Jon Kehler grew up in Southern California and never put on a pair of cross country skis until he reached his early 20's, but he took to the sport quickly. Since that early winter day, when he first strapped boards to his feet, he has been passionate about cross country skiing and running.
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Chugiak High School cross country coach Jon Kehler has been called the Pied Piper of cross country by parents of athletes on the team for his ability to make the grueling training and competition fun.
Star Photo by DARRELL L. BREESE
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“I played hockey growing up,” he said. “And I tried skiing as a way to get in better shape for hockey. But that changed really fast. Because of skating, I was comfortable on skis, and I found myself grabbing my ski boots more than my skates.”
For the past 11 years, Kehler has been sharing his passion for everything cross country, coaching the Alaska Nordic Racing ski team and, more recently, as the head coach for the Chugiak High School cross country running and ski teams.
Spreading his passion for the sport has led parents of the athletes he coaches to dub him the Pied Piper of cross country.
“He brings the best out of every kid he coaches,” said Tina McPhetres, mother of two daughters Kehler has coached for the past five years.
By day, Kehler works as a mild-mannered surveyor for the Bureau of Land Management. But, like a modern day superhero, he quickly changes as he races off in the afternoon to conquer the world of cross country one athlete at a time.
“I get off work at 2 p.m., just in time to make it to practice,” he said. “Then, three days a week, (during the summer and fall) I coach the Alaska Nordic Racing team in addition to the high school team. Sometimes I spend more time coaching than I do at work.”
Using his super powers to coach and help train young athletes, Kehler has developed a strong cross country program, both locally and statewide.
“Working with (former Eagle River High School cross county running coach) Ja Dorris, we've attracted athletes from across the state to be part of Alaska Nordic Racing,” Kehler said. “We've got kids from Fairbanks, Valdez, Kenai, Seward and the rest of the state in the program.”
McPhetres said Kehler has a way of making those athletes from around the state feel just as important as the members of the Chugiak cross country teams.
“No matter where he is, there are kids from all over the state seeking him out to say hello and give him a high five,” she said. “He makes a personal connection with everyone he coaches. It's that emotional investment he has that makes him such an amazing coach. It gives the kids he's coaching the desire to do better and improve.”
McPhetres' daughters, Alyson, a sophomore at Chugiak, and, Kryston, a freshman, had a change of heart about participating in cross country because of Kehler.
“They started participating in cross country running and skiing when they were in middle school and weren't too excited about it until they met coach Kehler,” Tina McPhetres said. “After he invited them to practice with the Alaska Nordic Ski team, it's like he turned on a switch inside them. I don't know what it is exactly he does, but he has my daughters excited about the sport.”
Kehler said his approach to coaching is to mix hard work with fun.
“I try to keep training fun,” Kehler said. “I wouldn't call myself a drill instructor, but I demand everyone give their best. Sometimes we'll go out and play games and throw a lot of silliness into a practice, but it's done with a purpose. If an athlete can have fun training, they'll do better when it comes time to race.”
That philosophy of coaching has kept athletes from leaving the often demanding and grueling sport of cross country.
“My son Kyle said he stayed on the team as a senior last year because he didn't want to let his coach down,” said Sheryl Loan. “Kyle was a reluctant athlete until he started working with Jon.”
The McPhetres girls nearly threw in the towel as well.
“They used to participate in other sports, but have focused on cross country since they've began working with Kehler,” Tina McPheters said. “When I asked why they wanted to quit the other sports, they asked me, why would they want to do a sport where the coaches beat you down all the time, when they can have fun working with coach Kehler.”
When it comes to coaching, Kehler said he prefers skiing to running, but added he coaches running to benefit the skiers.
“I'm a skiing coach masquerading as a running coach,” he said. “I started coaching running because a lot of the skiers I was working with are also cross country runners.”
His methods of coaching are starting to show some success.
“We managed to help five members of the cross country team last year find their way onto college teams,” Kehler said. “Plus, we've had several athletes place in national and Junior Olympic races.”
One tool he uses to get the most out of every member of the team, whether they're a national caliber athlete or a recreational runner or skier, is to emphasize the team.
“Most people think of cross country as being an individual sport,” he said. “But by taking a team-oriented approach, the kids believe they are working together and will push themselves harder.”
That was the case with the Chugiak girls cross country ski team last year
“No one was expecting them to be competitive at the state championships last year, but they finished second in the team relay,” Kehler said. “I believe that is all because of the team approach. Each member of that team gave everything and endured several minutes of pain during the race for the fun they had after it was over.”
While Kehler enjoys seeing the youth he coaches succeed and win races, he gets just as much satisfaction teaching newcomers to the sport.
“Teaching a newbie who comes out for cross country just to participate is as rewarding as training the elite athletes,” he said. “Skiing and running are lifetime sports. After the competitive racing is over, someone can continue skiing and running. You can't say that about hockey, football or soccer.”
With his work hard and have-fun-approach to coaching, Kehler keeps winning over athletes and is building a successful cross country program.
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
