When Josh Larrinaga first came to Odessa he expected to just coach baseball under first year Head Coach Gabe Grinder, but when Alick Musukuma left UT Permian Basin Cross Country for a Division I job in July, the Falcons were in need of a coach with just a month before the team reported.  In stepped Larrinaga with a background in fitness despite having no prior experience in cross country.
 
"It was more of a schooling stand point, having a degree in exercise science, and knowing how to train runners and my background of owning a strength and conditioning facility back in San Diego made it a fit," said Larrinaga.  "I understand how the body works to train different systems but strategically, zero experience."
 
It's been a collective effort for the Falcons this season.  The team has six runners with college experience that have helped Larrinaga plan practices and get the team prepared on meet day.  He's also used a few other coaches from his previous stops to gather strategies and get the best out of the team.
 
"We have a few runners experience and know what they're doing.  They've showed me what the game plan is for meet day, what we do the week leading up," said Larrinaga.  "We talk a lot about practice plans and make adjustments when needed.  I've been at a few places with strong cross country programs and have a lot of friends who have been a big resource on how to properly structure things.  I've had to pick a lot of brains to make sure we're doing everything properly to make us competitive."
 
The Falcons have stayed competitive.  Multiple runners this season have posted personal bests and in their last meet Alauna Stackhouse finished 14^th while Noah Perez was 11^th in San Angelo.  
 
"We have really motivated athletes and they deserve all the credit for putting in the hard work they've done," said Larrinaga.  "Being with two sports, they understand the plan and know I can't be there all the time.  They compete with each other and really want to do the program right on a daily basis."
 
While they have battled injuries this season, Larrinaga says the team is at full health heading into the Lone Star Conference Championships in Wichita Falls.  At full strength he believes they'll finish above preseason projections which had the men 10^th and the women 15^th in the conference.
 
Despite the differences in cross country and baseball, Larrinaga says the transition hasn't been that difficult.
  
"Coaching is dealing with people," he said.  "There's obviously techniques that are much different in baseball and cross country, but in the end it is just managing people, motivating personalities, and getting the student-athlete to be the best they can be.  A good coach can only go so far, in the end it's up to the athlete to put in the work and these kids have done that."
 
While they have battled injuries this season, Larrinaga says the team is at full health heading into the Lone Star Conference Championships in Wichita Falls.  At full strength he believes they'll finish above preseason projections which had the men 10^th and the women 15^th in the conference. 
 
"I have fun watching them interact.  We train hard and push each other, but they hold each other accountable and push one another on the track and in the classroom.  This has been a lot of fun watching them."
 
The Falcons run in the LSC Championships tomorrow, November 5, in Wichita Falls beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.