Restarting Wilberforce University XC/TF | Coach Dean Freitag on Building an HBCU NAIA Program, Race Walking, & Year-1 Goals | ABR
On this episode of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly-to-belly with Coach Dean Freitag, the new Head Cross Country & Track & Field Coach at Wilberforce University—the nation’s first private HBCU.A two-time NAIA Race Walking National Champion, Freitag shares how he’s rebuilding Wilberforce XC/TF from zero athletes to over 50 in less than a year. We cover recruiting philosophy, HBCU athletics, building a team culture, double-threshold training, and what it means to “embrace the suck.”🔥 Episode Highlights:
📲 Coach Freitag: @freitagdean
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Show Notes / Chapters
00:00 Intro – Why ABR highlights NAIA, JUCO, D2, D3 & mid-majors
00:36 Meet Coach Dean Freitag – Wilberforce University Head Coach
03:05 Origin story – runner, wrestler, race walker → coach
10:56 Building Wilberforce from scratch: zero athletes → 50+
14:20 HBCU culture & what it means for athletes
18:57 Recruiting across Ohio & beyond
22:18 First home meet, community prayer moment, early results
26:05 Year-one goals: win conference & qualify for NAIA Nationals
30:00 Team mantra: “Embrace the Suck”
33:38 Academics, majors, & alumni network
35:56 Facilities: new XC loop, Athletes in Action, Central State support
37:41 Multisport athletes & roster depth
40:24 Three-to-five-year vision: podium at Nationals
42:04 Training: double threshold, summer base, bike doubles
46:22 Staff support & building a coaching family
50:00 Recruiting passion, family-first culture, and accountability
55:00 Freshman captains stepping into leadership roles
1:03:00 Music, hype playlists, and guilty pleasures
1:06:30 Final Four Q’s + closing
- Restarting men’s & women’s XC/TF at Wilberforce (NAIA / HBCU)
- From walk-on athlete → NAIA national champ → head coach
- Creating a home cross country course on campus & hosting the first meet (Aug 29, 2025)
- Recruiting across Ohio & nationwide + HBCU pride on the chest
- Training philosophy: double threshold sessions, bike doubles, and volume building
- Campus culture: faith, rite of passage, student-athlete support, and alumni connections
- Short & long-term goals: winning year one, podium at NAIA Nationals in 3–5 years
📲 Coach Freitag: @freitagdean
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe & share to support programs that deserve the spotlight!⏱
Show Notes / Chapters
00:00 Intro – Why ABR highlights NAIA, JUCO, D2, D3 & mid-majors
00:36 Meet Coach Dean Freitag – Wilberforce University Head Coach
03:05 Origin story – runner, wrestler, race walker → coach
10:56 Building Wilberforce from scratch: zero athletes → 50+
14:20 HBCU culture & what it means for athletes
18:57 Recruiting across Ohio & beyond
22:18 First home meet, community prayer moment, early results
26:05 Year-one goals: win conference & qualify for NAIA Nationals
30:00 Team mantra: “Embrace the Suck”
33:38 Academics, majors, & alumni network
35:56 Facilities: new XC loop, Athletes in Action, Central State support
37:41 Multisport athletes & roster depth
40:24 Three-to-five-year vision: podium at Nationals
42:04 Training: double threshold, summer base, bike doubles
46:22 Staff support & building a coaching family
50:00 Recruiting passion, family-first culture, and accountability
55:00 Freshman captains stepping into leadership roles
1:03:00 Music, hype playlists, and guilty pleasures
1:06:30 Final Four Q’s + closing
Activity