Durango High School didn’t have to look far to find its next cross-country coach, as the school named former Fort Lewis College coach Ken Flint as its next leader of the boys and girls programs.
Flint spent more than a decade leading the men’s and women’s cross-country teams at FLC. He took charge of the Skyhawks in 2000 and stayed on as coach through the 2011 season. He and FLC parted ways prior to the start of the 2012 season.
“I stepped away from coaching for six years and I’m fortunate to be in a position to come back and do something I love and influence some kids’ lives,” Flint said. “I’m looking forward to it. I thought I had something to add to the team with my previous coaching experience. I’ve already built relationships with a fair amount of the kids, and I want to continue on with the tradition of strong cross-country programs at DHS.”
Flint’s coaching experience at the collegiate level, as well as his knowledge and connections in Durango’s running community, made him an ideal fit in the eyes of DHS athletic director Adam Bright.
“Obviously, his experience (was important), and him being a local, he knows the Durango running scene,” Bright said. “He knows the whole running community in Durango and is a part of it, so it wasn’t bringing someone in who doesn’t know (Durango’s running history). I think here, you need to know Durango, Durango High School and the Durango running community, and that’s a lot to bite off if you’re an outsider. Him being a local, he knows all those things already and he seemed like a natural fit.”
Flint has lived in Durango for more than 20 years. He ran collegiately at San Diego State University from 1986-1990. With the Aztecs, Flint was named the Western Athletic Conference scholar athlete of the year in 1989. He served as the cross-country team captain for two seasons, and was a captain with the track team one season.
Flint takes over for David McMillan, who resigned as the DHS boys and girls cross-country and track and field coach following the 2017-18 school year. McMillan spent eight years at DHS and led the Demons’ boys cross-country team to the 2015 Class 4A state title.
“Coach Mac had done a great job over the past years of raising expectations in the program,” Flint said. “I want to build on what he’s already established.”
Unlike his predecessor, Flint will only coach cross-country. Bright said he and DHS will begin the search for the school’s next track and field coach later this summer.
kschneider@durangoherald.com
