Today, we had the fortune of speaking with one of the best distance coaches in California, Mira Costa's Renee Williams-Smith (Jada Hong photo). Two weeks ago, Williams-Smith was one of the featured speakers at the Boulder Running Camp. Her girls' cross country team was also the Division II state champion this past season after several near misses in past seasons. In 2014, Brooks Running Company named Williams-Smith as the Inspiring Coach of the Year.
1) What sports do you remember doing first as a child? What sports did you participate in before high school(HS)?
The were not a lot of organized sports for girls at that time but I loved beach volleyball and tennis and I was always outside on my bike. I did not participate in organized sports until heading into my frosh year of high school when I joined AYSO.
2) What sports did you participate in HS and what led you to participate on the cross-country team?
I played soccer and ran cross country and track. I started running cross country because the high school soccer coach told me that I was not going to get a lot of playing time and I didn't want to just sit on the bench.
3) What were some of your HS athletic highlights?
My high school athletic highlights were helping to organize a girl's track and cross county team. I was just an average runner.
4) You attended El Camino Junior College and then Kansas State following HS. What led you to choose those colleges and what sports did you do there? Highlights?
I attended El Camino college because it was close. The coach recruited a friend of mine and I tagged along. Dave Shannon , the coach had a structured and organized girls program that was fun to be a part of. I ran cross and track and improved my times considerably. I finished as El Camino's number #1 XC runner both years. Kansas State recruited me and had a very competitive program with several JC transfers. The biggest highlight was being a part of the BIG 8 championship cross country team my junior year. In track I moved up to the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and loved it!!
5) Aside from coaching what have you done since you graduated from Kansas State?
I worked on the 1984 Olympic committee in Treasury. I worked for a management and leadership consulting firm for approx. 14 years in various capacities with a stint in London. It was a consulting firm with a strong growth mindset .
6) What led you to volunteer coach starting in 2001 at Mira Costa? What did you learn from your experience as a volunteer and assistant coach?
I stopped by Mira Costa to watch a track meet and the former girls coach called the next day asking if I'd like to volunteer for a little while. I enjoyed it so much that we made it permanent. I learned to listen to the student-athletes. I also learned the importance of building a relationship with the athletes I coached, because "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
7) When you became the head coach, what did you keep from the previous coach, and what changes did you make?
The previous coaches had built a very inclusive environment that I thought was important to maintain. As part of this, they had the boys and girls training together. At the same time, I saw value in the girls having a space that was uniquely their own. The girls and boys teams still coordinate their schedules and often run together but have training programs and team cultures of their own.
8) Who were and have been the coaches that helped mentor you during those early years and beyond?
Dave Shannon who was my coach at El Camino had a huge influence on me and was my mentor right up until his recent passing. I have been fortunate to have some very good mentors/friends. Rene Paragas from Saugus, Brian Shapiro from Palos Verdes, Jeff Atkinson who coached with me at Mira Costa . Dr. Jeff Messer has been a great resource as well. I have also learned a ton from Ken Reeves in the past 5 years. The high school cross country coaching environment is open to sharing ideas and super encouraging.
9) What do you feel you do really well as a coach? What have been some of your proudest achievements at Mira Costa?
I feel that we create a positive and healthy environment where student-athletes can excel and feel good about themselves. One of the proudest achievements is the team making it to the California state meet all but two years since 2007. We were especially proud of this past year's state championship team (photo below courtesy of Mira Costa XC) since they had to endure the last couple of years with so much uncertainty. They were willing to trust us as coaches to help them excel in this uncertain time. They rose to the occasion, taking every opportunity put in front of them. 
10) We are all dealing with a unique time. What have you done as a coach to keep your runners motivated?
We communicated a lot! Whether it was just a dm to motivate someone to get out and run or a small team meet up. We formed small pods so they could safely run together in new and different parts of town.
11) From your own experience as a runner as well as a coach, what would be your advice be for a young HS female who is passionate about running?
As Jay Johnson would say "Consistency is Key". Follow the program and have fun!
12) Anything you would like to add.
Thanks for the opportunity to chat !
Thank you very much for your time, Renee! AJC