A tradition of excellence is often difficult to define. Debates regarding the “greatest of all time,” or the “best team ever” fill endless podcasts and sports features with few actual credentials behind the debates except fandom and opinion.

At Lansing Community College, there’s no question about head cross country and track and field coach Jim Robinson’s impact.

On Nov. 8, Lansing Community College men’s cross country runners won the NJCAA Division II National Championship, the team’s third national title in a row. Three of the five LCC men’s team runners finished in the top five places for this year’s championship. All five runners — Nate Carmody, Lucas Hopkins, Evan Suydam, Logan Zahn and Quaid Schimetz — were named to the NJCAA Division II All-America Team. The team scored the lowest score of any team in the division since 2003.

For Robinson, who began coaching at LCC as an assistant in 2007 before rising to head coach for all four teams in 2014, success is the rule rather than the exception.
“I love running,” Robinson said. “I would say running is part of my identity. If you asked me who I am as a person, I would include running in that.”

Robinson has won eight national championships at LCC, one as an assistant and seven as head coach. The men’s cross country team won the national title in 2007, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The women’s cross country team won titles in 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2022.

The LCC men have won every MJCAA conference championship since Robinson has been on board, and every regional championship. Under Robinson’s guidance, the LCC women have won 12 regional and 13 conference championships. As would seem fitting, LCC athletes have won a bevy of individual honors over the course of Robinson’s historic run. Since 2014, LCC runners have won 13 All-America honors on the men’s side and 14 on the women’s. Additionally, Robinson has coached six track and field All-Americans at LCC.

In the midst of that incredible run, Robinson won NJCAA National Coach of the Year honors three consecutive times in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
There is considerable method behind LCC’s success.

“We follow a two-week cycle that includes a long run over the weekend,” Robinson said. “Monday and Wednesday are generally a base run, and that’s really the foundation of our training. For our women, they’re anywhere from six to 10 miles and for the guys, they’re anywhere from eight to 11 miles. Tuesday and Friday are workouts. Workouts generally fall into three categories: tempo workouts, speed workouts and then what I call race specific. That’s generally 5K race pace down to about what you could run for a two-mile.”

The system works brilliantly. In just three years after taking over as head coach, Robinson’s runners improved from an average of 23 minutes to 18:30 for 5K, and his athletes set school records in the 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters and 4x800-meter relay.

Former LCC runner and record holder Jana Stiffler continues to appreciate Robinson’s impact on her career.

“He focuses so strongly on team unity, and team grouping and encouraging us to bond as a team outside of the running atmosphere to where it goes beyond more of a team focus and becomes more of a family focus,” Stiffler said.

Robinson’s passion for running and sports does not stop at LCC, as he has also led the Playmakers Running Team to a USA Track and Field 8K Team National Championship.

“I love to run — it’s what I do.”

 

About Lansing Community College

Lansing Community College, founded in 1957, is one of the largest community colleges in Michigan, serving more than 14,500 students across a six-county area each year. LCC offers courses in general education for those interested in transferring to a four-year institution, career and workforce development, developmental education and personal enrichment. To meet the professional development and training needs of regional employees, the college offers customized programs for credit, non-credit and continuing education. The Transfer Center at LCC offers students the opportunity to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from five partner universities on the downtown LCC campus. For more information, visit lcc.edu.

LCC provides equal opportunity for all persons and prohibits discriminatory practices based on race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, creed, ancestry, height, weight, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, familial status, marital status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, military status, veteran’s status, or other status as protected by law, or genetic information that is unrelated to the person’s ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position or participate in educational programs, courses, services or activities offered by the College.

For information regarding the nondiscrimination policies contact: Equal Opportunity Officer, Washington Court Place, 309 N. Washington Square, Suite 150, Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1730.

For employees 504/ADA Accommodations contact: HR Director of Total Compensation & Employment, Administration Building, 610 N. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1875;

For students 504/ADA Accommodations contact: Care Services Manager, Center for Student Support, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1358.

For Title IX, reporting, or complaints contact: Director of Risk Management & Legal Affairs, Student and Employee Title IX Coordinator, Washington Court Place, 309 N. Washington Square, Suite 150, Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1730, and/or U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, Michigan Department of Civil Rights.