This upcoming winter sports season, computer science and math teacher Michael Hopps will become an assistant coach of Wayland’s indoor track team.

Hopps previously coached indoor track from 2004 to 2010. He stopped coaching after the birth of his son, since he needed some more time at home.

“My son is a bit older now, and I think I can manage my life in such a way that I can get back into coaching,” Hopps said.

He also helped coach cross-country for five years. Hopps will be returning as a coach for indoor track as opposed to cross-country due to timing.

“It was the right time to fit it back in my life. I really enjoyed teaching cross country; I’d like to do it again one day if it fits,” Hopps said.

Hopps finds cross-country to be different than indoor track.

“In cross-country, everyone is competing in the same event, so I feel like there’s a bigger team element. It’s a lot of fun,” Hopps said.

Hopps likes coaching because it allows him to get to know kids differently.

“I really like getting to know kids outside of the classroom environment. You often see one aspect of a kid’s personality in class, but you get to know a different level through sports,” Hopps said.

Hopps’ love for coaching can also be found from his passion of the sport itself. When he was in high school, he ran all 12 seasons of track.

“I did all the different events, really. Cross country is all 5K’s and distance running. In the winter, I was a mid-distance runner, and then in the spring, I was a sprinter,” Hopps said. “I absolutely love running.”

Hopps looks forward to the upcoming season. He has many personal goals and coaching goals.

“My personal goals are really just to get back into coaching track and to re-establish that connection to the student body in a coaching aspect,” Hopps said. “As for goals for runners in the team, I hope to foster an environment for people to have fun and get better at their events.”