Cross Country

Since 2009, cross country coach Corky Dean has taught his runners to focus on goals—personal and team-oriented, short-term and long-term—and has strived to create leaders in the Kent Denver community. “Leadership comes in many forms, and at some point everyone on a team has their time to shine and show their strengths and styles of leadership,” he says. 

Coach Dean believes team success at the high school level isn’t about success in competition, but rather is about character development. “I am not focused solely on performance at the high school level, but developing the athlete/individual for success well into adulthood,” he says. "Our comprehensive training program includes form work, general strength and conditioning, yoga, and mental skills work (i.e. visualization, relaxation and growth mindset skill building) on top of a rigorous, yet developmentally appropriate training plan."

Still, Coach Dean’s teams have accolades to show for their hard work and development. His boys and girls have set numerous school records over the last 15 years, and they have been top-five finishers at state multiple times. That includes third-place finishes for the girls' team in the 2015 and 2014 State Championships and 5th-place finishes in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the girls team finished an impressive 19th place at the national level Garmin Running Lane Championships. 

Coach Dean was named 3A Metro League Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2022. 

He is a full-time member of the Kent Denver School Arts department, teaching Photography and Sculpture in the Upper School. He also coaches Track and Field in the Spring.