Ritzenhein most underrated coach in the world?

Meanwhile Parker Stinson has made zero progress

To play devils advocate, another way of looking at it is “Three of the best runners in the NCAA improve after going pro”. Also aren’t all those old PRs like 2 years old because of covid?

I’ll hold my judgment positively or negative until we see how Ritz does with the rest of the group. Carlos Villarreal has really struggled IMO

Yeah… NO. The season is young, progressing marks from over a year ago in their mid-20s is nice, if the basic expectation, and not the only or even main point. Still looking like Hudson v2.

They have improved two years after their last track season. But it's premature to judge when they're just getting into track season. The results might be quite dramatic by the end of this year. They're off to a good start. 7:39 is an excellent start for Klecker.

quote post wrote:

Meanwhile Parker Stinson has made zero progress

2:10 and 25K AR is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering how immature Stinson is. Jjust getting him to the line healthy and keeping his attention engaged for more than ten mnutes is a huge achievement.

Re: Villareal

Not sure whose idea it was to sign him, perhaps some pressure from corporate for a "global" team but a speed-based 1500 guy at altitude in this strength-based program is far from ideal. Hope he adjusts.

free shipping with purchase wrote:

quote post wrote:

Meanwhile Parker Stinson has made zero progress

2:10 and 25K AR is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering how immature Stinson is. Jjust getting him to the line healthy and keeping his attention engaged for more than ten mnutes is a huge achievement.

Re: Villareal

Not sure whose idea it was to sign him, perhaps some pressure from corporate for a "global" team but a speed-based 1500 guy at altitude in this strength-based program is far from ideal. Hope he adjusts.

When’s the last time he’s raced?

I guess but he also has a significantly shorter track record than other cowches

As others have pointed out, the OP is cherry picking three NCAA stars.

Villarreal and the rest of the women’s team are struggling. Ritz has been the coach of this group for less than a year. Give him a few years and then we can re-evaluate.

I don’t think he’s underrated. He’s appropriately rated for this point in his coaching career.

Dude is just getting his sea-legs. Too early to make judgements. But if his heart is in this, which I see no reason not to believe, he will be one heck of a great coach and anyone with aspirations of greatness should jump at the chance to be under his guidance.

I agree with @free shipping about Stinson. I don't know if they're together at all now, since Stinson is not On affiliated. The 25k and then Chicago, as was pointed out, we're both a good step forward. Although I don't really know, it seems likely to me that they haven't worked together in a while now since On hired Ritz. So if Stinson hasn't really done anything during the past year that's all the more reason you could give Ritz some of the credit for the best stretch he's had.

Ritz, while a legendary runner in my book, isn't a good coach. He subscribes to the false conventional training philosophy that riddled his own career with injuries.

Definitely NOT the Magic Wizard! wrote:

I agree with @free shipping about Stinson. I don't know if they're together at all now, since Stinson is not On affiliated. The 25k and then Chicago, as was pointed out, we're both a good step forward. Although I don't really know, it seems likely to me that they haven't worked together in a while now since On hired Ritz. So if Stinson hasn't really done anything during the past year that's all the more reason you could give Ritz some of the credit for the best stretch he's had.

Stinson has been working out with the OAC group on occasion, so it seems there's still some sort of relationship there. He got hurt just before marathon trials last year. He's obviously not going to get into any of these track races that have been popping up. Pretty quiet period of time for road guys if they're not ready for London or Marathon Project.

Most underrated coach is Ron Warhurst.

Hobbs Kessler before Warhurst: 1 mile 4:25

After Warhurst: 1 mile 3:57

Brian Gates2 wrote:

Ritz, while a legendary runner in my book, isn't a good coach. He subscribes to the false conventional training philosophy that riddled his own career with injuries.

Riddled his own **record setting/world medaling** career with injuries.

Brian Gates2 wrote:

Ritz, while a legendary runner in my book, isn't a good coach. He subscribes to the false conventional training philosophy that riddled his own career with injuries.

Aside from Stinson, name one athlete that has gotten injured under Ritz? The group have all had an excellent start to their career.

It's not the coach, it's the shoes.

We are seeing so many fast times in the present and we will see 5 high schoolers each year break 4 minutes in the mile. Legit track is dead

I think Villarreal is recovering from injury

And the reason we're seeing more sub 4's from high schoolers is just that the tracks and shoes are a bit better.

You're telling me a kid like Rich Kimball wouldn't have been sub 4 today, or a guy like Drew Hunter might have been more like 4:01-2 If he was running back then.

A JV level AR, and a time that puts him 7 minutes off of the AR. Definitely something to sneeze at. 2:10 is a joke.

GO BLUE!!! wrote:

Most underrated coach is Ron Warhurst.

Hobbs Kessler before Warhurst: 1 mile 4:25

After Warhurst: 1 mile 3:57

Coach Puberty gets the credit