Each week for the remainder of the semester, we'll be bringing you two different "Bearcat Q&A" profiles on coaches, athletic administrators and athletic trainers at Saint Vincent to introduce you to the folks behind the scenes. Next up, we check in with women's cross country along with men's and women's track & field head coach, Kevin Wanichko.



IN HIS WORDS
Q: What was your favorite subject in school? Why? 
A: I loved math growing up. It was something I always enjoyed trying to solve problems. So much of my sport is a numbers game with mileage, paces, and so much more. I just love the challenge math can provide.

Q: What was your first job growing up?
A: I helped train police dogs. Our neighbor growing up trained dogs for the police and he knew I was able to run. He put me in the dog attack suit and told me to run.  

Q: What was your first car?
A: It was a 1988 Ford Mustang that I bought for $500. The car lasted maybe two months and the engine blew. Probably not the best investment for me, but the Ford Mustang has always been my dream car. Someday I hope to own another one.

Q: When did you know you wanted to go into a career in collegiate athletics?
A: I think it was the year after I graduated from Saint Vincent. I was in the process of getting my Master's degree in Sports Management. I came back the following year to help with the team and really enjoyed a different side of the sport.

Q: What's your all-time favorite movie?
A: I love watching movies and have so many favorites. Just a few of my favorites would be Jerry Maguire, Back to the Future, Home Alone, American Gangster, The Departed, Shooter, and Patriots Day. I could go on forever naming movies. 

Q: What's your favorite meal?
A: My favorite meal is probably my mother in laws meatloaf. She puts a hardboiled egg and pepperoni in it. It's life changing type of food.

Q: Tell us about your family. 
A: My wife Genie, who I met at Saint Vincent College through running, our two dogs, and myself make up our little family. Dunkin is a Shichon who is named after Dunkin' Donuts. Sidney, who is named after Sidney Crosby because we got her the day after the Pens won the cup, is a Cockapoo.  


Q: How do you relax?
A: I enjoy watching TV and being with my wife, playing a round of golf, and running is relaxing to me, but only when I'm in shape.

Q: What meal/dish/item are you best at cooking? 
A: I'd say my specialty is grilling. I do all of the grilling in the house and my wife does mostly everything else in the kitchen, it's a pretty good teamwork.

Q: What are your favorite artists/songs on your all-time list?
A: I love all types of music, but some of my favorites are Eminem, Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Imagine Dragons and AC/DC just to name a few.

Q: Favorite TV show of all-time?
A: I watch a lot of TV shows and love so many but if I had to pick it would be either be Breaking Bad or Ozark.

Q: What's the best advice you ever received and who did it come from?
A: It's a Beautiful Day! – Coach Steve Snider. The meaning behind it is every day you wake up it's beautiful because the lord has given you another day.

Q: What's your favorite season/type of weather? Why? 
A: Fall, it's the perfect time of the year to run. I love the late cross country season runs.

Q: When you go grocery shopping, are you the "Make a List" person or the "Just Wing It" person?
A: My wife makes the list and I get what is on the list. If it wasn't for her, I would go without a list and forget stuff and have to go back tomorrow.

Q: Are you a tech savvy person?
A: I am a tech savvy person for the most part.

Q: Describe your perfect day off. 
A: Wake up and have some coffee. Play an early round of golf as the suns coming up. Spend the rest of the day around the house with my wife and dogs.

Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: Failure! I grew up with many challenges in my early life and some people said I would never amount to anything. I have always strived for my best and never wanted to fail.

Q: How many and what kind of pets do you have? How long have you had them?
A: As I mentioned in the family section, I have two dogs. Dunkin' is six years old and Sidney will be five in April.

Q: Cats or dogs?
A: Dogs
 
Q: Who are your heroes? 
A: It's my wife hands down. I don't know how she manages everything she does and putting her whole heart into it. She's an amazing third grade teacher and also our assistant coach at SVC. Our team wouldn't be the same without her, she is an extremely important part to our success.

Q: Can you sing or play an instrument?
A: I'm terrible at both but that doesn't stop me from singing in the car or shower.

Q: What is/would be your go-to karaoke song?
A: Luke Combs, She Got the Best of Me

Q: Fly or drive for a long trip?
A: I enjoy both, but I'd have to say drive. I enjoy seeing different things while driving.

Q: Where was/is your favorite vacation spot? Why?
A: LBI (Long Beach Island) I have been lucky enough to go there with my wife for the past 10 years. Her family owns a beach house and we usually go for a few weeks each summer.

Q: How long can you go without looking at your phone?
A: Not very long, I use it for everything.

Q: If you could go back in history to attend one event, what would it be and why?
A: 1972 Olympics, there were so many great athletes. There was Mark Spitz, who won seven Gold medals in swimming, Lasse Viren the amazing Finland runner won the rare 5K/10K double, Frank Shorter winning the marathon in his birth country, and Dave Wottle one of the greatest comebacks in the 800. The games are more notable known for the Munich massacre which was sad situation. 
 
Q: Who would be your 3 dream dinner guests and why?
A: First, I would choose my grandmother, she passed away when I was in fourth grade.  At that time, we were extremely close. I would love to talk to her just one more time. Second, Steve Prefontaine who was one of the greatest American distance runners ever. I'd love to pick his brain on running. My last choice would be Abraham Lincoln because I'd love to know so much about the past and his leadership.