Airey Bros.'s Radio

Airey Bros. Radio
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Airey Bros Radio is the #1 podcast for Wrestling, Cross Country & Track & Field athletes chasing opportunities at the HS, NAIA, JUCO, NCAA DII, DIII & D1 levels. Hosted by brothers Rich & Jimi Airey, we do the legwork so you don’t have to. Our mission: spotlight programs, coaches & stories overlooked by the mainstream. From high school dynasties to national championship programs, we bring you recruiting insights, culture deep-dives, underdog journeys & the knowledge we wish we had growing up. 🎧 Weekly live shows & highlights | 🔗 IG @aireybrosradio | Spotify & Apple Podcasts – Airey Bros Radio

  1. 3d ago

    ABR 481 | Chris Bray — Building Embry-Riddle XC, NAIA Running, Recruiting & Training at Altitude

    On Episode 481 of Airey Bros Radio, we head to Prescott, Arizona, with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Head Cross Country Coach Chris Bray. Coach Bray started the Embry-Riddle men’s and women’s cross country programs in 2013 and has built the Eagles into consistent NAIA national contenders. Along the way, his athletes have earned 25 NAIA All-American honors, national podium finishes and opportunities well beyond running. We dive into Bray’s journey from Northern Arizona University to coaching at Yavapai College and eventually building Embry-Riddle XC from the ground up.Coach Bray also breaks down his approach to recruiting, athlete development, altitude training, threshold work, mileage and recovery — and why he believes the best training is training an athlete can consistently recover from. We also talk about what makes Embry-Riddle unique for student-athletes pursuing careers in aviation, aerospace engineering and other highly demanding academic programs. IN THIS EPISODE 🏃 Running at Northern Arizona University 🌲 The Coach Ron Mann years at NAU 🏆 Coaching at Yavapai College 🦅 Starting Embry-Riddle XC from scratch ✈️ Recruiting pilots & aerospace engineers 🎓 Balancing academics, flight training & running ⛰️ Training at 5,000+ feet in Prescott 🏃‍♂️ Developing runners instead of chasing times 🔥 Threshold training & double-threshold workouts 📈 Building mileage safely 🧠 Why recovery matters as much as the workout ⏰ Why Embry-Riddle practices at 6:00 AM 🏆 The Eagles to watch in 2026 🎯 NAIA Championship expectations ☕ The Airey Bros Final Four TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — College running opportunities beyond Division I 03:53 — Airey Bros Radio intro 04:47 — Introducing Chris Bray 06:05 — How recruits can connect with Embry-Riddle 07:44 — The Coach Ron Mann / NAU connection 09:06 — Bray’s favorite NAU stories 13:18 — How Chris Bray got into running 15:43 — From athlete to coach 16:01 — Getting his start at Yavapai College 19:45 — Starting Embry-Riddle XC from scratch 21:25 — The 2026 Embry-Riddle team 23:18 — Recruiting the right student-athletes 26:25 — Building a family-first program 27:01 — School first, flight second, running third 30:07 — Recruiting aerospace engineers & pilots 31:55 — Developing runners instead of filling a roster 34:29 — Adjusting to altitude in Prescott 35:45 — How Embry-Riddle structures threshold training 37:06 — Developing a 17:34 runner into a 14:34 runner 38:39 — Building repeatable training 40:27 — Double-threshold training 42:07 — How Bray’s coaching philosophy has evolved 46:26 — Why simpler training can be better 48:03 — Adjusting training to the individual team 50:04 — Why Prescott is a runner’s paradise 52:16 — From NAIA champion to Western States 53:21 — Where Embry-Riddle athletes go after graduation 55:36 — Coaching high-achieving student-athletes 56:00 — Why the Eagles practice at 6:00 AM 56:59 — “Don’t think, just do” 1:00:30 — What graduating athletes tell Coach Bray 1:02:32 — Eagles to watch in 2026 1:05:55 — Conference & NAIA Championship outlook 1:08:03 — Preparing for Nationals in Vancouver 1:09:35 — Airey Bros Final Four 1:10:21 — Bray’s philosophy: “Just show up” 1:12:29 — What Coach Bray is reading & listening to 1:15:08 — Finding the right college running opportunity 1:16:49 — Coach Bray’s guilty pleasure 1:18:17 — Closing thoughts CONNECT WITH AIREY BROS RADIO 🎥 YouTube: @AireyBros 📸 Instagram: @aireybrosradio 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & wherever you get your podcasts. 🐑 BLACK SHEEP ENDURANCE / Ultra Marathon Coaching & Endurance Training https://www.blacksheependurance.com/ ☕ VALUE FOR VALUE If you get any value from Airey Bros Radio and want to support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros

    ABR 481 | Chris Bray — Building Embry-Riddle XC, NAIA Running, Recruiting & Training at Altitude

  2. Sep 29

    Episode 480: Steve Garland | Building Virginia Wrestling, Rob Koll’s Influence & the Future of College Wrestling

    University of Virginia Head Wrestling Coach Steve Garland joins Airey Bros Radio for Episode 480. Garland’s story is anything but conventional. He started wrestling late, found the sport during a pivotal point in his life, went from not starting in high school to becoming a New York State finalist, Fargo placer, ACC Champion, ACC Wrestler of the Year, NCAA All-American and 2000 NCAA finalist for the Cavaliers.After his wrestling career, Garland spent six seasons at Cornell learning under legendary head coach Rob Koll before returning to Charlottesville in 2006 to lead his alma mater. In this episode, Garland takes us through the entire journey — from the people and experiences that shaped him growing up, to the grind of learning the coaching profession at Cornell, to building Virginia Wrestling and preparing the Cavaliers for the 2026–27 season.We also get into the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics, NIL and revenue sharing, why Garland believes endowments are critical to the future of Olympic sports, what makes the University of Virginia unique in recruiting, and the three pillars at the center of his program: Focus. Discipline. Consistency. Plus, Coach Garland talks about the Paulson brothers, the relationships that have kept him connected to wrestling for nearly three decades, his faith, family, coffee, chicken parm — and plenty of old-school wrestling stories along the way. IN THIS EPISODE: • Steve Garland’s unlikely wrestling origin story • Going from a late starter to an NCAA finalist • How wrestling changed the direction of his life • Transferring to Virginia and becoming an ACC Champion • Learning the coaching business under Rob Koll at Cornell • Why young coaches need to learn every part of the profession • Returning to UVA and rebuilding Virginia Wrestling • Focus, Discipline & Consistency • Seven returning NCAA qualifiers and the 2026–27 Cavaliers • Why UVA Wrestling is working toward a fully endowed program • NIL, revenue sharing and the future of Olympic sports • Recruiting at an elite academic institution • Playing the long game instead of chasing short-term money • Travis and Trent Paulson and the current Virginia staff • Faith, family and what continues to drive Garland • The Airey Bros Final Four 🎙️ AIREY BROS RADIO / Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube: @AireyBros Instagram: @aireybrosradio 🐑 BLACK SHEEP ENDURANCE / Ultra Marathon Coaching & Endurance Training blacksheependurance.com ☕ VALUE FOR VALUE If you get value from Airey Bros Radio and want to help support the show: buymeacoffee.com/aireybros

    Episode 480: Steve Garland | Building Virginia Wrestling, Rob Koll’s Influence & the Future of College Wrestling

  3. Sep 22

    Airey Bros Radio #479 | Greg Thiel – Building Gardner-Webb XC & Track | NCAA D1 Recruiting & Athlete Development

    Gardner-Webb University Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Greg Thiel joins Airey Bros Radio for Episode 479! Coach Thiel has spent decades building programs, developing athletes, and creating opportunities across college track & field. His journey has taken him from helping build the track & field program at South Florida, to starting the program at Southern Wesleyan, to now leading Gardner-Webb Track & Field and Cross Country at the NCAA Division I level. During his career, Thiel has coached All-Americans, conference champions and Olympians, led South Florida to a Conference USA championship, and helped Southern Wesleyan transition from the NCCAA to NCAA Division II. Now entering his fourth season at Gardner-Webb, he's focused on building the Runnin' Bulldogs through athlete development, relationships and culture. In Episode 479, we get into Coach Thiel's unconventional journey into coaching, why he believes in developing overlooked athletes, NCAA Division I recruiting, roster sizes, multi-sport athletes, individualized training, building team culture and why the relationships created through college athletics matter long after the final race. If you're a high school cross country or track & field athlete, parent, coach, or recruit looking at NCAA Division I programs, this conversation provides an inside look at what Coach Thiel and Gardner-Webb are building in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. IN THIS EPISODE • Greg Thiel's unlikely introduction to track & field • Going from business owner to college coach • Helping build South Florida Track & Field • Coaching All-Americans, conference champions and Olympians • Building Southern Wesleyan from the ground up • Taking over Gardner-Webb Track & Field & Cross Country • Creating a strong team culture at the NCAA Division I level • Why every athlete deserves to be developed • Recruiting athletes who fit the program • What Gardner-Webb looks for in prospective student-athletes • NCAA roster changes and opportunities for developing athletes • Training sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and middle-distance athletes • Why Coach Thiel values multi-sport athletes • Individualizing training and communicating with athletes • Why consistency matters more than chasing PRs • Gardner-Webb academics, campus life and Boiling Springs • Relationships, coaching and enjoying the journey CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Airey Bros Radio mission & why we cover college Olympic sports 01:20 – Welcome to Airey Bros Radio #479 02:06 – Introducing Gardner-Webb Head Coach Greg Thiel 03:13 – How recruits can connect with Gardner-Webb 03:48 – Greg Thiel's track & field origin story 05:51 – Junior college, Grand Valley State & the unconventional path 06:28 – His unexpected start in coaching 07:16 – Getting the opportunity at South Florida 08:11 – Selling his business to become a full-time coach 09:02 – Going back to college to become a Division I head coach 10:22 – Building South Florida Track & Field 12:41 – How an unconventional career helps him relate to athletes 14:23 – Developing athletes beyond expectations 14:34 – Coach Thiel's coaching specialties 15:18 – Taking over Gardner-Webb 17:47 – Building the Runnin' Bulldogs program 18:47 – Changing the culture at Gardner-Webb 19:39 – Treating every athlete like they matter 20:49 – NCAA Division I roster changes & developmental athletes 24:22 – Recruiting at Gardner-Webb 25:38 – Finding athletes who fit the program's culture 26:12 – Faith, coaching & Gardner-Webb 27:19 – Can non-religious athletes fit at Gardner-Webb? 29:09 – Boiling Springs, North Carolina & Gardner-Webb University 30:42 – The advantages of a smaller NCAA Division I school 32:45 – Academics & strong programs at Gardner-Webb 33:17 – Managing practice around academics 35:27 – How college athletes have changed 38:09 – Teaching athletes the "why" behind training 40:08 – Individualizing training for different athletes 41:52 – What Coach Thiel looks for when recruiting 43:24 – How Coach Thiel's coaching philosophy changed 45:12 – Why relationships matter more than results 47:27 – Enjoying the journey instead of obsessing over results 50:10 – Consistency vs. chasing personal records 50:52 – Recruiting multi-sport athletes 54:03 – Is multi-sport participation making a comeback? 57:43 – Coach Thiel's daily coaching philosophy 59:38 – Music, motorcycles & life outside track 1:00:54 – FINAL FOUR: Coach Thiel's guilty pleasure 1:02:03 – College football talk 1:04:23 – Final message for prospective Gardner-Webb athletes 1:05:16 – Closing out Episode 479

    Airey Bros Radio #479 | Greg Thiel – Building Gardner-Webb XC & Track | NCAA D1 Recruiting & Athlete Development

  4. Sep 15

    Episode 478 takes us behind the Redwood Curtain with Cal Poly Humboldt Head Cross Country Coach Michael Schroer

    Coach Schroer brings one of the most unique backgrounds we’ve had on the show — an 8x NCAA Division I All-American, 2x Olympic Trials qualifier, World and USA Masters Champion in the 800m, and a coach whose journey has taken him from Virginia to Seoul, South Korea, and ultimately Northern California. We go back to his days at Georgetown and the influence of legendary coach Frank Gagliano, how he found his way into coaching, and why he believes in blending old-school toughness with modern training: work hard, but work smart. From there, we get into what he’s building at Cal Poly Humboldt — recruiting, academics, team culture, the incredible training environment in the redwoods, developing middle-distance athletes through cross country, and his goal of bringing Humboldt’s proud distance-running tradition back into the NCAA Division II national conversation. We also talk about what Coach Schroer looks for in recruits, why communication matters, the importance of long-term athlete development, and why Humboldt can be a special fit for student-athletes looking for something different.🎙️ AIREY BROS RADIO YouTube: @AireyBros Instagram: @aireybrosradio Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & wherever you get your podcasts. 🏃‍♂️ BLACK SHEEP ENDURANCE Ultra Marathon Coaching & Endurance Training https://www.blacksheependurance.com/ ☕ VALUE FOR VALUE / If you get value from Airey Bros Radio and want to support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros Show Notes / Timestamps 00:49 — ABR Intro + Black Sheep Endurance 01:45 — Introducing Michael Schroer 03:10 — Cal Poly Humboldt XC & recruiting 03:55 — The Georgetown/Frank Gagliano connection 07:39 — Schroer’s running origin story 08:52 — From elite athlete to coaching 09:32 — Masters racing & maintaining speed 12:44 — Coaching in Seoul, South Korea 13:45 — Taking the reins at Cal Poly Humboldt 14:28 — Training in the redwoods of Northern California 15:49 — Recruiting: academics come first 17:09 — Rebuilding Humboldt’s distance-running tradition 19:20 — Roster, recruiting footprint & Western tuition opportunities 20:31 — Humboldt academics & unique majors 21:25 — What Schroer looks for in a recruit 22:26 — Communication, expectations & building team buy-in 23:26 — Athlete-led preseason training in Flagstaff 25:06 — 2026 schedule & season outlook 25:53 — Goals and expectations for the Lumberjacks 26:48 — Teaching athletes how to compete 27:26 — Developing 800m runners through cross country 28:41 — Old-school Gags training meets modern sports science 30:19 — Structure, flexibility & adjusting workouts 32:19 — Why Humboldt trains in the morning during XC season 33:13 — Small-school academics & athlete support 34:25 — Life in Arcata & the Humboldt experience 37:39 — Northern California’s running community 38:56 — Recruiting in 2026 & why phone calls still matter 41:48 — High school mileage, burnout & long-term development 43:05 — Humboldt’s distance-running tradition & developing the program 48:26 — Athlete range & planning for the long term 50:03 — ABR Final Four 53:16 — Closing thoughts 54:01 — ABR Outro

    Episode 478 takes us behind the Redwood Curtain with Cal Poly Humboldt Head Cross Country Coach Michael Schroer

  5. Sep 8

    EP. 477 | Building UNC Cross Country & Track with Head Coach Nick Maas

    University of Northern Colorado Head Cross Country & Track and Field Coach Nick Maas joins Airey Bros Radio to talk about taking over the Bears, building a NCAA Division I program in Colorado, recruiting the Mountain West, developing athletes and establishing a culture that can compete in the Big Sky Conference. Coach Maas takes us back to where it all started — growing up in Iowa, finding running as a young athlete, competing at Buena Vista University and beginning his coaching career at Northern Iowa. From there, we trace his journey through Western Illinois, MSU Denver and Wisconsin-Parkside, where he helped build the Rangers into a much larger and more competitive program before returning to Colorado. We get into what building at UNC looks like from the ground up: reconnecting with alumni, recruiting Colorado and the surrounding Mountain States, navigating the transfer portal, developing versatile track & field athletes and creating a culture athletes want to be part of. Coach Maas also breaks down his training philosophy and why he doesn't chase every new training trend. Instead, he focuses on developing complete athletes — mileage, strength, mobility, mechanics, speed and staying healthy over four or five years. We also talk Big Sky Cross Country, preparing for altitude in Flagstaff, Greeley as a college town, Colorado running culture, 14ers, ultramarathons, coffee, craft beer and the Airey Bros Radio Final Four. Whether you're a high school runner looking at NCAA Division I programs, a parent navigating recruiting, or a coach interested in building culture and developing athletes for the long haul, this conversation has plenty to take away. SHOW NOTES / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Airey Bros Radio origin story 02:24 — HOWDY & ALOHA! / Episode 477 begins 03:20 — Introducing UNC Head Coach Nick Maas 04:15 — Where recruits can connect with UNC XC/Track 04:49 — ABR through lines: UNC, Parkside & Nick Becker 08:05 — Nick Maas' running origin story 09:35 — Buena Vista University & becoming a college athlete 10:09 — Why Maas decided to become a coach 10:26 — Learning the profession at Northern Iowa 12:24 — The road from MSU Denver and Parkside back to Colorado 13:31 — Beginning the rebuild at Northern Colorado 14:56 — Coaching changes & navigating the transfer portal 16:02 — Goals for Year 1 with the Bears 18:05 — Starting over after building Wisconsin-Parkside 19:53 — Recruiting Colorado & the Mountain States 20:48 — Competing against NAU, Montana State & the Big Sky 22:02 — Academics, Greeley & who fits at UNC 23:12 — Where the Bears train around Northern Colorado 25:00 — Training in Colorado without an indoor track 25:58 — Hosting the NCAA Division II XC Championships at Parkside 28:23 — Bringing cross country meets back to UNC 29:04 — Building trust with athletes 30:38 — Team camp in Estes Park & the UNC team covenant 31:44 — Learning under Chris Bucknam at Northern Iowa 34:39 — Coaching hurdles, jumps & events beyond distance 35:23 — Building a complete UNC Track & Field program 38:23 — Coach Maas' message to recruits: Come see Greeley 41:20 — Breaking down the Bears' cross country schedule 43:13 — Training for altitude & the Big Sky Championships 44:31 — Norwegian Method, double threshold & training trends 45:45 — Maas' "bucket filler" training philosophy 47:17 — Developing runners gradually & staying healthy 48:40 — Coach Maas' own 100-mile ultramarathon 49:39 — Colorado 14ers & the Collegiate Peaks 51:06 — Advice to his daughter: Run hard and smile 52:05 — Colorado rapid fire & craft beer 53:05 — "Control your controllables" 53:47 — What success looks like in Year 1 at UNC 56:20 — THE FINAL FOUR 56:24 — Coffee 58:02 — Daily practices & rituals 59:11 — Music, podcasts & books 1:00:23 — Guilty pleasures 1:03:40 — Closing thoughts FOLLOW & SUPPORT AIREY BROS RADIO 🎥 YouTube: @AireyBros 📸 Instagram: @aireybrosradio 🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Search "Airey Bros Radio" 🏃 Black Sheep Endurance Ultramarathon & endurance coaching https://www.blacksheependurance.com/ ☕ Support Airey Bros Radio / Buy Us a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros Subscribe, follow and share Episode 477 with a runner, coach, parent or recruit who needs to hear it.

    EP. 477 | Building UNC Cross Country & Track with Head Coach Nick Maas

  6. Sep 2

    ABR 476 | Sean McCafferty — Building the CBA Cross Country Dynasty | NXN, Training & NJ XC

    Christian Brothers Academy Head Cross Country Coach Sean McCafferty joins Airey Bros Radio for a deep dive into one of the most storied high school cross country programs in America. Coming off a historic 2025 season, McCafferty was named the Joe Newton Coach of the Year after leading CBA to 3rd place at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) with a New Jersey-record 15:54 team average. Under his leadership, the Colts have won seven Meet of Champions titles, six Nike Northeast Regional titles and qualified for NXN eight consecutive times. Sean takes us back to his roots in New Jersey distance running, growing up in a running family, his own career at Princeton, becoming a teacher and coach, and eventually taking over the legendary CBA Cross Country program from Tom Heath. We get deep into what has allowed CBA to remain one of the premier high school distance programs in the country: evolving training philosophies, slowing down easy days, threshold training, heart-rate data, lactate testing, building athlete confidence, developing team culture and teaching runners to care about one another. Coach McCafferty also breaks down the modern college recruiting landscape and why the best opportunity for a high school runner isn't always NCAA Division I. We discuss D1, D2 and D3 recruiting, Ivy League academics, social media and Strava, the pressure of coaching a national powerhouse, CBA alumni culture, Nike Cross Nationals and what the next generation of Colts looks like heading into the 2026 cross country season.If you're a high school cross country runner, distance coach, parent, college recruit or fan of New Jersey running, this one is loaded. 🎙️ TOPICS INCLUDE: 🏃 Sean McCafferty's running & coaching origin story 🎓 Running at Princeton & the Ivy League experience 🔵 Christian Brothers Academy Cross Country 🏆 Taking over CBA from legendary coach Tom Heath 🔥 The pressure of maintaining a national powerhouse 🏃‍♂️ New Jersey high school cross country 🎯 College recruiting: D1 vs. D2 vs. D3 📱 Strava, MileSplit & social media in modern recruiting 🧪 Lactate testing, heart rate & threshold training 🐢 Why CBA slowed down to get faster 🤝 Building belief, leadership & team culture 🏆 Meet of Champions & Nike Northeast Regionals 🌲 Nike Cross Nationals / NXN 🥉 CBA's historic 2025 season & 3rd-place NXN finish 🚀 The next generation of CBA distance runners ☕ The ABR Final Four ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌟 FOLLOW & SUPPORT AIREY BROS RADIO 📺 YouTube — @AireyBros https://www.youtube.com/@Aireybros 📸 Instagram — @aireybrosradio https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio/ 🎧 Spotify — Search Airey Bros Radio🍎 Apple Podcasts — Search Airey Bros Radio 🏃‍♂️ BLACK SHEEP ENDURANCE Ultra Marathon & Endurance Coaching https://www.blacksheependurance.com/☕ BUY THE BROS A COFFEE https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros

    ABR 476 | Sean McCafferty — Building the CBA Cross Country Dynasty | NXN, Training & NJ XC

  7. Aug 25

    ABR 475: Jason Russell | Thomas More Wrestling, NCAA DII, Recruiting & the Transfer Portal

    Thomas More University Head Wrestling Coach Jason Russell joins Airey Bros Radio for Episode 475! Coach Russell is entering his 10th season leading the Saints and has guided Thomas More Wrestling through one of the more unique journeys in college wrestling — from NCAA Division III to the NAIA and ultimately into NCAA Division II and the G-MAC. In this episode, Coach Russell takes us through his wrestling origin story, his path into college coaching, building Thomas More into a nationally competitive program, and the challenges and opportunities that came with transitioning between divisions. We get into NCAA Division II wrestling, college wrestling recruiting, the transfer portal, high school wrestler development, Ohio and Kentucky wrestling, scholarships, program culture, U23 competition, the Midlands Championships, and what Thomas More looks for in future Saints. Coach Russell also explains why recruiting isn't just about state titles and rankings. His philosophy centers around finding athletes who genuinely love wrestling, want to compete, and want to develop. We also discuss the modern transfer portal and why Coach Russell believes elite college wrestling programs need a combination of high-level high school recruits, developmental athletes, and selective transfer additions. Coach Jason Russell / Thomas More Highlights 🏆 Entering his 10th season as Head Wrestling Coach at Thomas More University 🏆 2022 Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year 🏆 Led Thomas More to a program-best 7th-place finish at the 2023 NAIA National Tournament 🏆 Helped develop conference champions, national qualifiers, All-Americans and Scholar All-Americans 🏆 Guided Thomas More through its transition into NCAA Division II and the G-MAC 🤼 Building the next chapter of Thomas More Wrestling 📺 YouTube: Airey Bros Radio 📱 Instagram: @aireybrosradio This episode is fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching.   Looking for ultra marathon, endurance or nutrition coaching?  Black Sheep Endurance https://www.blacksheependurance.com/ ☕ Support Airey Bros Radio: https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros ⏱️ EPISODE 475 SHOW NOTES / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Airey Bros Radio mission & helping student-athletes find college opportunities 01:18 — HOWDY & ALOHA! Episode 475 begins 01:41 — Airey Bros Radio, Black Sheep Endurance & supporting the show 02:12 — Introducing Thomas More Head Wrestling Coach Jason Russell 03:21 — Coach Russell's wrestling origin story 05:03 — How cross country helped Russell's wrestling 08:00 — Growing up in Ohio & Northern Kentucky 09:49 — When Russell knew he wanted to become a college coach 12:27 — Wisconsin-Whitewater & the road to Thomas More 14:26 — Recruiting differences: NCAA DIII vs. NAIA vs. NCAA DII 16:40 — Thomas More begins its athletic transition 17:49 — NCAA DIII → NAIA → NCAA Division II 18:57 — Competing in the NCWA & opportunities in college wrestling 20:42 — Building Thomas More into a Top-10 NAIA program 21:03 — The "gut punch" of another divisional transition 23:14 — Competing in NCAA Division II 24:01 — Why Thomas More's seniors stayed through the transition 25:03 — National champions, All-Americans & a third-place team finish 26:29 — Why recruits should look at Thomas More University 27:12 — Majors, Cincinnati & the Thomas More experience 27:36 — Required internships & preparing athletes for careers 30:48 — Why career preparation matters for student-athletes 32:03 — Recruiting Ohio, Kentucky and beyond 33:09 — Kentucky high school wrestling hotbeds 33:42 — Northern Kentucky wrestling & community development 34:26 — Recruiting battles across Kentucky 36:23 — 2026-27 recruiting class & summer development 37:44 — U23s, opens & opportunities beyond NCAA DII 38:07 — Competing at the Midlands Championships 38:45 — Scheduling opponents across college wrestling divisions 40:10 — Ohio vs. Kentucky wrestling 40:37 — Why Kentucky wrestling is on the rise 41:22 — What Jason Russell REALLY looks for in recruits 42:22 — Championships, friendships & the college experience 45:29 — The changing landscape of college wrestling 45:54 — High school recruiting vs. the NCAA transfer portal 46:19 — How Russell believes elite rosters should be built 46:49 — Why recruiting never stops once an athlete gets to campus 47:41 — Kentucky's one-division state wrestling tournament 48:26 — THE FINAL FOUR 🤙 48:34 — Coffee or energy drinks? 49:20 — Coach Russell's energy drink stories 50:51 — Daily habits & staying motivated as a coach 51:58 — Inspiration & finding motivation outside wrestling 53:20 — Podcasts, coaching education & What Drives Winning 54:19 — Who controls the music in the Thomas More wrestling room? 55:22 — Coach Russell's guilty pleasure 55:55 — Family ancestry & tracing his roots 57:55 — Will Coach Russell's son become a wrestler? 58:39 — Closing thoughts & what's ahead for Thomas More Wrestling

    ABR 475: Jason Russell | Thomas More Wrestling, NCAA DII, Recruiting & the Transfer Portal

  8. Aug 19

    ABR 474: Dax Charles | CSU Pueblo Wrestling, NCAA DII Recruiting & Building Champions

    Coach Dax Charles, Head Wrestling Coach at Colorado State University Pueblo, joins Airey Bros Radio for Episode 474! Entering his 18th season leading CSU Pueblo Wrestling, Coach Charles has spent decades building, rebuilding, and carrying forward the tradition of ThunderWolves wrestling. A former NCAA Division II National Champion, three-time All-American and NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Famer, Charles has coached national champions, national finalists, All-Americans, national qualifiers and RMAC champions during his career. In this episode, Coach Charles breaks down what he looks for when recruiting NCAA Division II wrestlers, why relationships and character matter more than recruiting services, and the four standards every wrestler in his program is expected to live by: go to class, come to practice, stay out of trouble and win. We also dive into Coach Charles' journey from Louisiana football player to national champion wrestler, training around elite wrestlers and judo athletes, the benefits of being a multi-sport athlete, and how his coaching philosophy has evolved from the old-school grind toward smarter training designed to peak athletes for the postseason. Coach Charles also tells the story of returning to CSU Pueblo to rebuild the wrestling program, carrying on the legacy of legendary coach Doug Moses, developing young men beyond wrestling, and why he believes Division II athletics can give student-athletes something they can carry for the rest of their lives. Plus, we look ahead to the 2026–27 CSU Pueblo Wrestling season, including returning national qualifiers, young talent to watch and why Coach Charles believes the ThunderWolves are positioned to make a jump in the RMAC. Whether you're a high school wrestler, college recruit, parent, coach or NCAA wrestling fan, this conversation is packed with insight on recruiting, development, discipline, leadership and building a championship culture. Topics include: NCAA Division II Wrestling • CSU Pueblo Wrestling • RMAC Wrestling • College Wrestling Recruiting • Wrestling Scholarships • Multi-Sport Athletes • Coaching Philosophy • Championship Culture • Doug Moses • Colorado Wrestling • Student-Athlete Development • NCAA Wrestling 🌟 FOLLOW & SUPPORT AIREY BROS RADIO 🎥 YouTube: @AireyBros 📸 Instagram: @aireybrosradio 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🏃‍♂️ Black Sheep Endurance CoachingBlack Sheep Endurance ☕ Support Airey Bros RadioBuy Me a Coffee — Airey Bros SHOW NOTES / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Airey Bros mission & helping student-athletes discover college opportunities 01:48 — HOWDY & ALOHA! Episode 474 begins 02:39 — Introducing CSU Pueblo Head Wrestling Coach Dax Charles 04:16 — Coach Charles' 36-year connection to CSU Pueblo 04:41 — Recruiting wrestlers to CSU Pueblo 06:02 — Why Coach Charles responds to every recruiting questionnaire 06:49 — Recruiting advice: narrow your search to 3–5 schools and build relationships 07:04 — Division II wrestling, NIL & what Coach Charles wants from recruits 07:36 — The four things wrestlers can earn at CSU Pueblo 08:49 — The long-term value of NCAA Division II athletics 10:28 — Jimi's personal recruiting connection with Coach Charles 11:53 — Dax Charles' wrestling origin story 13:22 — Why he chose wrestling over college football 15:23 — Competing against Iowa & training around elite wrestlers 16:08 — Judo, combat sports & training near the Olympic Training Center 18:01 — Why Coach Charles believes in multi-sport athletes 20:00 — The problem with specializing too early 21:30 — Are young wrestlers reaching their potential too early? 23:03 — How Coach Charles' training philosophy has evolved 24:00 — Midwest Classic, RMAC competition & peaking for Nationals 24:58 — Recruiting outside Colorado & what he wants from East Coast wrestlers 27:07 — "Show me, don't tell me" — proving yourself in the wrestling room 27:27 — Balancing wrestling with Colorado's outdoor lifestyle 29:07 — Building a balanced roster through high school, JUCO & transfer recruiting 30:07 — Why today's high school wrestlers are ready for college competition 31:38 — How Dax Charles became a college wrestling coach 33:10 — CSU Pueblo drops wrestling — and the road to bringing it back 34:05 — Taking a pay cut to return and carry on the program's tradition 35:39 — University of Southern Colorado → CSU Pueblo 36:48 — Doug Moses' influence on Dax Charles 38:30 — Coaching his brother & establishing "dominance" 41:00 — Treating wrestlers like family 42:18 — Coach Charles' four non-negotiable program rules 44:03 — Preparing for the 2026–27 wrestling season 44:39 — Summer training & athlete accountability 45:37 — Recruiting relationships & perceptions of Pueblo 47:54 — How CSU Pueblo's campus and facilities have evolved 49:02 — Character vs. talent when evaluating recruits 52:03 — What people should know about CSU Pueblo Wrestling 53:06 — Returning wrestlers & names to watch in 2026–27 54:42 — Why Coach Charles expects CSU Pueblo to make a jump this season 54:58 — RMAC rivalries & competing against fellow Division II coaches 58:13 — The Airey Bros Final Four 58:42 — Coach Charles' daily 7 A.M. weightlifting routine 59:00 — Stargate & Coach Charles' love of sci-fi 59:18 — Pueblo green chile & Coach's guilty pleasure

    ABR 474: Dax Charles | CSU Pueblo Wrestling, NCAA DII Recruiting & Building Champions
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40 Ratings

About

Airey Bros Radio is the #1 podcast for Wrestling, Cross Country & Track & Field athletes chasing opportunities at the HS, NAIA, JUCO, NCAA DII, DIII & D1 levels. Hosted by brothers Rich & Jimi Airey, we do the legwork so you don’t have to. Our mission: spotlight programs, coaches & stories overlooked by the mainstream. From high school dynasties to national championship programs, we bring you recruiting insights, culture deep-dives, underdog journeys & the knowledge we wish we had growing up. 🎧 Weekly live shows & highlights | 🔗 IG @aireybrosradio | Spotify & Apple Podcasts – Airey Bros Radio

Information

  • Creator
    Airey Bros. Radio
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    400
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Airey Bros. Radio
  • Show Website
    Airey Bros.'s Radio

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