Bakersfield College cross-country coach David “Dave” Frickel is set to retire, with his last semester to be in spring of 2015.
Frickel has taught at Bakersfield College for 10 years, along with being the coach for both the cross-country and track & field teams. He started his career in 1977, after graduating from Boise State in Idaho, with a history degree, sociology degree, and master’s in physical education.
Frickel started his teaching with the high school level, after a ten-year run with sponsorship from Nike and Adidas.
“I feel like I am just at the peak of my career, and want to retire at a high point. I have been in the business of track and field and cross-country running for many years, started in 1977 with my professional career, and it’s just time to move on,” said Frickel.
Frickel is retiring with a group of cross-country runners that admire him, highly.
Juan Calderon said, “I really have learned a lot from coach. I have had some of my favorite memories being part of the BC team.” Calderon is one of the men’s cross-country runners, and will finish his last year running with Frickel in the spring.
Jessica Campbell, one of the women’s team cross-country runners, said of Frickel, “He is an amazing person, who always gives you the best advice and encourages you every step.”
Frickel wants to inspire his students and said, “I hope that all of the athletes I have worked with can be impressed upon to remember that they are first students. That’s what I want to be my legacy that I leave behind. Athletes typically think being an athlete is most important, but the success in education is what matters the most.”
Coach Frickel also teaches physical education courses like the shape up class, and stresses the importance of staying active.
He thinks that his current team of cross-country is a “great group of young people, wonderful in their work ethics and attitudes.” Frickel is extremely proud of the accomplishments that the team makes, as little or big as they may be.
“I hope that all of them rise up to the challenge and have their best race of the season,” said Frickel when asked what aspirations he has for the team for preliminaries.
With the cross-country team to participate in the prelims on the 24th of Oct, the BC team is expected to do very well, amidst injuries to both, Calderon and Campbell.
“There are injuries that will hinder the team, as a whole, but hopefully the individual runners will excel,” said Frickel.
When asked what Frickel has instilled in his runners, he mentions the ability to move past the mental block that can come with competition, “Having been around in the sport for a long time, I think that sometimes I can share some life experiences, and things I have picked up over the years. I think for a lot of it, and especially for people in athletics; I think if you enjoy it…you are going to be better at it. People put too much stress on themselves. You have to look beyond the stress.”
“The training is a lot harder than the racing. No one ever gets to see the hard work you put into it. They judge you on race day,” said Frickel, “if you are trained well, it will all come together. Just enjoy it. If you look forward to it, then you will excel at it.”
When asked what will Frickel plan on doing next, he says that taking a break from it all is what he most looks forward to. “I have taught tens of thousands of students and touched many lives. It’s been an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. But, for now, just to sit back and relax is the plan. Take it easy.”
“It’s been a great career, it’s been a lot of fun,” said Frickel what his last thoughts are of the experiences he has had at BC.
“The game has changed so much from when I entered into competitive running to now. In the 70’s, we were the billboards, we were the advertisements. Nowadays, the runners are more focused on the run, and the sport has evolved to a massive force,” said Frickel.
“Always be the best person you can be. Remember you are a student athlete, student first, then athlete. If you remember that, there isn’t anything that can stop you from achieving your goals. Student life matters the most while in college, and the decisions you make at this level count for the future you, and where you are headed.”