Office Hours: How UNC's Chris Miltenberg Creates NCAA Champions, His Career Trajectory, Building Team Buy-In + Training Philosophy

Office Hours: How UNC's Chris Miltenberg Creates NCAA Champions, His Career Trajectory, Building Team Buy-In + Training Philosophy

“The part I also really love is finding the edges: How do we pursue the elite edge of world-class performance? I think as I've gotten further, that part is exciting me more and more as we go on here. But it doesn't have to just be world- class – how do you get people to find out how good they can really be?”

When Chris Miltenberg took the helm at North Carolina in 2019, the Tar Heels distance programs had not won an ACC cross country title since before most of his current athletes were born. Fast forward to today and under Miltenberg's leadership, UNC has not only climbed back to the top of the ACC podium in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, but they've reestablished themselves as a legitimate national contender too.

Miltenberg has led UNC to top ten finishes at the NCAA cross country, indoor, and outdoor championships, he's coached Parker Wolfe to UNC's first-ever 5000m outdoor national title, signed the program's highest ranked recruiting class, and has built a culture of buy-in, belief, and bold ambition. Most recently, he's coming off an indoor season where Ethan Strand broke the collegiate records in the 3000m and mile before taking the NCAA title. Makayla Paige won the women's 800m to become the Tar Heels' first women's NCAA champion since 2018.

But this isn't just a North Carolina story; Miltenberg's impact has been felt at every stop. At Stanford, he led the Cardinals to a top five program of the year finish and coached national champions like Grant Fisher, Sean McGorty, and Elise Cranny. At Georgetown, he guided the Hoyas to the 2011 NCAA Women's Cross Country title with the team that was led by Emily Infeld.

In today's conversation, we talk about how he's building something sustainable in Chapel Hill, his approach to culture, and what it takes to coach through transitions, setbacks, and expectations. We also dig into athlete development, milestone moments, and why being present is one of the most underrated skills a coach can have.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Chris Miltenberg | @chris.miltenberg on Instagram

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Molly Huddle discusses her final track season, marathon hopes, NYC Half three-peat

Molly Huddle discusses her final track season, marathon hopes, NYC Half three-peat

Molly Huddle is one of the most accomplished American distance runners in history and this weekend, I will lose to her in the New York City Half Marathon. Huddle and I caught up two weeks ago to discuss her plans for the race and the preparation ahead of her final track season. Last season was a marquee year for Huddle as she won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 5,000 and 10,000 before breaking Shalane Flanagan's 10,000m American record in the Olympic final. We discussed that strange race and how long it took her to process the results before bouncing back for her marathon debut. We also talk about her feelings toward the marathon and when we could expect her over 26.2 again. Check out the latest episode and subscribe on iTunes. This episode was brought to you by Shoekicker.com. Save some money and time while searching for your next pair of running shoes. Shoe Kicker scours the internet for the best deals and brings them all to you in one place.

17 Mars 201731min

Ajee Wilson on USA Indoors, training with Charlene Lipsey, Trials 800, 1500?

Ajee Wilson on USA Indoors, training with Charlene Lipsey, Trials 800, 1500?

U.S. Olympian and 2017 U.S. Indoor 600 meter champion Ajee Wilson joins the show to discuss her recent indoor season, training with Charlene Lipsey, her perspective of things in the Olympic Trials 800m final and a decision that may have saved her. Could we see her in a 1,500 some day. All that and more in the latest episode of The Citius Mag Podcast. This episode was brought to you by EducatedRunning.com and ShoeKicker.com. Subscribe on iTunes today.

10 Mars 201725min

Drew Hunter on his first professional season, the decision, balancing training/school, more

Drew Hunter on his first professional season, the decision, balancing training/school, more

Drew Hunter made headlines last year as the second U.S. high school runner to break four minutes indoors and then followed it up with a strong outdoor campaign before foregoing his NCAA eligibility to turn professional. Hunter joins the latest episode of the Citius Mag podcast to discuss what it's been like training across the country in the fall, how he came about the decision to turn professional, how much money is in his wallet and more. Subscribe on iTunes. (Pssst..Leave a five-star review) This week’s episode was brought to you by our friends at Educated Running.

3 Mars 201732min

Kate Grace on personal bests, racing Caster Semenya/Laura Muir, meditation and more

Kate Grace on personal bests, racing Caster Semenya/Laura Muir, meditation and more

On the latest episode of the Citius Mag Podcast, I am joined by Olympian Kate Grace to discuss her streak of personal bests in 2016 and 2017. She also discusses what it was like to have a front row seat into racing Caster Semenya in Rio and most recently Laura Muir in Birmingham. Kate shares some insight into how she's come about these personal bests and how she views herself going into races. Before all her races, she has a meditation routine and does a few breathing exercises that she shares with listeners. She answers a few listener questions as well. All that and more in the latest episode of the Citius Mag podcast. Subscribe on iTunes. (Pssst..Leave a five-star review) This week's episode was brought to you by our friends at Educated Running and Shoe Kicker.

24 Feb 201735min

Donn Cabral on WR chasing, doubt ahead of '16 Trials and goals for 2017

Donn Cabral on WR chasing, doubt ahead of '16 Trials and goals for 2017

Donn Cabral joins the Citius Mag Podcast ahead of New Jersey-New York Track Club's attempt at breaking the 4xMile world record. Hear Donn's thoughts on how it could go down and how he got roped into the attempt. We also touch on Donn's two Olympic games and how differently he feels about his performances at each. You asked a few questions on Twitter and Instagram so I passed them along to Donn to answer. All that and more in the latest Citius Mag podcast. Now available on iTunes. Subscribe and catch the latest episode on your iPhone or iPad as soon as it drops. (This episode was brought to you by Shoekicker.com)

16 Feb 201739min

Robby Andrews discusses Rio 2016, the DQ, N.J. living and chicken parm

Robby Andrews discusses Rio 2016, the DQ, N.J. living and chicken parm

2016 U.S. Olympian Robby Andrews joins the show as a blizzard ravages the East Coast. Chris and Robby reflect on everything from the 2016 Olympics - from the Opening Ceremonies (snapping a pic with Carmelo Anthony) to the 1,500m D.Q. The episodes also touches on his training in New Jersey and other fun questions in the bell lap segment. (This episode was brought to you by ShoeKicker.com)

9 Feb 201737min

Introducing The Citius Mag Podcast

Introducing The Citius Mag Podcast

Welcome to the Citius Mag podcast. Every week Chris Chavez will chat with a member of the running community whether it's athletes, coaches and writers for a free-flowing conversation on their respective careers on and off the track. Subscribe on iTunes or however you get your podcasts today!

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