Click HERE to view Jeff's video presentation and acceptance speech.
The path to competitive success at the collegiate level may have been a little longer than Jeff Stiles ’99 might have anticipated, but persistence, perseverance, and commitment led him to excel across a wide range of distances as a member of the North Central College men’s cross country and track and field programs.
Despite initially knowing little about the Cardinals’ program, Stiles became convinced North Central was the place for him quickly after his initial meeting with head coach Al Carius (H) ’16.
“Meeting him for the first time was overwhelming, in a positive way,” Stiles said. “I remember walking into Al’s office, and I was sold. We spent about an hour just talking, and I could tell there was just something different about him that was magnetic, that made you feel good about yourself.”
Entering college with a considerable pedigree at the high school level, Stiles quickly realized a different level of effort would be required to succeed in the collegiate ranks. During his freshman cross country season, he struggled to keep up with the pack.
“I thought I was pretty good, and I was one of the slowest guys on the team,” he recalled. “It was very humbling to go from being the best guy on my high school team to being literally last, but by the end of my freshman year I definitely saw some improvement.
“It’s easy to buy in when you’ve seen improvement and are having fun. I really felt a part of something bigger. I think everyone in life wants to be a part of a community. We’re hard-wired that way, and I was hooked.”
By his sophomore year, Stiles had improved enough to earn All-America honors indoors in the 5,000-meter run and win a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He repeated as the CCIW’s steeplechase champion and earned outdoor All-America honors in the event as a junior, flourishing as he was allowed to play a leading role in his own development.
“Al gives so much ownership to athletes so that you’re steering the ship, so you’re excited about it,” he said. “He allowed you to grow your confidence by putting you in situations where you could be successful.”
Stiles opened his senior year by claiming All-America accolades in cross country, helping lead the Cardinals to a national title. He posted a second-place finish in the 5,000 at the indoor national championships, then won CCIW titles at 1,500 and 5,000 meters before placing second in the steeplechase and third in the 5,000 at the outdoor national championships, propelling North Central to another team title.
“I wanted to be a contributor and an All-American, but the biggest draw for me was to be a part of the team,” Stiles said. “As I grew and matured, I became way less self-focused and by the end I was motivated much more about the team. I wanted to be on teams that won national championships.”
The focus on unity and teamwork in what is commonly regarded as an individual endeavor is a key teaching point for Stiles now that he is a coach in his own right.
“One of the main things I talk about with my teams is the idea of being part of something bigger than yourself,” he said. “If it’s just about yourself, when things go poorly, you’re likely just to give up. For us, it’s about building culture, chemistry and family, fostering intangibles and focusing on relationships.”
