What are some pure indications of a coach, who’s at the division one level, that shouldn’t be coaching at this level. What qualities do they possess on a day to day level? How do they carry themselves at practices? How is his recruiting? How involved are they? Do they lie to their athletes?
The primary issue is taking freshmen and running them into the ground by making them jump up from 50-60 mpw to 90-120 mpw with killer sessions and easy runs that are way too fast for 18 and 19 year olds adjusting to college life with no parental supervision, and hence, drinking and not getting enough sleep. You injure promising kids every single year instead of bringing them along gradually, keeping them healthy, and being patient about the returns on investment.
Winning and Losing. That is what the coach is hired for.
In the case of DI XC, with the exception of, at most, a few dozen programs, that isn’t the case. Having an XC/distance program that doesn’t cause the Director (or, if the XC coach is the Director, the assigned sports administrator) any headaches is much more important at the vast majority of programs. And even among the few-dozen that truly care about winning in XC, very few of them would be willing to support an XC coach as they weathered a scandal—that number is probably less than a dozen.
So “causing or supervising a scandal within the program” is probably the answer to this question, unfortunately. The actual coaching/program-building skills are definitely secondary.
Both of my college coaches were sprint coaches. Larry Crow would just let me put in the miles that I was use to and then tell me to give him the credit for that. He did what he could to motivate me. The second Andy Theil was recruiting a bunch of 4:30 plus milers that couldn't keep up with practice. With more of them than me it was destroying me . I cursed him until I was thrown off the team. He cares deeply about individuals so I will give him that. We get along better today and admit I was probably wrong and should have just quit the team.
I will list some attributes of my bad division 1 xc coach:
- Inflexible. Still doing the same kind of workouts they did in the 90s and unwilling to adapt
- Claims to be a "Lidyard disciple" but can't elaborate further
- Encouraging eating disorders
- Mind games / manipulative behavior to get athletes to do what he wanted
- Flying off the handle at seemingly normal questions. Generally prone to fits of rage.
- Forwarding confidential emails from an athlete (without their permission) to the entire team for the purpose of shaming said athlete
- Being weird when interacting with black people
- Carried himself with spiritual guru vibe
- Lacking people skills and awareness of said lack of people skills.
- Telling people on the team to spy and snitch on their teammates for things like eating a candy bar
Good start. I would add a person more interested in what you can do for them (a transactional situation) than how they can help you optimize your performance and meet your goals.
Running an athlete when injured where that running might make the injury worse or delay its healing or put you at long term risk.
1. Pack attack. Not every team is the Kenyan national team but if you can have a close team train & race together and finish together with minimal separation you're doing the best with what you've got.
2. Easy days easy. Letting the 5,6,7+ members set the pace on non interval days. They'll gain confidence running in the front. If your top members are setting the pace your daily pace can be too fast and runs can turn into time trials. Then you're missing your A Game on meet day.
3. Encourage your team and check in with them individually on a personal level.
4. Be positive.
5. Keep your team healthy.
6. Rankings aren't results. Believe in your squad and create an upset!