In this episode of Building a Champion, we head to Corvallis, Montana, home of one of the most consistent small-school track dynasties in the country. Longtime head coach Spencer Huls joins us to unpack how the Corvallis Blue Devils captured their third straight Class A boys state championship—this time by a single point—and how the program has now earned 18 combined boys and girls state titles.
Coach Huls walks through the dramatic 3200m that decided it all, the selfless move from a runner who sacrificed his own race to pull teammates back into scoring position, and why their titles are built on accountability, loyalty, and a program-first mentality. He shares how a community-funded track facility transformed the culture, why they treat an individual sport like a true team, and the bus-ride tradition of predicting next year’s state meet points before the celebration is even over.
This is a blueprint in consistency, standards, and small-town pride for any coach or AD trying to build sustained success.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
- 00:00 – The selfless move that saved a state title
- 01:00 – Welcome & Coach Spencer Holes’ incredible resume
- 01:45 – Three straight championships decided by a combined 3.7 points
- 03:10 – Inside the 3200m: chasing 7 points to secure the win
- 04:55 – Crowd energy, athletes stepping up, and the one-point margin
- 07:40 – Community-built facilities & why Corvallis rallies around track
- 09:37 – 18 combined titles & building one unified boys/girls program
- 12:30 – The bus-ride tradition: predicting next year’s state meet points
- 16:40 – Learning from heartbreak & the balance of celebrating vs. what’s next
- 18:00 – Standards, consequences, and holding even stars accountable
- 23:50 – Five generations, loyalty to Corvallis & why this place is “part of me”
- 31:50 – What’s next: realistic goals & keeping track “important”
- 35:00 – Game Time Decisions: favorite moments, Montana pride & next year’s prediction