being an assistant, but just the lure of BYU was just so much that I couldn't turn it down.”
Life as a Coach
To Waite, running is a microcosm of life.
“There are so many things that happen in running and in sports that teach us things that we need to know about in our lives,” Waite said.
With coaching, his favorite aspects are seeing athletes grow, progress, develop, and overcome challenges. Coaching gives Waite a deeper appreciation for the sport by navigating athletes to reach their goals.
“I think it is greater and worse than being an athlete because as an athlete, so much of it was in my own control. . . I feel like there’s greater joy when they have success because it was like you’re proud of them for doing it,” he said.
Coaching Olympians
BYU’s Olympic runners Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, and Kenneth Rooks are all signed to run professionally and have Coach Eyestone as their coach within their contracts. Meanwhile, Corrigan is going into his junior year at BYU.
“I work more with James than I work with the other three,” Waite said. “I still do a little bit here and there with Kenneth, but a lot less now that he's professional.”
While Coach Eyestone creates schedules, workout plans, and exercises for all the athletes, Waite plays a pivotal role in coaching Corrigan. In fact, it was Waite that pushed Corrigan to change events at the start of last season.
“I've been teasing James a lot about running the steeplechase because he really wanted to be a miler or a 5K guy, and I was just so convinced that he was going to be a great steeplechaser,” Waite said.
Waite recounted how every time Corrigan would do well in the 5K or mile run, he would tease him by saying how much better he’d be at the steeplechase.
“Both Coach Eyestone and I were adamant that if he stuck with the steeple, he would have really great success there,” Waite said. “I feel like that's been one thing with James… helping convince him that this is a path and avenue for him to reach the highest level - to potentially become a national champion and Olympian. He’s a great example to other young athletes about the importance of listening to your coaches and buying in to a program.”
However, Corrigan’s journey to the Paris Olympics came quicker than he and his wife Ashley expected.
“It was always his goal to make the 2028 Olympics. It came a lot sooner, and so we rolled with the punches,” Ashley said.
Throughout the year, Waite advised Corrigan about managing energy and helped him progress to where he is now.
“[Waite] felt like he was someone I could turn to, as the season progressed, to check in with and make sure I was doing the right things. . . him being transparent with training was huge,” Corrigan said.
“It was really cool as the year went on to see [Corrigan] continually match where he was supposed to be in the season out of what we had mapped out and, as it got to the very end, to see him have his very best performances when it really, really counted,” Waite said.
When Corrigan officially qualified for the Olympics by hitting the standard of below 8 minutes and 15 seconds, Waite was in tears.
“This was one of those moments where I broke it down in tears immediately when it happened. There was just no words to describe how proud I was. The magnitude of what he did really hit me,” Waite said.
Despite having athletes in the Olympics, it was difficult for Waite to choose a highlight of his coaching career. He loves seeing his teams succeed, yet he cares about each athlete individually.
“On an individual level, my favorite moments are less about winning athletes, and more about when they overcome one of their struggles,” Waite said.
The Paris Olympics
In Paris, Waite is taking on more of a supportive role.
“I am here just to cheer and to be the biggest fan,” Waite said. “Coach Eyestone has done an amazing job with all of them to put them in great positions to be super successful. I came here just so that they know there's somebody else in their corner that believes in them and is excited for them.”
In the men’s steeplechase qualifying events, Waite said he was so proud of both Rooks and Corrigan. Corrigan did not advance to the finals, but Rooks placed second in his heat advancing him to the finals.
“When James was finishing his race I just thought that it’s unbelievable that he’s even here. It wasn’t the race he was hoping to have, but it was a season that was greater than anything we had imagined back in the fall,” Waite said.
Formula for Success
Coaching Olympians or coaching collegiate athletes all take the same formula of consistency and working hard.
“Whether it’s qualifying for the Olympics, being All-American, winning a conference championship, or anything else that is reaching one’s full potential, it all comes down to being consistent,” Waite said.
During his time at BYU, Waite has motivated and inspired many athletes to dream big and to work hard. Being at the Olympics is an impressive addition to the resume and he is just getting started.
“I'm still like super young in the coaching profession and so the fact that I get to be part of [the Olympics this] early stage in my career is just really surreal and exciting for me,” he said.