J.W. Hardy, NAU’s director of track & field and cross country, won Big Sky Coach of the Year honors by helping the track team to a title this spring. - Ryan Kennedy/ The Lumberjack

The NAU track team stands strong under the leadership of J.W Hardy, director of track and field. Along with the title of head coach, Hardy strives for excellence in all that he does, not only among his staff, but also through his athletes. The former assistant coach, Hardy returns for his 12th season looking to inject impact into the track and field program.

Beginning his career at NAU as assistant coach, Hardy had his highs and lows. In 1997, Hardy demonstrated his expertise in jumps, hurdles and sprints as an assistant coach while lending a hand to his staff and later proceeding to fill out the head coaching position in 2004.

“I try to instill balance into the program,” Hardy said. “We have a great reputation for our distance program, but I have tried to build upon that and recruit as much as possible in terms of other events. Things are balanced. My particular method of coaching is to find out what the athletes’ strengths are.”

Coach Hardy works with assistant coaches Mohamad Sataara, Lauryn Jordan, Eric Heins, Giles McDonnell and Seth Watkins throughout the season, striving for success.

“Our goal is to boost the amount of quality (in the team),” Hardy said. “We try to just focus on the cohesiveness of (the track) program.”

According to Hardy, his background in Christianity as a pastor influences his techniques and relationships with his student athletes.

“As an ordained pastor, that aspect certainly plays a part in my job,” Hardy said. “I pray for my kids and my coaches, and I would say that it has an effect of how I treat them. Not everyone believes what I believe, but I understand that the proper treatment of everyone around me is essential for a better athletic community.”

The head coach’s job focuses primarily on sporting, but Hardy admits winning does not constitute happiness.

“I strive on asking how I can help (athletes) and excel to the level they can.” Hardy said. “Winning is not the most important thing, although it is a close second. I want to mentor kids to be good citizens and learn how to treat people — from there, athletics takes care of itself.”

Since taking over as head coach, Hardy has led the Lumberjacks to five Big Sky team champsionhip and 72 individual titles.

Before taking the position at NAU, Hardy was a top sprinter as a Lumberjack coached under Ron Mann, and ended his student-athlete career as a three-time NCAA All-American and seven-time Big Sky conference champion.