Jon Faitsch has been synonymous with Guilford High School and its stellar running program for nearly three decades as both a coach and athlete. Now, he's logged his final mile with the Indians.

The Class of 1988 graduate was part of a state champion cross country squad in 1986 before moving on to running at Southern Connecticut State University. Upon his return to the Indians in 1999, Jon joined up as an assistant coach on the cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams—all of which he had participated with in high school—prior to becoming head coach of both track clubs and then cross country a few years later.

Following a Indians' coaching career that includes a State Open title, five state crowns, two top finishes at SCCs, and nine Hammonasset Division championships in cross country as an assistant and the head man combined, Jon is calling it a wrap at Guilford as he's accepted an assistant coaching position at Amity for that sport this fall.

"I felt it was the right time to leave as I had been there a while. [Guilford coaches] Jon Rivera and George Cooksey have been coaching at Guilford for some time, so I decided it was time for me to leave and give them a shot," says Jon. "Guilford has been very good to me. I enjoyed my time there and what we accomplished. I take great pride in Guilford, as well."

When it came to guiding young student-athletes, Jon wanted his Indians to take time and enjoy the journey one needs to travel in order to see results. Then when they realized what it would take to reach their peak, that moment of actualization was icing on the cake for Jon.

"I want them to have fun out there because, if it's not fun, then it's difficult to see success. You have to enjoy the sport first and then success will come later," Jon says. "A real joy is when you see a kid get it and the lightbulb goes off in their head. By the end of their freshman year or so, they get it and it goes off. It's when they understand how they are supposed to train and expectations they are supposed to live up to. Regardless if it's at the JV or varsity level, to see them develop a love for the sport is why I coach."

Jon's cross country successor, Jon Rivera, says that he will be filling some big shoes considering Coach Faitsch dedicated 100 percent of himself to his athletes at Guilford.

"I had the opportunity to work with and for Jon a long time. I saw him develop from an assistant to [girls' cross country Head Coach] Jim Ford into a head coach. He had a lot of success. He has really dedicated himself to distance running, winning state championships with his teams, becoming a member of the state board, running meets to give kids an opportunity to run 5Ks, helping to run the Cross Country Coaches' Poll, and putting together distance clinics, so that coaches could further their knowledge," says Rivera. "I am sure he will continue to excel coaching distance runners at Amity. He works hard at his craft and pushes his athletes to get the most out of them. He left the boys' cross country program in great shape."

For his 16 years as an Indians' coach, Jon says the memories that stand strong in his mind relate more to collective team victories, rather than when individuals hit new personal-best times.

"Everything to me was more team oriented than individual. It really meant something to me when we won meets that we didn't expect to win, along with going to Wickham Park for state meets," says Jon, who was also in charge of running the SCC Championship meet for cross country. "I will also remember the kids that got a joy simply out of being there and having fun. The things like that are also what make me smile."

As Jon moves over to another perennial SCC powerhouse with the Spartans, he will never forget what he experienced during his tenure at Guilford—a town and school that he will always

call home.

"I've met with some of the kids at Amity, plus I am good friends with their coaches [assistant Thom Jacobs and Head Coach Bob Orgovan], so it was a natural fit for me. I'm looking forward to it as it's a great school with great kids," says Jon. "Coaching at Guilford came naturally to me because I grew up here and had a lot of pride in the school, so it was an easy transition for me. I loved every minute of it. I love coaching and I have no regrets about leaving. I will always be rooting for them."