The force that leads the runners

Joseph Samprone, professor of economics, devotes a large portion of his time to Georgia College & State University’s cross country teams.

Dr. Samprone begins his third season as the head coach of the Bobcats after serving as an assistant coach in 1998 and 1999.

“Every year that I have been associated with cross county has been a pleasant experience. Cross country runners tend to be self-motivated. Over the summer, runners work hard on their own. In the fall when school begins, our season also begins,” he said. “Much of the preparation for the season happens before school begins. During the season, we try to sharpen skills and build momentum going into our conference meet.”

Samprone hopes “to continue to see the GC&SU cross country teams make progress in the Peach belt Conference” and “finish as high as possible.”

“We’re in one of the toughest conferences for cross country,” Samprone said. “I want each runner to achieve her/his potential.”
Samprone is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and has taught economics at GC&SU since 1983.

“I’ve really enjoyed my 20 years at GC&SU, especially the past three years as cross country coach,” Samprone said. “I’ve been running for the past 20 years. I enjoy running.”

He earned his bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and economics from the University of Massachusetts-Boston in 1971, and a master’s in 1973 and Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He taught at the University of Michigan-Dearborn from 1975 to 1978 and Purdue University from 1979 to 1983.

“What I like about economics is that it’s real. There are always issues to deal with,” he said. “I always tell my students probably eight to ten minutes of every half-hour newscast of national news is on economic issues.”

He lives in Milledgeville with his wife, Patti.

Dr. J.J. Arias, assistant professor of economics, volunteers his spare time as the assistant coach of cross country.

“We sort of work as a team, so his role basically is the same role that I have: We call practices, we go to meets,” Samprone said. “We try to compliment each other. He does as much as I do.”

Arias, originally from Canton, Penn., begins his third year as assistant coach and his fourth year as assistant professor.

“He’s a friend, so we get along very well. We were friends long before we worked together,” Samprone said. “Basically because we both teach classes, it is difficult for one of us to be available at all times. Sometimes practice is in the early morning and sometimes in the afternoon. So what we try to do is, if one of us is free, to make sure we attend. We help each other with the schedule.”

Arias desires an increase in team unity.

“There are two main goals; The first is to have greater team unity. I would like the runners practicing and competing as a team,” he said. “The second goal would be to improve our team performances from last year, especially at the conference meet.”

Arias has taught economics at GC&SU for the past three years. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics at Penn State in 1990 and his Ph.D. from Texas A & M (Agriculture and Medicine).

“The main thing I enjoy is exposing students to a way of thinking about social issues that is analytical and somewhat formal. For the rest of their lives they will be almost continually exposed to arguments and commentaries on social, political and economic issues that are either fallacious or intellectually shallow and lazy,” he said. “This is rare opportunity to counteract the effect of some of that.”

Arias and his wife Melanie, who has a Master’s of Public Administration and works as an economic developer for the Jasper County Development Authority in Monticello, Ga., share their home with two cats.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 4 2002. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry