There's a lot here that makes sense.
Coaching isn't rocket science but some coaches are better than others. There has to be a reason that runners would rather run for coach X than coach Y. Some of it is the personality of the coach and how the athlete perceives that they will mesh with the coach but there is some technique and intuition involved. A coach has to know when to push some athletes and perhaps when to hold them back. Additionally, not all of the guys on the team will be on the same schedule.
The diva theory probably is nonsense and perhaps I should not have mentioned it. What I really mean is that a guy or girl is really good, they know that they're good, and because of that, may not put in the required effort. I guess even someone that isn't a diva could be that way.
Part of the reason that I brought it up is that I can remember an interview with NAU's Mike Smith and he mentioned the types of guys he looks for and recruits. He specifically mentioned that "divas" get crossed off of the list along with those that have intrusive parents that are overinvolved, and those that put their own interests ahead of the team's. He stated that he just can't work with those runners.
You're partially right and it probably was unfair of me to mention some guys by name. If I posted this as a registered user I would edit my post.
The intent of my question and post is not to denigrate a runner. I'm merely wondering why some guys don't seem to live up to expectations. Some of the expectations are not their own, though. Many are expectations that parents or others have. Perhaps a lot of the guys go in and don't have clear expectations of themselves.
Social media is hard on a lot of kids and just not runners. In the past, many on this forum were relentless in abusing Mary Cain. There have been a lot of others that have been abused as well. The issues that she had run a lot deeper than the words of some here, though. Many were out of bounds but I doubt that her career was ruined because of that. It is very good advice for the kids to stay off of forums. Even staying off of social media is sometimes good but that isn't going to happen.