Coach Gary Droze has been a mainstay in the Tallahassee running community for over two decades leading the Maclay Marauders since 1993. Over his time, his squads have accumulated TWENTY state championships (five each in girls and boys track and girls and boys cross country), dozens of district and regional titles, and have sent many members to run at the collegiate level.
Now, Droze will add college coach to his resume after taking on double duty with Maclay and starting the new women's cross country program at nearby Tallahassee Community College. He says he is looking forward to the new role.
The Marauders leader will still stay on board to coach those athletes and says that the school's administration has been very supportive in the decision.
"My immediate supervisor allowed me to change my schedule so I trade a morning class for a noontime one, so I will schedule al TCC practices for mornings and continue to coach at Maclay."
When it comes to recruiting new athletes to the program, Droze wants to keep the talent local, but he adds dipping into his current crop of talent at Maclay is not an option."
"An extremely straightforward condition of my position at TCC prevents recruiting in general, and very specifically at Maclay. There simply will be no Maclay graduates allowed to participate in cross-country at TCC, and I am strictly regulated, regarding contact with high-schoolers at all during cross-country season."
Droze can still be running around "Trailahassee" whether it be with the team or in 5k's around the state's capital. He says quite frankly he is looking forward to introducing currently enrolled TCC students to the sport of cross country.
"My priority for them is the same one I have for Maclay students: to turn them into lifelong runners!"