Coach Chris Tatom – Founder & Lead Coach, Horizon Distance

Chris Tatom is a dedicated distance running coach with a proven track record of developing championship-level athletes while prioritizing character, leadership, and personal growth. With successful experience at both the middle school and high school levels, Chris has built programs that are highly competitive, deeply supportive, and centered on long-term athlete development.

As the Co-Ed Cross Country Head Coach at Greenfield-Central Junior High School, Chris led rapid program growth from 20 athletes to more than 40, sending full boys and girls teams to the state meet in all four seasons of his tenure. Under his leadership, the 2024 girls team placed 5th at the state meet with a 6th-place individual finisher as well as a 19th-place finisher in 2025, while numerous athletes broke long-standing school records and earned spots throughout the program’s all-time top-10 lists.

Chris has guided teams to multiple conference and county championships, including boys and girls county and conference championships in cross country and multiple Hancock County and Hoosier Heritage Conference championships in track and field. Chris' combined total of county and conference team championships now stands at 11.

In his first season coaching at the high school level, Chris helped lead Greenfield-Central to a Hancock County team championship while overseeing a historic year for the distance program. Athletes under his guidance set school records in the indoor 4,000m DMR, indoor 4x800 relay, outdoor 3,000m DMR, outdoor 2,400m DMR, outdoor 4x800 relay, 1600m, and 3200m. His athletes also established Hancock County Meet records in both the 4x800 relay and the 3200m.

As a distance coach, Chris has coached numerous all-state performers, helped athletes excel on championship teams, and guided runners to elite performances on major stages—including a 7th-place finish at the Nike Indoor National Meet, narrowly missing All-American honors.

At the core of Chris’s coaching philosophy is the belief that great athletes are built through consistency, accountability, discipline, and character. He emphasizes long-term growth, healthy team culture, and athlete-centered development, helping runners not only maximize performance but also become confident, resilient leaders prepared for success beyond sport.

Through Horizon Distance Co., Chris brings this same intentional approach to individual coaching and program consulting—helping runners, coaches, and teams build strong foundations, pursue elite performance, and create sustainable success.