Del Norte’s Boys Track & Cross Country Coach Fred Polich has been featured in APS News for helping to create students who understand determination and perseverance. A longtime coach at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, Fred has spent nearly 35 years teaching students lessons in perseverance, determination, and teamwork through cross country and track and field. Though he has not won a state championship as head coach, Polich’s impact is measured by the lifelong skills and values he instills in his athletes, many of whom credit him with helping them overcome personal and professional hurdles.
Polich, a Del Norte alumnus and former star long jumper, returned to Del Norte in 1990 as a track coach and has dedicated himself to coaching boys’ and girls’ teams, emphasizing hard work, consistency, and self-improvement over mere athletic victories. Colleagues and former students praise his mentorship, noting his ability to inspire both on and off the track. Former athlete Matt Sanderson attributes his college scholarship to Polich’s guidance, while current staff members regard him as a cornerstone of the school’s community. “I learned a lot from him,” adds Dallas Petersen, a former member of Del Norte’s track and field team and now its head football coach. “I try to coach the way he was with me. I try to mimic everything he’s done.”
Despite setbacks in competitions, Polich sees value in teaching students to face challenges head-on. His contributions align with Albuquerque Public Schools’ Goal 4, which focuses on building perseverance, self-confidence, and social awareness. Beyond coaching, Polich’s deep connection to his athletes has led to meaningful relationships, such as being asked to walk a former student down the aisle—a gesture he cherishes as someone who considers his students his “kids.” Polich’s legacy is defined not by medals, but by the lasting influence he has on the lives of those he mentors.
Read “A Coach Preaches Goal 4 Through Commitment, Persistence” in APS District News