The only things faster than David and Caitlyn Bobb themselves, perhaps, are the zingers they toss at one another. 

As Caitlyn, a rookie running star now in her sophomore year, describes what it’s like to have a father as head coach of track and field at UMBC, her dad dryly turns it into a bit. 

“My dad has many sides to him, okay?” Caitlyn laughs as Coach Bobb literally acts out everything she’s saying while seated beside her. 

“There’s the coach side, where he’s stern, and he’s got the stopwatch in his hand, arms crossed, hat on, and ‘GO!’…And then there’s the dad side, who comes to practice all excited, and says ‘Woo, I’m hyped, let’s go!’” 

It’s not surprising that Caitlyn is poised for another amazing season. She’s a very hard worker, of course, and also the product of phenomenal athlete parents. Her mom, Dawnnette, represented Bermuda in the 1992 Olympics in the 100-meter dash, and Coach Bobb ’97, information systems, still holds six separate records for indoor and outdoor events at UMBC. 

“My mom, she was like, ‘Okay, I saw that coming.’ I’m pretty sure my dad did, too. It’s in my genes. I didn’t have a choice,” Caitlyn says. 

Caitlyn wowed the competition in her rookie season, earning several “most outstanding” titles at the America East Championships and placing 17th in the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Championships with a school record-breaking time of 51.84 seconds. And as she continues to learn from her dad and other coaches—like paying attention to the way she pumps her arms, for instance—she’s on course to make improvements each season. 

“We’re doing what we’ve been doing for years—the only difference is we’re now doing it at UMBC,” says Coach Bobb. “Hearing my experiences and her mom’s experiences helps her prepare for situations she’s going to encounter herself.” 

Although bubbly off the track, Caitlyn is extremely serious in her training—pushing thoughts out of her head in order to focus on breathing above all else. She often runs and studies with her friend Ibra Khairat, a sophomore biological sciences major. 

“I would describe Caitlyn and Coach’s relationship as one that’s balanced just right,” he says. “Although she is the coach’s daughter, Coach Bobb gives her room to grow as an athlete and doesn’t give any type of special treatment, which is why it works so well. They are both able to balance that father/daughter and coach/athlete dynamic.” 

Coach Bobb is big on building relationships and trust and making sure his runners feel supported, both as athletes and students, he says. As father and daughter gently rib each other, it’s clear the one-upping is grounded in love. 

“I know what it takes to be successful in this sport, so I just sit back and look at the execution of her race. Is she doing what she’s been trained to do?” Beyond that, he says, it’s about seizing the moment and improving wherever you can. “As a parent, I’m just making sure that I’m supportive. Track and field is only going to be X years of her life. I’m always going to be her dad.” 

It’s true: Nobody runs track forever. Caitlyn is studying biological sciences with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation with hopes of someday being a biology teacher—and possibly a coach herself. 

She has a great model right next to her,  even if she doesn’t always get his Karate Kid training jokes. (Don’t worry, they can watch it together later.) 

“He cares about his students’ well-being, and he makes it a warm, welcoming environment. He cares a lot,” she says, getting serious for a moment. “Good job, Dad.”

Cameron Hindle finished 22nd of 92 cross country runners in the America East Championships. Lauren Reid played nearly every minute in all 17 soccer games as a central fullback. Hayden Lim scored the game-winning soccer goal to clinch a playoff spot.

What do these UMBC student-athletes have in common? They are all first-year students at UMBC, after COVID-19 curtailed their senior year of high school.

Since the NCAA allowed all student-athletes enrolled in the spring of 2020 and the fall and winter of 2020 – 21 to earn an extra year of eligibility, fifth-year seniors and graduate students are dominating most NCAA Division I intercollegiate rosters. But at UMBC, this trio of student-athletes are among many first-year Retrievers who are contributing to their teams’ success. 

Cameron Hindle at the 2021 America East Conference Cross Country Championship meet in Durham, NH, in October 2021. Photo courtesy of America East Conference.

Only two other America East first years outpaced Hindle in cool, muddy conditions on the New Hampshire course on October 29. Moreover, the Elliott City native’s UMBC classmate, Ayalew Fantaw ’24, information systems, was the second Retriever to cross the finish line.

As a member of the women’s soccer team, Reid was one of seven first-year students that started at least six times and one of 14 first-year players on the roster. The Retrievers earned as many “results” (eight, with five wins and three draws) than they have since 2015. Reid came to UMBC from Denver, Colorado, and credits her new #RetrieverNation family for her early success.

“Each and every single one of the players on the team pushes you to be the best version of yourself that you can be whether playing or going through life,” said Reid. “The coaches are also a huge part of my success this semester. They provide constant support, checking in on school, food, mental health, etc. In every part of life, they are making sure that we’re okay.”

“The 14 young women from the class of 2025 have not only been able to complement our returners but have also been able to start to lay down the initial steps of what their legacy will be here at UMBC,” said fourth-year Women’s Soccer Head Coach Vanessa Mann. “We are incredibly optimistic about where we are headed and feel now like this really was our true ‘year-one’ in terms of moving the program forward.” 

The nationally-ranked New Hampshire men’s soccer team faced UMBC on October 23 with 10 graduate students on their active roster and barely escaped Retriever Soccer Park with a 1-0 victory. Six days later, Lim and the Retrievers faced a must-win game at NJIT, a team which featured the nation’s top active goal-scorer. UMBC fell behind, 2-0, but rallied with three second-half goals, including Lim’s game-winner with 17 minutes remaining, to clinch a playoff berth.

“I believe that some of my success started with the attitude of knowing I am younger but still wanting to make an impact to help the team any way I can,” said Lim. “I have gained a lot of confidence by having good chemistry with the team on and off the field and also knowing the trust coaches had in me in high-stakes moments. This has and will continue to make my first semester here a memorable one and I can’t wait to keep going.”   

— Steve Levy ’85

*****

Header image: UMBC freshman midfielder Izzy Binko led the Retrievers to a 5-1 victory over Delaware State in October 2021. Photo courtesy of UMBC Athletics.

At first glance, Justin Glaze ’16 seems like the quintessential UMBC alum—a graduate in business technology administration but a minor in fine arts, a track & field athlete who went on to work at T. Rowe Price. But if he looks a little more familiar than most Retrievers, it’s probably because you’ve seen so many of his facial expressions as the runner-up on season 17 (with Katie Thurston) of ABC’s The Bachelorette. Glaze sat down with UMBC Magazine to discuss the behind-the-scenes friendship of so many of the men on set and how they still keep in touch daily. He also shares some UMBC memories, like forming an unexpected connection with President Freeman Hrabowski and eventually hanging his own art in the Hrabowski’s family home.

UMBC Magazine: So, you were the runner-up on the most recent season of The Bachelorette. How’d that happen?

Justin Glaze: In November 2020, during Tayshia’s season, I was in my house eating Ben & Jerry’s—and it was COVID so you couldn’t really go out and do anything. I was single as a Pringle. I was in a group chat with some people that watch the show and we were kind of joking about applying. It just so happened to be [an episode with] an art group date, and I was like, “Wait a minute. If I was on this date right now, I feel like I’d crush this.” 

So I thought, “If it’s a short application and I can knock it out during a commercial break, why not?” Less than a week later, I got an email from a casting producer from ABC and two months later, I was getting casted.

UMBC Magazine: We loved watching the bromance develop this season. Can you share a bit about your relationship with the other guys?

Justin Glaze: Oh yes, but I don’t know where to start. But take Michael A., for example. He’s taught me no matter what life throws your way, no matter what you’re going through, to keep pushing forward. He’s experienced almost all that life has to offer, and so that’s invaluable to have as a close friend, to be able to bounce ideas off of and to kind of keep you grounded. We’ve all been able to lean on each other through tough times though. I’m super grateful for the house of guys that I had. 

UMBC Magazine: How did your time at UMBC prepare you for this experience?

Justin Glaze: At UMBC I learned about creating a strong social circle and staying true to myself, which were crucial elements of my time on the show. Being a student-athlete at UMBC, you’re all joined together through the unity of sports and the togetherness of cheering for each other, whatever team you’re on. 

Obviously UMBC’s a fantastic academic school and that, in my opinion, is what should come first and foremost, but you have to be involved in something. It really helps you to branch out and feel included and have that tight-knit feel, which I think helped me get through college. 

The other thing I felt strongly about on the show was something reinforced to me at UMBC: Stay true to yourself. Be comfortable with who you are. As long as you know who you are, you have a strong support system who knows who you are, that’s what’s most important. 

UMBC Magazine: How did you end up choosing UMBC?

Justin Glaze: UMBC is huge on inclusivity and diversity, and so it felt like a natural fit for me, but I did consider transferring because I was thinking about using my art skills to study architecture. But at a meet-and-greet my freshman year with Dr. Hrabowski, I thought, “You know what? Let me go shoot my shot and introduce myself.”

To no one’s surprise, he was super friendly—asked what my grades were like, what my major was, what I was interested in. I told him my thoughts about transferring, and he was like, “Okay, well, how about at the end of the semester, shoot me an email, we’ll set some time up, and we’ll figure something out.” I’m like, “There’s no way. I’m just a freshman, one of however many thousand.”

Long story short, I ended up meeting with him and to this day, he’s been probably one of my biggest mentors. He introduced me to the job I’m at now and took me under his wing for the remaining four years and beyond, and so he’s played a huge role in my experience.

UMBC Magazine: What’s your fondest memory with President Hrabowski?

Justin Glaze: Every time I met with him, he served me a big slice of humble pie. He gives me that tough love that I need, and that’s what I love about him. He shoots it straight and he sees the potential in me. He has this drive to always improve himself and be better, and that is something that really resonates with me. 

I have to say, it’s also pretty cool that I have a couple pieces of commissioned artwork I’ve done that he has hung up in his house.

UMBC Magazine: Wait, what? Tell us more.

Justin Glaze: I was definitely nervous, because for all my art clients, I want to give my best, but especially him—after all he’s done for me—I wanted to give my best work. I was very grateful that he had the trust in me to create some artwork for some special people in his family. So yeah, it was an honor.

UMBC Magazine: How have you been managing the return to normal life after you came back from the show?

Justin Glaze: I was a bit naïve as to what it would be like. I expected a little bit of it, but I didn’t expect the magnitude that it is. It’s still new to me how to navigate it. I’m the type of person, I’ll talk to anybody, so when people come up to me, gym, grocery store, out in public, I don’t want people to be nervous. I’m a normal, nice guy. I’ll talk to people, take pictures. It doesn’t bother me.

The biggest thing is just coming to grips with people’s expectations of you. It’s been tough trying to find that balance of staying true to who you are but also knowing that being true to who you are can be perceived in so many different ways. 

UMBC Magazine: If the season was in a post-COVID era and you were able to bring Katie [the eponymous bachelorette] to Baltimore for a hometown visit, what places or activities would you have done with her?

Justin Glaze: For the best view, I would have taken her to Federal Hill to overlook the harbor. I think that would have been a really nice place to chat and talk about home with that view. Katie is really into animals, so I would have taken her to the aquarium, maybe through the zoo. Definitely would have taught her how to pick crabs.

UMBC Magazine: If you had the chance to do it all over again, would you?

Justin Glaze: Without hesitation. The good, the bad. All of it. 100%. 

*****

Interview conducted by Tsai-Ann Yawching.

All photos courtesy of Corey Jennings ’10.

Former UMBC track and field standout Cleopatra Borel-Brown ’02, interdisciplinary studies, is preparing to compete in the 2011 World Track and Field Championships, to be held in August in Daegu, South Korea.

Borel-Brown, an assistant coach at Morgan State University, has competed in the shot put event at two summer Olympics.

Read the full story here.