When the opportunity to get back into coaching was presented, Jennifer Hildreth took the plunge into a new program.

She recently was hired as the varsity cross-country coach at Trinity Lutheran High School.

“My daughter (Abby Hildreth) is a Trinity student and runs cross-country, and (Trinity) had a need for a coach,” Hildreth said. “I think it was mentioned to the athletic director (Andy Denny) that I could be interested since I had coached before. I got a call and thought about it for a day. Really, I thought about it for a second. My heart got a little fluttery. I let them know the next day I would be happy to coach.”

While she’s new to Trinity, Hildreth is a respected cross-country coach in the community.

She coached the Seymour Middle School girls cross-country team from 2007 to 2017. In 2013, she also helped start the South Central Indiana Running Club, which has produced national-level runners at the middle school level. She has coached numerous runners that have competed at the IHSAA state meet.

In 2015, Hildreth also helped organize the EXCL Elementary Cross Country League, which has grown to more than 500 kids from across Jackson County.

Hildreth replaces Chris Crenshaw as the head coach of the program. Hildreth’s new position at Trinity will be her first high school coaching position.

After stepping away from the sport for a year, she is excited to get back into coaching.

“I’ve been out of cross-country for a year and a half. I didn’t leave cross-country because I fell out of love with coaching or kids or the sport,” Hildreth said. “Family obligations are first always, and that needed to happen. The love is still there.”

The Cougars have struggled to get participation up in recent years. They have four kids on this year’s roster, one more than the 2017 team. Trinity had two runners in 2016.

“I have a love for the sport. My goal is to always share that love with the kids,” Hildreth said. “Everyone has someone to offer to the sport, and I think it’s a sport for everybody. Some people think they’re not a fast runner or can’t run very far, but that’s not true because they can. They can always improve. It doesn’t matter if you finish first or last because everyone can achieve a goal.

“For me, my personal goal is to expand the program. We’re hoping to build a program.”