DARLINGTON - The accolades keep piling up for Darlington's Arnie Miehe, recently named the 2015 National Cross Country Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association.
Miehe, who just completed his 34th year coaching cross country at Darlington High School, is being honored for his work with the boys cross country team in 2015 after helping guide Darlington to its fifth straight WIAA Division 3 state championship.
Miehe is one of 22 coaches across the country to be named a national coach of the year. The award comes on the heels of Miehe being named the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year in October. He has been named the WCCA Division 3 Coach of the Year four consecutive years.
"It was the thrill of a lifetime," Miehe said. "The state award was really special. When you are talking about the whole nation, it's thrilling and humbling."
Miehe found out the good news and received a standing ovation from coaching colleagues at a Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association clinic in Milwaukee Jan. 9.
"That made it really special," Miehe said of having the honor announced at a coaches' clinic by WIAA assistant director Stephanie Hauser. "You are there with all the coaches you have coached and competed against. It's a special honor I will always remember."
Since taking over the Redbirds' cross country program in 1982, Miehe has led the boys teams to seven state titles, four state runner-up finishes, 17 conference championships and a 2,403-368 record.
The Darlington boys also won their eighth straight SWAL title and eighth consecutive sectional title.
In October, Miehe was named the Wisconsin coach of the year. He completed a coach profile form detailing his record, membership with coaching, other professional organizations, involvement in school and community programs and coaching philosophy.
"Darlington Athletic Director Curt Cohen and I didn't hear anything back from the sectional voting so I assumed I was eliminated," Miehe said.
But it turned out that was far from the case - he had been named the Sectional Coach of the Year for Central Region 4, which includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan.
Another staple of the Redbirds' cross country program is the community service Miehe has strived to add. He started the 172-mile Run Across Wisconsin, which has raised $25,000 in 13 years for the Relay for Life of Lafayette County. The Darlington High School cross country team has at least one runner running at a time from the start in Racine to Monroe until the finish along the Mississippi River in East Dubuque.
With sons Kent Miehe and Tyson Miehe running cross country and track in college, Miehe still has a passion for the sport. Tyson is running at the University of Wisconsin and Kent is wrapping up his college career with track at UW-Whitewater.
"I will keep going," he said of coaching. "Maybe another 34 years. It's going well and I enjoy it."
Miehe, who just completed his 34th year coaching cross country at Darlington High School, is being honored for his work with the boys cross country team in 2015 after helping guide Darlington to its fifth straight WIAA Division 3 state championship.
Miehe is one of 22 coaches across the country to be named a national coach of the year. The award comes on the heels of Miehe being named the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year in October. He has been named the WCCA Division 3 Coach of the Year four consecutive years.
"It was the thrill of a lifetime," Miehe said. "The state award was really special. When you are talking about the whole nation, it's thrilling and humbling."
Miehe found out the good news and received a standing ovation from coaching colleagues at a Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association clinic in Milwaukee Jan. 9.
"That made it really special," Miehe said of having the honor announced at a coaches' clinic by WIAA assistant director Stephanie Hauser. "You are there with all the coaches you have coached and competed against. It's a special honor I will always remember."
Since taking over the Redbirds' cross country program in 1982, Miehe has led the boys teams to seven state titles, four state runner-up finishes, 17 conference championships and a 2,403-368 record.
The Darlington boys also won their eighth straight SWAL title and eighth consecutive sectional title.
In October, Miehe was named the Wisconsin coach of the year. He completed a coach profile form detailing his record, membership with coaching, other professional organizations, involvement in school and community programs and coaching philosophy.
"Darlington Athletic Director Curt Cohen and I didn't hear anything back from the sectional voting so I assumed I was eliminated," Miehe said.
But it turned out that was far from the case - he had been named the Sectional Coach of the Year for Central Region 4, which includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan.
Another staple of the Redbirds' cross country program is the community service Miehe has strived to add. He started the 172-mile Run Across Wisconsin, which has raised $25,000 in 13 years for the Relay for Life of Lafayette County. The Darlington High School cross country team has at least one runner running at a time from the start in Racine to Monroe until the finish along the Mississippi River in East Dubuque.
With sons Kent Miehe and Tyson Miehe running cross country and track in college, Miehe still has a passion for the sport. Tyson is running at the University of Wisconsin and Kent is wrapping up his college career with track at UW-Whitewater.
"I will keep going," he said of coaching. "Maybe another 34 years. It's going well and I enjoy it."
