Brist resigns as Bulldog XC coach
After grooming 45 All-State runners and leading the Lady Bulldogs to an unprecedented four consecutive Class A state titles, it should come as no surprise that Whitefish High School cross country coach Bill Brist has been recruited to coach at the next level.
His knack for building championship-caliber teams just doesn’t go unnoticed.
Brist announced last week that he has accepted a full-time position as the head coach of the cross country, and track and field teams at the University of Great Falls. The Argos are members of the Frontier Conference in the NAIA.
“I got a phone call from someone on the selection committee and they invited me to an interview,” Brist explained about being recruited. “I was one of the finalist, they selected me and made an offer too good to refuse.”
Brist said he wasn’t actively looking for a collegiate coaching position, but that the opportunity came at the right time in his career and personal life.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but never thought I’d have a shot at,” he said. “This wasn’t something on my radar, but sometimes a great opportunity pops up. It’s a unique chance for me in my coaching career and in life in general. It was a really attractive offer.”
Brist will lead the mens and womens cross country teams in the fall, coach indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring and summer.
Brist has coached cross country at Whitefish since 2004. Four times he earned the Class A cross country coach of the year award from the Montana Coaches Association. Along with the Lady Bulldogs four consecutive state titles, his girls teams won five divisional titles. The boys took third at state twice, second one time, and won four divisional titles.
With 45 All-State runners having passed though Whitefish under his watch, Brist says it’s difficult to name just a few of the best he’s coached. Gatorade Runner of the Year Drew Coco obviously comes to mind, as does girls runner Loni Hanson who won an individual state title. Ian Mallams was another boys standout, alongside current runners Fischer Gangemi and Jace Kalbfleisch.
Of course, he gives a nod to all of the Lady Bulldogs who made the run to four straight state titles: Bailey Eaton, Stella Holt, Jackie Cassidy, Jessica Sagen, Carly Schwickert — the list goes on and on.
“That was the coolest part about the job — the overall team results,” Brist said.
Whitefish athletic director Jackie Fuller chalks up Brist’s success to his knack for team-building.
“He is such an outstanding man and positive role model,” Fuller said. “When you became a member of his team, you became a family member. I marveled at it. Those kids developed such a tight bond.”
Brist calls that “family” feeling his secret ingredient to building a successful program.
“In other sports, running is a punishment,” he explained. “You’re not supposed to like it. But if kids have a group of friends to run with and they like to be around each other — you can go run for an hour and it feels like 30 minutes. That’s what we did with that family atmosphere. That’s the secret. That’s what made our teams fun.”
He credits all of the assistant coaches, including his wife Sara who has been with the team for eight years, and Aldo Kuntz for helping build the program.
“No way we have this much success without them,” Brist said.
“Whitefish has been a great program and a great situation for me. It wasn’t an easy choice to leave and it was tough to tell the kids. I’ve had a great time here.”
Fuller says Brist leaves a huge hole to fill in the Bulldogs coaching roster.
“It’s a huge loss for us and a great gain for the University of Great Falls,” she said.
Fuller will recruit a new coach from within the district first to see if anyone is interested, then go out of district.
“I will go out and find the best to fill the position,” she said.