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It may have taken head men's and women's cross country coach Emma Petersen a bit of time, but it was worth the wait.
 
"Living here is the best possible thing about my job. I cannot describe how much I love living in Davis. I lived in Tallahassee, Albuquerque, Boston, and have never felt as happy as I do living here. This, by far, is the perfect city.
 
"You have everything you want: The convenience of not being forced to drive everywhere and experience traffic, while living in a beautiful area that is friendly for runners."
 
Added Petersen, who hails Clevedon, England: "For the first time since I moved to America, I feel that I belong somewhere and live in a place I can call home."
 
Even though she enjoyed successful experiences in each of her previous positions at Pepperdine (2014) and Florida State (2015-17), relocating to Northern California provided an opportunity for her to thrive in an environment that best fit her personal interests and professional goals.
 
"I felt like a nomad from when I arrived to the U.S. in 2007, until I moved to Davis."
 
Now that Emma and her husband Drew found a place they can call home — the latter is a 2013 UC Davis alum and assists the cross country and track & field programs as an assistant coach — the pair works tirelessly to create a similar environment, and experience, for all of their student-athletes.
 
"We know the athletes inside out because two people are interested in everyone within the program," said Emma, who also doubles as track & field's distances assistant coach "My husband and I share our interactions with student-athletes to figure out what is best for each individual.
 
"When we are out recruiting, and young men and women commit, we always tell them, 'welcome to our family.' Cross country is such a unique sport: Athletes compete in a season that runs from August to November before switching to indoor track; that season takes place from December to March, and leads into the outdoor (track & field) season, which begins in March and ends in June."
 
Added the third-year head coach: "Unlike most sports, we spend the entire year with our student-athletes since they are continuously competing."
 
If you ask any of their student-athletes, the Petersens' ability to create a true cross country family, and turn the fifth-ranked public school in the nation into their new home are why they cherish every moment of their undergraduate experience.
 
"I live my life valuing personal relationships, and understand how everyone has unique needs. Working with your best friend every day allows us to talk openly and honestly to create the best experience possible for our student-athletes.
 
"There is the human element of coaching, which is more important than the coaching aspect of the sport because we are interacting with young men and women who are looking for guidance to help them succeed. This is why the relationships we build are extremely important, we want everyone in the program to reach their potential in every environment."
 
Added Emma: "We want to be there for the athletes, and being a head coach for both the men's and women's team requires me to adjust my coaching style. The men run a completely different race than the women, which requires a different approach to each race. Since I am really coaching two separate teams, and not just one, I think many individuals undervalue how unique the responsibilities are for a cross country coach."
 
Living in a place she can finally call home — in addition to her cross country family, Drew's parents live in the region — Emma is enjoying the same on-campus and community experiences available to her student-athletes, something she did not take full advantage of throughout her previous coaching stints.
 
"I have fully embraced attending other sporting events on campus, which is something I never did before. Drew and I enjoy going to UC Davis basketball games; they are so much fun, especially since NBA games are too loud for my liking.

"I absolutely love biking downtown and seeing people we know, simply by traveling around town. Davis that reminds me of Clevedon, where everyone knows and cares about you and your family."
 
 

 
Notable and Quotable
RE: Working alongside her husband, Drew
"Between the two of us, I am the one who worries and stresses over things. Drew is the calm one, and helps me become calm if I start worrying too much about a particular thing or situation. We balance each other well, and are always mindful about separating our work and personal lives."
 
"The two of us are able to bring work home, when necessary, and not feel guilty because the other knows when to step up at home and assist."
 
 
RE: Finding balance during throughout academic year filled with cross country and/or track meets
"I take my off days each week seriously. I like to sleep in on Mondays, our off day, since that is the only opportunity I have during the week. That is a little bit daunting for most people when they begin a career in coaching. Many individuals come from the sport, so we think we can handle everything; until you become a coach, one does understand all the responsibilities association with the position since all we truly know is the student-athlete experience. If you are not at a race or practice, you are busy recruiting."
 
"You live the life, but you do not need to focus on the sport 24/7. The student-athletes need to learn how to balance school and sports, and we need to give them the space, but still remain close enough to help them out, when needed."
 
 
RE: The moment when UC Davis felt like home
"During our first cross country season, Drew and I returned home from a regional meet in Sacramento that was the final race of the season. Normally when the season concludes, I look up flights back home and start planning my short time off before I start prepping for indoor season. But that year, I did not want to travel anywhere, I just wanted to stay in Davis.
 
"When I was at Florida State coaching, I flew home whenever the students returned home on break. Now, I prefer to stay at home, work in my garden and enjoy staying in Davis. I am afraid I am turning into my mom by enjoying these things — something even she teases me about every now and then."
 

 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
With the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, more than 700 student-athletes represent the fifth-ranked public school in the nation on one of 25 intercollegiate athletics teams.
 
UC Davis, a national leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, is centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley; and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
 
Ranked annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.