Coaches Khadevis Robinson and Tyrone Edgar cover the event spectrum–from long distance to sprints–but they share the same philosophy and leadership styles: motivating their athletes to success on and off the track.
Always seen on the track together, Robinson and Edgar focus on building a positive, powerful and cohesive team. It’s their goal to create an atmosphere based around unity and family.
“It starts at the top, our head coach Robinson, and then it trickles down,” said Edgar. “We always have a positive vibe, we never bring anything negative through those gates.”
After starting his coaching career, Robinson knew he wanted to return to TCU, his alma mater. Previously, Robinson was a head coach at UNLV, Ohio State and LSU. However, his desire to return home was not just to coach but to improve the program by building a positive and lasting tradition.
“Culture is always an ongoing process,” said Robinson. “The goal is to build a winning and positive culture. It is my goal and my staff’s goal that we implement a culture that is sustainable.”
Sustaining and building a winning tradition is the ultimate team goal, but it starts with the athletes as individuals. Robinson is focused on each athlete and finds what personally drives each of them.
“Once you can realize what their motivations are then you can push them to accomplish those goals,” Robinson said.
Edgar focuses the same way on his athletes, finding that personal touch on the track. After assistant coaching at UT Arlington for 11 seasons, Edgar came to TCU with experience as a former world-class sprinter with Team NIKE.
With the Horned Frogs, Edgar’s goal is to bring positive energy into the gates of Lowdon.
“I’m a personal coach,” Edgar said. “I teach my athletes that track is a place of peace–the two hours you have here need to be the best two hours of your day.”
He does that with a fiery energy he brings each day to get his athletes to compete and practice up to expectations.
Kashie Crockett, a junior sprinter, has found his stride with Edgar as both a coach and friend.
“I can talk to him not just as a coach but as a friend,” Crockett said. “It could be any time of day and he will respond.”
That personal connection Edgar has with his athletes allows them to leave their personal life outside the track and just focus on running.
“He’s nice, but he’s real.” Crockett said.
Robinson and Edgar are looking forward to the upcoming Big 12 Championship meet and the possibility of some regional and national championship qualifiers.
“I want as many people as we can to get to the national meet,” Edgar said. “That has got to be the expectation, and I came here to be a part of a legacy. We are TCU.”
