The measure of a cross country coach is rarely found on a stopwatch. It is found within the former athlete who still remembers a piece of advice years later. The student who discovered confidence they didn’t know they had. The relationships that endure long after the final race has been run. For nearly two decades, Blair Jensen has built a long-lasting legacy at Riverside Brookfield High School. This spring marked Jensen’s retirement, bringing his teaching and coaching career to an end.
Since arriving at RBHS in January 2008, Jensen has taught nearly every art class offered, but most notably, he spent 10 years as head coach for the girls cross country team and as an assistant coach for girls track and field.
“Every season has had its special moments,” Jensen said. “With each team, I could tell a story about each girl that ran cross country. They were all worthwhile to coach.”
Jensen’s own running journey began unexpectedly. As a teenager attending a baseball clinic, the high school coach asked him a simple question, “Have you been running at all?” That conversation sparked an interest that would stay with him for life.
“Running helps every sport,” Jensen said.
After high school, he continued running recreationally and eventually completed more than 20 marathons. Years later, while balancing teaching and raising his two children, competitive running took a backseat. When an opening became available for the girls cross country program in the fall of 2017, he decided to apply. What followed became one of the most rewarding chapters of his career.
“I felt the same way about coaching as I had with teaching,” Jensen said. “I was blown away at how rewarding it was, seeing how the athletes who weren’t as close at the start of the season came together and competed – that’s what kept me coming back.”
Riverside-Brookfield’s girls assistant coach Blair Jensen checks in the runners for the Bulldog Relays Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s girls assistant coach Blair Jensen sets up the staging area for the Bulldog Relays Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
Over the years, Jensen coached numerous successful teams and athletes, including state-qualifying squads in 2017 and 2019. Yet when asked which season stands out most, he doesn’t point to trophies or records. His impact is evident in the words of the athletes he coached.
Recent RBHS graduate Addie Vaia started running for Jensen her sophomore year. Vaia said his belief in her changed the course of her high school career.
“Jensen, thank you for being one of the only coaches that has been by my side through the ups and downs,” Vaia said. “The reason I joined cross country and track was because you saw potential in me that I never knew I was capable of and words cannot describe how grateful I am for that.”
For Jensen, helping athletes discover confidence has always been one of the most rewarding parts of coaching. Former athletes and 2023 RBHS graduates Mia Wagner and Bryce Pacourek said Jensen’s impact extended far beyond race results. Wagner recalled that her fondest memories of Jensen had little to do with running at all. Instead, it was the way he treated his athletes like family.
“He treated us as if we were his own kids,” she said. “Even after graduation, he was helping me navigate my new assignments as I prepare to become a teacher following my undergraduate at Illinois State University. He has inspired me to become a great teacher one day.”
For Pacourek, Jensen’s support helped shape her future as an athlete and individual. The four-time state cross country competitor and two-time state track qualifier now is a distance runner at the University of St. Thomas.
“Coach Jensen was a very influential figure in my running career,” Pacourek said. “He always poured so much time and energy into our team and pushed us to be our best on and off the track. His support and belief in my abilities helped inspire me to continue running collegiately.”
Pacourek said Jensen’s coaching style balanced hard work with enjoyment and friendship.
“He allowed us to balance hard work and fun with running. We always took our workouts seriously, but he always reminded us of the memories and friendships we made along the way,” Pacourek said. “Even three years later, some of my lifelong friends have come from this team.”
Jensen’s former athletes’ reflections mirror the values he emphasized throughout his career. Whether he was helping a student in his photography class, encouraging a runner through a difficult race, or enlightening you with his eclectic music taste, his goal remained the same – helping young people discover who they were and what their capabilities were.
The final time may have been recorded and the last race may have been run, but Jensen’s impact endures far beyond the stopwatch.
