Our Coaches

For more than 20 years, Coach Guy Avery has developed some of the most successful distance runners in Tennessee history — including 221 State Championship gold medals, 69 All-Americans, and 31 National Champions.

A former NCAA Division I cross country captain at Siena College, Coach Avery later earned his master’s degree from Emory University before dedicating his career to long-term athlete development.

Over a nine year span, his privately coached athletes won more Tennessee High School State Championship gold medals in the mid-distances than all other 330+ high schools combined.

His teams won 8 of 9 State Cross Country Team Championships, captured two Nike Southeast Regional (NXR) championship titles, set numerous meet and course records, and earned two podium finishes at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), twice ranking as high as #3 in the nation among 20,000 high schools.

One of his NXN podium teams broke a 38-year-old national record with a 5-man 3200m average of 9:05 — a mark matched by one of his teams three years later.

More than 90% of his privately coached athletes have gone on to compete at the NCAA Division I level.

But beyond championships and records, Coach Avery is known for building complete athletes. His approach emphasizes intelligent training, tactical racing, long-term development, and personal responsibility — helping young runners grow not only in performance, but in discipline, confidence, and character.

Coach Avery is the co-founder of the Clarksville Running Academy and his current mission is to help develop running in the Clarksville area through private coaching, seasonal training groups, and other programs.