Loyola cross country welcomes a new head coach … again.

Al Seither replaced his former assistant at Holy Cross, Mike Corn, who resigned after less than three months to become assistant coach for distance team at Tulane.

Seither, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Track Coaches’ Association this year, was hired on Corn’s recommendation almost immediately after Corn resigned.

“We’re close friends. He (Corn) recommended me to Coach Hernandez,” Seither said.

Corn “had asked if he could submit my name; he got me back in and I’m happy,” he added. “At the time, I wasn’t doing anything worth a damn.”

Seither ended his coaching career at Holy Cross after the 2001 season.

Seither had been the head coach at Holy Cross School in New Orleans for 25 years. Corn was his assistant for four years before he became a high school head coach, a position he held until Loyola hired him in early May.

“I don’t really know his personal situation, but Tulane’s offer was better,” Mike Gulotta, history senior, said of Corn’s departure.

Gulotta said he was surprised to find out that Corn, who had been helping him train, would no longer be his coach.

“It came as a total shock when he called me,” Gulotta said. “I never had any hint he was leaving.”

The coaching change came at a difficult time. Since last season ended, track and cross country have had three coaches (former coach Paul Garvey, Corn, and Seither) and one moderator (former volleyball coach Greg Castillo).

“I wasn’t concerned (with the coaching instability),” Seither said. “It is an opportunity for me to help these kids who want to run and do well.”

“All I really look for in coach is (for him to put) his best effort forward,” Gulotta said. “He knows how to coach: He’s coached longer than Corn and Garvey, probably combined.”

Two of last year’s male runners, communications sophomore T. J. Ortenzi and management sophomore Nick Bousquet, both of whom ran in nationals, are not rejoining the team.

“It’s tough to be a student-athlete, especially here,” Gulotta said.

Two of the current top five male runners are freshmen, as are the two potential runners. Four will run in tomorrow’s five-mile race at the Tulane Invitational because Chris Fredrickson, international business sophomore, is injured.

“My major goal is to get athletes to run cross country,” Seither said. “I wish I had a few scholarships to pick up some of these people.”

“The freshmen have gotten in full summers. I think they are ready to go,” Gulotta said. “I’m grateful to have them, and I know coach (Seither) is too.”

The women’s team is full of experienced runners and should easily field a complete team today in their two-mile race. Six ran last season, including sociology junior Natalie Sargent, who qualified for nationals.

“First, I thought the women would be my weaker team,” Seither said, “but we’re really excited about how we will perform.”

Loyola athletic director Jerry Hernandez shared his thoughts on Seither:

“We are fortunate to have a coach with Al’s experience leading our cross country program. Al has been a prominent member of the local cross-country community.

“He was instrumental in the growth of the sport at the high-school level here in New Orleans. We are excited that he has joined our institution.”

“Half of what we do (as coaches) is dedication and love and concern for the athletes we work with,” Seither said.