At Tennessee Tech, success on the track starts with something deeper than times and results. For head coach Peter Dalton, athlete development begins with how feedback is delivered.
Dalton said his approach centers on building athletes up, not tearing them down.
“When you’re instructing people on what they’re doing or what they’re not doing, sometimes some people can take it personally,” Dalton said. “We always try and let them know hey, we believe in you, we want you to be the best you can be, and to be the best you can be, you got to take a look at this element of your training or your preparation or your competition, mindset.”
That philosophy has become a foundation for a Tennessee Tech program competing at the NCAA Division I level, where Dalton oversees both the track and field and cross country teams.
Dalton said approach carries into recruiting, where he prioritizes qualities that extend beyond athletic performance.
“At first, we need to look for character, which is how they’ve been brought up, what their home values are,” Dalton said. “The second thing is we always look for academics, because academics are hard work, which transfers to the track.”
Dalton said if you have those two things, good things can happen on the track.
Once athletes arrive in Cookeville, Dalton said he and his staff take a measured, long-term approach, especially with freshmen adjusting to the demands of collegiate competition.
Dalton said one of the biggest mistakes programs can make is pushing young runners too quickly. Instead, the Golden Eagles focus on gradual progression. Dalton said freshmen are eased into training loads, while upperclassmen see increases based on how well they handle the workload.
“The last thing you want to do for a young 18, 19 year old body is increase two variables, the intensity and the volume,” Dalton said. “The second, third, and fourth year, it’s usually a moving, sliding scale. If they’re handling the workload well, if they’re running strongly in practice and in races, then we can progress those methods of volume and intensity and weight room also.”
Despite overseeing a full roster across multiple disciplines, Dalton said that no two athletes are treated the same. Each training plan is specifically tailored to the individual.