Blueprint for Greatness: Jerry Baltes & the Grand Valley Track & Field Dynasty

This week on Airey Bros Radio, we sit down with one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA Division II history—Coach Jerry Baltes of Grand Valley State University. With 16 national titles, 78 individual champions, and over 1,600 All-Americans, Coach Baltes has built a powerhouse program while keeping his focus on developing great humans first. We dive deep into his coaching philosophy, the secrets behind Grand Valley’s success, the importance of culture and character in recruiting, and what it means to build something that lasts.Whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation offers timeless lessons on leadership, work ethic, and building programs rooted in purpose.


📓 Show Notes & Timestamps
0:00 - 3:00 – Welcome & intro: Why these conversations matter for student-athletes
3:00 - 6:30 – Coach Baltes’ background, Butler roots, and early coaching vision
6:30 - 10:00 – Growing up on a farm: Learning discipline through hard work
10:00 - 13:00 – Playing every sport to avoid farm chores & the journey to coaching
13:00 - 17:00 – From GA at Butler to head coach at Grand Valley at age 24
17:00 - 23:00 – Building a program: First-year breakthroughs and red hard hats
23:00 - 27:00 – The evolution of coaching: From Xs & Os to CEO
27:00 - 31:00 – National runner-up: The value in more than just winning
31:00 - 34:30 – Recruiting philosophy: Culture > talent, Midwest pride
34:30 - 39:00 – Developing homegrown talent & rewarding the grind
39:00 - 42:00 – Academic excellence at GVSU: PT, OT, PA, Engineering, Biz
42:00 - 47:00 – Coaching tree, recruiting pipelines & trusted relationships
47:00 - 52:00 – Western Michigan vibes: Campus life, training facilities, sunsets
52:00 - 56:00 – High jump dynasty: Culture of competition & team-first mindset
56:00 - 1:02:00 – Looking ahead to outdoor season + national championship goals
1:02:00 - 1:07:00 – Why Grand Valley is special + coaching longevity
1:07:00 - 1:08:00 – Fun rapid fire: Coffee, routines, guilty pleasures, & gratitude


Grand Valley State TF/XC
@gvsuxctf
@GVSU XCTF