After coaching distance running at Los Altos for over 10 years, Charles Alexander leaped at the chance to be head track and field coach. He follows in the footsteps of former Head Coach Steph MacKenzie, who announced her retirement last month.
“It’s a bit of a scary transition,” Alexander said. “But I love walking around and seeing how each team operates. It’s with the help of our very charismatic and energetic coaches – we all run things differently.”
Alexander will work alongside returning coaches Gerri Baldwin, Dave Barth, Robyn Hughes, Drew Russert, and George Carty, many of whom previously were head coaches.
“A head coach should know a little bit about everything since there are a lot of rules and events that are not your own,” Alexander said. “Because of my experience at Los Altos, I already feel comfortable taking on this role.”
Alexander joined Los Altos’ running program in 2008 and coached cross country and track and field until 2014. He returned in 2021 and, with MacKenzie, coached the State Championship-winning girls’ cross country team that fall. This season, Alexander led the girls team to second place and the boys to first place in the CCS championship.
Legacies
Since MacKenzie joined in 2016, the Eagles have dominated league in both track and field and cross country.
“I am so appreciative of the opportunity to coach at Los Altos for so many years,” MacKenzie said. “I learned so much from Ms. Noeth and my fellow coaches over the years about building a strong team culture and successful program. It was a privilege to work with so many wonderful students.”
According to Alexander, MacKenzie mentioned four months ago that Los Altos would need another head coach by her side. However, no one knew she was retiring until she announced her move to the East Coast at the beginning of track season.
“It appears the other coaches are busy this year,” Alexander said. “We needed somebody else to step up and do more administrative work: put the roster together, mail the weekly email to the parents, and organize the buses.”
Senior Trevor Crane, who runs both the 800, believes Alexander has adjusted well into his new position.
“I like that Charles was also an athlete in high school, so he understands what we’re going through,” Trevor said. “He can really put that knowledge to use.”
“Charles is constantly researching and learning more about training methods to make the team as competitive as possible,” MacKenzie said. “He makes training more fun and creates a positive team culture.”
As Alexander adjusts to this new transition for the upcoming spring season, he aims to continue incorporating MacKenzie’s coaching methods and workout plans.
“Steph has just been a fantastic mentor,” Alexander said. “She’s a great person, well to work with, and I’m just so thankful to her for getting me to where I am.”
