Thoughts on Steve Magnus- Mastering the Art of Coaching Course

If he's going to teach the "art" of coaching, there should be zero science involved.

The art of coaching is the most fun and rewarding: human relationships for example. You want to know what real college coaching is like for the vast majority of coaches? Getting two young ladies who were friends for 2 years, now roommates, but hate each other now, because one hooked up with the other's crush after some lame party. Oh- and the crush? He's your #3 guy who is battling injuries and if he can perform this year, he may earn All-Region. But now he's in his own head with this situation. men's and women's team practice together every morning.

I don't trust Magness to know how to deal with this. But I do trust a handful of D2/ naia/ d3 coaches and several D-1 coaches who can.

Magness seems like a nice enough guy but the way he carries and talks like he is a top coach rubs people the wrong way. Like someone else mentioned, he hasn’t had any success coaching yet he talks like he’s a Wetmore, Salazar, Schumacher, Vigil. At a certain point he has to take responsibility for the lack of success at UH. If he was as good a coach as he think he should be able to recruit some athletes there.

I've read several of the classics running books now, but Magness's book is still the most comprehensive. It's more conceptual and less plug-and-play than Daniels. Read both. Read others. But I still find myself coming back to Magness. For $20 new on Amazon, it's a pretty good deal. He freely admits that he's building on what other coaches have done and he emphasizes that most new ideas in running aren't actually new, and he's done several long posts on the history of training to back that up. If you're a coach and haven't taken a look at his book, you're making a mistake.

I was considering trying the Pegasus 34, but I think I'll try another another brand next time.

I can't answer the original question but I will say I greatly appreciate what Magness has to offer. His book is different from the other books out there for coaches. Those that want to criticize him for his lack of success you need to take into consideration he is still early in his career. He is at a school with a sprint coach (very good/popular one) as a director. Magness puts alot information out for free. Yes he does have a couple books and his coaching program for sale. But there probably is not a coach that puts out more information that has been connected with high level athletes.

I agree. I have received a great deal of information from Steve that is not only practical but applicable. I have read a few books (mind you I am only 3 years into coaching, started as a sophomore in college at a local HS), been to track coaching clinic and received my USATF L1. My difficulty with a lot of these mentioned resources is that I find it hard to get applicable information. A lot of the information is geared towards elite performers. Steve does a nice job coming full circle from HS to College to Post-Collegiate .

But Steve is not the only person I seek information from. I have spoken to some of the top coaches in my state, some college coaches, college athletes, coaches from out of state, resources from other disciplines- as I think everyone should.

Thank you for taking your time to read.

number one fan wrote:

I've read several of the classics running books now, but Magness's book is still the most comprehensive. It's more conceptual and less plug-and-play than Daniels. Read both. Read others. But I still find myself coming back to Magness. For $20 new on Amazon, it's a pretty good deal. He freely admits that he's building on what other coaches have done and he emphasizes that most new ideas in running aren't actually new, and he's done several long posts on the history of training to back that up. If you're a coach and haven't taken a look at his book, you're making a mistake.

I was considering trying the Pegasus 34, but I think I'll try another another brand next time.

What does the line about the shoes have to do with anything else in your post (or the entire thread)? Does Magness actually go out of his way to bad mouth Nike shoes?

The Nike line is because anyone who says anything about Steve is a paid Nike employee per several users on this forum.

One thing up above that I feel obligated to address. Magness has never been employed as a high school coach. He advised Dohner and Nations at his old high school, but he was never employed by any high school and has never had to deal with the classroom experience or the parents of a team while actually following the rules of employment set forth by an actual school district.

rahrahrah wrote:

The Nike line is because anyone who says anything about Steve is a paid Nike employee per several users on this forum.

I'm really excited about the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%, can't wait for it to come out for normal runners like me.

I don’t think anyone is hating on Steve. I do think that many find it incredibly arrogant and premature for him to offer a for fee “Mastering The Art of Coaching” course at this point in his career.

One would naturally think a coach offering such a course would have decades of experience and success at many different levels. Steve has not had the success or years of experience yet to offer this in my and many others’ opinion.

Bowerman could have offered this, Lydiard could have, surely Vigil could have, and a select group of others, Steve isn’t close yet. The fact that he is expresses an arrogance, self promotion and self inflation that many find very unbecoming, especially in one who criticizes the same traits in others.

highlander wrote:

I can't answer the original question but I will say I greatly appreciate what Magness has to offer. His book is different from the other books out there for coaches. Those that want to criticize him for his lack of success you need to take into consideration he is still early in his career. He is at a school with a sprint coach (very good/popular one) as a director. Magness puts alot information out for free. Yes he does have a couple books and his coaching program for sale. But there probably is not a coach that puts out more information that has been connected with high level athletes.

It's hard to talk about Magness and coaching success, because you have to deliniate out what you are talking about. Are you talking about Magness coaching at the college level or the pro level?

At the college level, Magness will never be that "successful" if you define it by places at conference, regionals, nationals. He is at a sprint program where his job is likely to have the best team possible with little to no scholarship. Look at Houston, they rightfully place their emphasis on sprints. And they are probably the top non power 5 track and field program in the nation. If we judge success based on improving athletes, I think Magness has done a fine job. He's developed his one stud, Barraza, from good HS runner to an All-American. His team got 6th at regionals, which was the best regional finisher for Houston in like 15 years. That being said, Houston is never going to be that good in cross-country. It's like asking if the Furman sprint coach is any good? It doesn't matter because the resources aren't there.

At the pro level, you can argue over his results, but it's hard to find another coach who at his age has worked with as many national class runners and shares their info. He helped turn Hall into a legitimate road racer before Ryan turned her into a very good marathoner. He helped resurrect Natasha Rogers career. And he's had solid success with others, who have made teams or run pretty dang fast like Areson, Crouch, Schmitz, Spence, and a slew of others. Yep, like any coach or program, we can nitpick on how successful they are and if they have fulfilled potential. He's had his hits and misses. But, I'm not sure how we can think that he's some useless inexperienced coach. I'd kill for working with one of those athletes in my lifetime, and would most likely screw it up!

At the pro level, I'd want to know how Rogers, Hall, Spence, Areson, and whoever trains. And that's why I'm thankful Magness puts information out there. Is it all great? Nope. But name me another coach who has had hands on experience working with athletes of that caliber, who puts out as much info as he does?

I think what it shows is that success is dependent on a lot more than coaching. From my viewpoint, it shows how much of college coaching success is dependent on recruiting and resources, not coaching. Or are we to believe that Magness can figure out how to get a bunch of women to run low 15 for 5k, but not college men?