From NJCAA Champion to D1 Builder: Coach Isaac Wood’s Vision for Pacific Cross Country

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Airey Bros.'s Radio

Airey Bros. Radio

450 episodes

2 days ago

Airey Bros Radio is the #1 podcast for Wrestling, Cross Country & Track & Field athletes chasing opportunities at the HS, NAIA, JUCO, NCAA DII, DIII & D1 levels. Hosted by brothers Rich & Jimi Airey, we do the legwork so you don’t have to. Our mission: spotlight programs, coaches & stories overlooked by the mainstream. From high school dynasties to national championship programs, we bring you recruiting insights, culture deep-dives, underdog journeys & the knowledge we wish we had growing up.

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From NJCAA Champion to D1 Builder: Coach Isaac Wood’s Vision for Pacific Cross Country | ABR 393

Airey Bros.'s Radio

48 minutes

1 month ago

From NJCAA Champion to D1 Builder: Coach Isaac Wood’s Vision for Pacific Cross Country | ABR 393

Returning guest and program-builder Coach Isaac Wood joins Airey Bros Radio to break down his next big challenge: launching the men’s cross country program at the University of the Pacific and re-energizing the women’s team in Stockton, CA. Fresh off five NJCAA national titles at Salt Lake CC and Coach of the Year honors, Wood explains how he’s translating JUCO dominance to NCAA Division I, why Pacific is a sleeper academic powerhouse, and what “UOP RG” (the regen mantra) means for culture, recruiting, and results. We get into year-one goals, West Coast Conference competition, race-day mindset vs. workout warriors, developing athletes into pro prospects, long-run routes through Lodi vineyards, and the season slate (San Francisco opener, Hawai‘i trip, big Minnesota test, Bronco Invite, WCC in Spokane, Regionals in Sacramento). If you’re a recruit, parent, or running nerd, this one’s loaded with actionable insight.

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IG: @aireybrosradio | YouTube: @AireyBros
Coach IG: @isaacew | Team IG: @pacific_xc_track
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Show notes
0:00 Cold open + ABR intro
1:20 Why Pacific? From JUCO powerhouse to D1 builder
5:50 The move from Salt Lake → Stockton, family & timing
8:10 Culture from scratch: why UOP “RG” (regen) matters
9:40 Year-one goals: mid-pack WCC targets, experience > outcomes
12:05 Roster build: SLCC carryovers, Utah pipeline, recruiting fit
13:00 Academics: pharmacy, dental, law & strong post-grad pathways
14:50 Pro pathway pitch: networks, agents, race directors, brands
18:45 GAK: racing mentality, finishing hard, not over-cooking workouts
21:30 Training in Stockton/Lodi: vineyard long runs & safety on campus
23:40 2025 schedule snapshot: SF opener, Hawai‘i, Griak, Bronco, WCC, Regionals
29:05 Practice vs race: threshold focus, avoiding “cooked” legs
35:15 Five-year vision: WCC contention, West Region top-10s, NCAA qualifiers
37:00 Life at Pacific: resources, support, admin buy-in, budget reality
44:45 LDS mission in Stockton: perspective & resilience
46:55 Final thoughts + how to follow the Tigers