What is Jonathan Marcus's background as a coach

Looks to me like he was pushed out of Portland. Somehow convinced a few second tier runners that he is a worthwhile coach. The group probably won't exist in a year.

man, you all hate everyone.

Probably most notable because like Magness, he promotes himself a lot on Twitter and the two of them have a pretty good podcast (when you can actually hear what they are saying between the background noise and Marcus eating).

I think he spent some time with the University of Portland program before getting the job at Portland State.

I think both Magness and he have a great developmental understanding, and like teaching. I just don't see the way they coach a very successful formula with top tier talent. They seem like A+++ High School coaches and DIII coaches that really need to develop runners. In that same vein, coaching sub elites make sense because they probably need a more developmental approach. Nothing Marcus is doing is ground breaking. It's all been done before, and is being done most other places. They just spend more time tweeting, talking, and instagramming about it.

I moved to Portland in 2011 and started hearing Marcus' name around that time. Just a very enthusiastic guy who is a total nerd when it comes to training theory and psychology. Not to forget, he was winning a lot of races in town too.

I am sure that every mid-level city in America has a guy like Marcus in it, he just so happens to live in an area that is saturated with elite and sub-elite runners.

Wish him and his athletes the best.

The guy's coaching ability can be described as "master class". I'm still tickled that he called my alma mater Syracuse a flash in the pan and not set up for success. If anyone knows how to get it done it is Jon Marcus. Backpfeifengesicht.

Valentine wrote:

The guy's coaching ability can be described as "master class". I'm still tickled that he called my alma mater Syracuse a flash in the pan and not set up for success. If anyone knows how to get it done it is Jon Marcus. Backpfeifengesicht.

Maybe one day Mr Marcus can develop a runner that can crack the top 7 at Syracuse.

He was at a track meet today (Linfield Icebreaker) and I observed him mostly paying attention to his phone. And, who wears a green hat? :).

-Early 2000's: Ran XC as a highschooler at Franklin High School in pdx.

-Ran for Columbia University

-Late 2000's: Coached Women's soccer at Franklin High School and Coached Middle-Distance/Sprints for track.

-Coached a few years at Warner Pacific College during this time.

-I believe he was an assistant at University of Portland for a year or two.

-Head coach at Portland State for a few years, until being replaced, I beleive, by the current coach.

-Is now coaching at Clackamas community college and coaching semi-elites on the side.

For as long as I have known of him, he has been very involved with the running community in PDX, organizing a ton of track meets/events, and he has definitely coached a ton of athletes.

most of this info can be verified via google. you can find his highschool running profile on athletic.net, and there are a bunch of articles that mention his coaching gigs.

You forgot his wife is sub-elite and fading fast.

here is a decent summary, to add on to my above comment: http://www.goviks.com/coaches.aspx?rc=231

When did he find the time to write all that?

He did not coach distance at U of Portland, then got pushed out of Portland State and now coaches at Clackamas Community College. He tries really hard to be important in Tack & Field.

The guy is such a self-promoter that I would wager he started this thread just so people would be talking about him.....and here I am continuing the discussion, damn it.

Their podcast is awful by the way.

hipsterdofus wrote:

The guy is such a self-promoter that I would wager he started this thread just so people would be talking about him.....and here I am continuing the discussion, damn it.

Their podcast is awful by the way.

What makes it awful? I'm a fan of it.

college jr wrote:

hipsterdofus wrote:

The guy is such a self-promoter that I would wager he started this thread just so people would be talking about him.....and here I am continuing the discussion, damn it.

Their podcast is awful by the way.

What makes it awful? I'm a fan of it.

IT'S TERRIBLE and just a bunch of nothing.

my mind tells me one thing wrote:

I know people have talked him up, but what makes him such a hot coaching property?

You mean Jonathan Marcus talks himself up. He is like that kid in high school that tries really hard to be different.

OregonSteeple99 wrote:

He did not coach distance at U of Portland, then got pushed out of Portland State and now coaches at Clackamas Community College. He tries really hard to be important in Tack & Field.

According to his psu bio, he was an assistant coach at u of p. Maybe not distance, though.

Solid blog, "JMar". Let's hope you coach better than you write.