San Fernando Valley : Coach Lends an Ear to Motivate His Team

Canyon High School cross-country coach David DeLong is willing to poke holes in his body if it helps motivate his runners.

That’s why the Canyon Country coach will be sporting a shiny, new gold stud in his ear today at the state championship meet in Fresno.

Other than his wedding ring, DeLong normally doesn’t wear jewelry.

But he vowed to pierce his ear.

What’s more, he said he would wear an earring for a month if the team made it to the state championships.

They ran. He pierced.

It’s not the first promise DeLong has made to the team.

When they made it to the sectional finals, DeLong allowed his team of teen-age girls to shave his legs--in front of the student body.

“I got nine razors, and they shaved me clean,” he said.

DeLong says he knows some school employees will laugh and call him a geek. So what, he says.

If that’s the worst thing that happens, DeLong said, it’s well worth the effort.

“It’s just a motivational thing,” he said.