Stop Me Project

In this episode, we head to Chapel Hill to chop it up with Coach Ian Moini, Associate Head Coach for UNC Cross Country & Track — and one of the key architects behind the Tar Heels’ national distance surge. Coach Moini breaks down what it really looks like building (and sustain) a top-10 NCAA distance culture — from recruiting and development, to training philosophy, to balancing elite performance with world-class academics. We cover:UNC’s rise into a national XC powerhouse + what “program standards” actually meanDeveloping NCAA champs and elite competitors (and what separates the great ones)Recruiting at UNC: high school, transfers, internationals — and the “fit” factorThe “intention gap” in modern NCAA distance runningHow UNC athletes manage academics + high-performance training without burning outTraining talk: double threshold (in moderation), strength combos, speed touch work2025 XC recap + indoor season outlook + meets to watchIf you’re a recruit, parent, coach, or distance nerd who loves hearing how