Vidal to coach at Stanford

Flathead High School alumnus David Vidal was named assistant cross country and track and field coach at Stanford on June 12. He graduated from Stanford the following weekend with a degree in human biology.

Vidal, 24, was a standout cross country and track athlete for the Cardinal. He was a First Team All-Pac-10 selection in track and field in 2004 and was a three-time All-Pac-10 Academic selection in both cross country and track and field.

With graduation looming this spring, Vidal began looking for a job where he could help people, and considered working for a non-profit organization or becoming a teacher. But the stars aligned and he found a dream job, mentoring student-athletes at the university he has treasured for years.

"It doesn't feel like a job to me at all," Vidal said.

Vidal was recruited to Stanford, but he didn't need much convincing to head to California.

"I just wanted to get into the best athletic and academic school I could get into," Vidal said.

Stanford was the only school Vidal applied to while at Flathead and he began his college career with no athletic scholarship. But he proved his worth as a well-rounded performer and earned a full scholarship by his final year.

While his rise from athlete to coach was rapid, Vidal's new position wasn't just handed to him. He missed most of his final track season with a stress fracture in his back, but he helped the Stanford program as a volunteer assistant coach. He continued to volunteer his time this spring before Stanford hired him on a full-time basis to replace departing assistant coach, Ashley Couper.

"I was really excited just to continue being part of the program," Vidal said.

Vidal will work directly under head cross country distance coach, Peter Tegen. Tegen coached at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, and has coached athletes at each Olympics since 1984.

Coincidentally, Vidal was one of four student-athletes who helped interview Tegen and recommended that Stanford hire him a year ago.

Vidal spent five years at Stanford as a student-athlete, redshirting in indoor and outdoor track as a freshman and cross country as a sophomore. Vidal excelled in multiple track disciplines, including the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and mile. He ran the 8k and 10k in cross country.

He was part of two national championship cross country teams and finished ninth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2005 USA National Track and Field Championships in Carson, Calif.

"I never really found the event that I thought I was destined for," Vidal said.

But Vidal seems to have found the career he was destined for. He enjoys all aspects of coaching, but the profession isn't without its challenges.

"With runners, it always seems the challenge is to hold people back," Vidal said.

Since runners are highly competitive athletes with very specific goals, Vidal has to keep his athletes from training too hard and injuring themselves.

Vidal is already familiar with most of Stanford track and cross country athletes.

"Three months ago they were my teammates and now I'm their coach," Vidal said.

While Tegen plans Stanford's workouts, Vidal's duties consist of recruiting, scheduling and timing athletes. Vidal isn't sure how long he'll coach at Stanford, but he'd love to see his younger ex-teammates through their careers.

"I've definitely committed here for at least a couple years."

Vidal's heart remains in the Flathead Valley. His family live in Kalispell and he is still close with his Flathead coaches and teammates.

Flathead track and field coach Paul Jorgensen was one of the first people Vidal called when he was hired at Stanford and Vidal credits much of his athletic success and knowledge to his years at Flathead.

"I took a lot from that program and I still apply a lot of that to my running today," Vidal said.

Despite his busy schedule, Vidal makes time for one hobby.

"I'm always following Montana results," Vidal said. "I'm always keeping my eye out."

Vidal says being young and single helped him get his job because he is able to work late hours and be flexible with his schedule. Those extra hours mean making incredible personal sacrifices. Vidal planned to spend this weekend in Kalispell to attend a friend's wedding, but he had too much work to do to get away.

"Early on, I'm willing to put the extra hours in to make it right," Vidal said.