Our first guest interview of 2026 is Jack Mullaney. Jack is the head coach of HOKA NAZ Elite, one of the premier professional distance running teams in the world, based in Flagstaff, Arizona. His coaching journey began in sport administration, serving as an operations assistant for the University of Minnesota track & field and cross-country programs before moving to Utah State University as Director of Operations.
In 2017, Jack transitioned into coaching as an assistant coach at the University of Portland, where he spent seven seasons as a key member of one of the most successful collegiate distance programs in the country. During his time at Portland, he helped lead the men’s program to two NCAA Cross Country podium finishes and the women’s program to its highest finish in program history, while also serving as recruiting coordinator and working with athletes who went on to compete internationally.
Jack holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management, is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and a USATF Level 3 Coach. He took over as head coach of HOKA NAZ Elite in the fall of 2023, and in his first year, NAZ athletes set multiple team records across track and road events, earned a U.S. road title, placed at World Indoors and the Chicago Marathon, and produced a top-10 finish at the Olympic Games.
Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[7:28] — Unique Demands and Challenges as a Running Coach
[10:06] — Core Values and the 5 C's
[20:18] — "Heating the Room" Analogy
[24:53] — Leveraging Shoutouts and Recognition to Reinforce Values
[28:46] — Fireman and Heart Surgeon Mindset
[37:33] — Managing Pressure with a Clear Process and Values
[43:34] — Being on Offense vs. Defense Each Day
[54:55] — Protecting Your Well-being as the Leader
[1:00:38] — Reading and Learning from Others
[1:06:55] — Coaching to the Individual
[1:11:52] — How to Evaluate Yourself as a Coach
[1:14:57] — Quick Hitters
Learn More About Jack Mullaney:
- If you’d like to learn more from Jack Mullaney, you can follow him here.
Learn More About Zach:
- If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
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