Stop Me Project

Crowder College Head Coach Jake Holt joins Airey Bros Radio to break down how a brand-new NJCAA program rocketed into the national conversation—#7 men, #5 women (preseason)—and why JUCO is a powerful springboard for recruits.We cover Holt’s 20+ years at East Newton HS (17 conference titles, 17 district titles, 6 state trophies), the origins of SWMO Running Camp (400+ campers), Crowder’s international recruiting pipeline (Kenya), training philosophy (tempos, threshold hills, 1K benchmarks), life in the Ozarks (real trails, real hills), and a 2025 schedule that points straight at Fort Dodge—plus whether the team will double back for the NJCAA Half Marathon Championship.If you’re a high school XC/TF athlete, parent, or coach exploring JUCO → NCAA D1/D2/D3/NAIA pathways, this episode is packed with real talk on scholarships, fit, culture, development, and competing right away.