A former Marine is now the new girls’ track coach and he believes the most important thing for students to have is crazy energy with a contagious vibe that keeps them pushing forward to their goal.

Jeremy Kauffman, new head girls track and field coach, steps into LZ to give back to the community he loves, he says. By knowing the fellow coaches, living in Lake Zurich, and having two daughters in the district, Kauffman believes filling the position as head coach “made sense.”

“I think it’s very humbling. What’s great about working with the kids every year is that tradition is reinvented every year,” Kauffman said. “That why I love coaching and teaching because it’s kind of like everyday is a fresh start. I always tell myself that when you go to practice, you get to be the best version of yourself, you can leave your work day. Kids come out and they had a tough day and practice is a place where you get to explore the best part of who you are.”

After coaching for 22 years at various schools and running distance in high school, Kauffman believes his experience and passion will help him coach students.

“I have been working like crazy these last three, four weeks with offseason and meeting the girls, going to football game, and meeting the parents to get everything really rolling before winter break so we can hit the floor running after finals,” Kauffman said.

Emily Burns, junior track and field runner, who was coached by Kauffman at a summer camp, is one who sees his dedication to the team often.

“He really cares about the team and how everyone does individually,” Burns said. “He comes up with workout plans for each person [depending on times and how students have been training] so they can be the best they can be. I am super excited about his dedication and love for the sport because it means that he’ll be able to get the team excited and hopefully dedicated to the sport as well. I feel like I’m in good hands to get me to my goal of state.”

Kauffman says his methods of coaching are very detailed-oriented, which helps when creating these individual workout plans for people on the team.

“My system is very detailed and organized, there will never be any confusion of exactly what we are doing today, or the vision for the season,” Kauffman said. “I think the girls will be very happy with that and I think they will love the different systems and activities we have to keep it fresh and keep the season moving forward. My method is really to be as passionate and goal oriented as possible I will bring energy and the love for this sport everyday.”

The energy and hard work Kauffman has for the sport was built through his early years of life.

“I joined the Marine Corps and it was a life changing experience because it teaches you to grow up super fast and tests you beyond your human reason. It just changes your view of the world,” Kauffman said. “When you’re in the Mojave desert and you’re 18 years with 100 pounds on your back hiking 30 miles [you think], ‘how cold is it ever going to be? How hot or uncomfortable is it ever going to be?’ It helped me get my foundation.”

While being a Marine gave him his foundation, Kauffman says he dedicates his hard work ethic to his high school coaches which he hopes to instill in his students.

“When you’re providing [students] a skill that they are going to use and you see that lightbulb go off, you see you are affecting them in a way that it is going to take them through their next few years,” Kauffman said. “ I love coaching because I think athletics is on the front line of giving kids life skills especially in today’s world that they got to have to move through life. It’s just in my blood, I really love it.”