By Peyton Lutz
“I always look for the positives in people; I look for the positives in every situation. Sometimes you have to look really hard, but you can always find something positive.” This is the mindset of Louisville’s newest addition to its track coaching staff, senior Olympian and assistant hurdlers coach, Dave McNair. Dave is currently in his 70s and in his prime while preparing for his next competition set for August of 2026 in South Korea. Training for years on end to compete, Dave is well familiar with Louisville and the track team. In 2026, Louisville’s head coach, Tyler Weatherholt, welcomed Dave as the assistant hurdlers coach. Although 2026 is the first official year of Dave being on the staff, his presence has been well-known and appreciated for years.
Dave grew up in a track and field family, as his father was his high school’s head track coach. McNair recalls reading a note in his mother’s scrapbook about one of his first times running. He remembers going to practices with his parents, and even competing with several track athletes. When Dave was four years old, he ran around the track eleven times, and his passion for running has only grown since.
“I was inspired by how hard they [high school athletes Dave’s father coached] worked, and then knowing that they did it all on their own; the success, how it felt… I've been running ever since,” Dave explained. Not only did he watch successful athletes at a young age, he grew into one. McNair first showed his potential on the big scale at AAU Nationals, where he competed well. Later into his life, Dave rediscovered his passion for running and competed at high-level competitions. In 2021, Dave won the 100 and 300 meter hurdles at nationals. Defending his titles once again in 2022, he also won the national championship in the 60 meter dash. The following summer he traveled to Finland for the world championships where he finished second, and eventually came back to win the world championship. He recalls tearing up while standing on the podium and representing the United States as the National Anthem was played.
Dave went to college on a wrestling scholarship, where after college, his passion for helping others continued as he coached over 5 different sports. Apart from track, Dave coached 7 years of golf, 7 years of football, 22 years of wrestling, and 26 years of baseball. You could easily say Dave is a well-rounded individual, and truly holds expertise on sports.
The Louisville track team has been positively impacted by his work ethic, advice, and overall presence. With the opportunity of being directly coached by Dave, freshman Brookelynn Peterson explains how she is affected by him.
“Dave has given me probably the best piece of advice; no matter what, how I do at the end of the day, I'm competing against myself. And I think that's just made it a lot easier to show up and compete at track, because there's less pressure on who I need to be or who I need to perform better than it's just myself,” said Peterson.
Apart from Brookelynn’s experiences with Dave, many people can agree that his mindset guides many of the athletes on the team. McNair focuses on how to make track a positive experience for all participants, as well as understanding that it is a privilege to be on the team. Head coach, Tyler Weatherholt, appreciates Dave’s outlook on the team.
“His positivity and just having him around, how he's all bought in completely and loves being around kids, helping and working with them, that's who he is, and that's why we love having him around,” said Weatherholt.
Personally, Dave has impacted my outlook on track and certain aspects of life. The track team traveled to Palmyra on April 9th, 2026, and I still remember what Dave and I discussed. He asked me how my events went, and I explained how it didn’t go as I’d hoped. Instead of criticizing technique, he offered me the perspective of finding the positives on that day. If I don't compete well, there’s more things to look at. He reminded me that not everything goes as planned, and there are always goals or little things to look forward to. Dave’s presence truly affects my overall look on track in a much more positive way than I could’ve ever imagined. His positivity and advice on growth reminds not just me, but any other athlete that sports are an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to learn new things. It’s an opportunity to grow. It’s an opportunity overall.
Throughout the years before Dave officially being part of the Louisville track team, he has truly held an impact on many people’s lives. His lifestyle, mindset, and actions lead the people around him to grow and hold themselves accountable. McNair’s mindset inspires young athletes, but also anybody around him.
“Don't give up on yourself. Know that you or anybody can achieve anything if they just set up a path to get there. They can get there… they can do it,” concluded McNair.