Coach Kenny Anderson | Building a National NAIA Track & Field Powerhouse at Central Methodist University | Airey Bros Radio Episode 460

Coach Kenny Anderson joins Airey Bros Radio following a historic weekend for Central Methodist University Track & Field at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor National Championships.Under Anderson's leadership, the CMU men finished 7th nationally with 10 All-Americans, while the women also earned a Top-10 national finish with 9 All-Americans. The conversation dives into national championship performances, athlete development, recruiting philosophy, faith-based leadership, and what it takes to build a nationally competitive program in the NAIA.Coach Anderson shares his unique journey from electrical engineering and basketball coaching to becoming one of the most respected track & field coaches in the country. We discuss creating a family culture, developing overlooked athletes, handling the transfer portal era, and why student-athletes can thrive at smaller schools.Whether you're a recruit, coach, parent, or track & field fan, this episode provides an inside look at one of the fastest-rising programs in the NAIA.Connect with Airey Bros Radio📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio/📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Aireybros🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61TKhMCXCfmfZRYb22saFe🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airey-bros-s-radio/id584404045☕ Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/aireybros🏃 Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching: https://www.blacksheependurance.comShow Notes & Timestamps0:00 Why Airey Bros Radio shines a light on NAIA, NCAA DII, DIII & NJCAA programs1:00 Introduction of Coach Kenny Anderson & Central Methodist University2:05 CMU's Top-10 finishes at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Championships3:20 Social media, recruiting and Coach "Cut The Check"4:08 Kenny Anderson's coaching origin story6:36 From hurdler to coach: favorite events to train7:22 Recapping the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Championships8:18 Women's 4x400 relay DQ and lessons learned9:31 The rise of CMU's 800-meter program10:31 School records and All-American performances11:11 Handling pressure on the national stage12:27 Coach accountability and leadership philosophy13:44 Creating elite expectations regardless of division14:25 Building for next season before nationals even end15:12 Graduates, transfers, NIL and roster management16:03 Developing athletes who move up to NCAA Division I18:02 Recruiting athletes who want to stay four years19:44 Central Methodist culture: Communication, Trust & Family20:32 Faith, leadership and building relationships22:16 Athlete-led accountability and team ownership23:37 Why recruits choose Central Methodist University25:20 Faith opportunities on campus and within the program27:00 Watching student-athletes grow as people28:46 Coaching at a faith-based institution30:06 Popular academic majors at CMU30:26 Marine Biology in the middle of Missouri?32:20 Taking over the program and exceeding expectations34:43 Three freshmen headed to the U20 Championships35:29 Why U20 qualification is huge for the program36:24 Recruiting athletes who want the small-school experience38:22 Recruiting locally, nationally and internationally40:00 Building international recruiting pipelines41:48 Being a Director of Track & Field42:34 Leadership, staff development and delegation45:24 Managing budgets, travel and expense reports46:04 Comparing NAIA National Championship venues48:08 Coaching the 800 meters and training philosophy49:44 What CMU looks for in recruits51:11 Creating a memorable student-athlete experience52:25 The Final Four Questions53:15 Daily habits and morning routines54:11 Music, playlists and New Orleans bounce mixes55:09 Florida roots, seafood boils and playing saxophone56:12 Kenny Anderson's guilty pleasure: Burger King57:10 Closing thoughts and appreciation for NAIA coaches