Jerry Schumaker- America's Greatest Coach?

you spelled his name wrong

Certainly gets the most hype and love while Alberto gets traditionally raked over the coals! All the rest of our best work with individual coaches and are without as good training partners

MALE AMERICANS COACHED

JERRY

SOLINSKY, AWESOME

NELSON, VERY GOOD, GUY ISN'T THAT TALENTED

BAIRU (Canadien)

JAGER/TEG - INJURED

ALBERTO

WEBB, COMEBACK BEGINS

RITZ, DECENT

RUPP, VERY GOOD

COOK

MANZANO, VERY GOOD

TORRENCE, VERY GOOD

LANANNA

WHEATING, AWESOME

HAYES

LAMONG, MOST UNDERATED 1500 AMERICAN

LI

LAGAT, BEST AMERICAN

ROWLANDS

SYMONDS, BEST 800 AMERICAN BY FAR

BRUCE, DECENT STEEPLE SEASON

GARY

HULING, BEST STEEPLE AMERICAN BY FAR

"SYMONDS, BEST 800 AMERICAN BY FAR"

This seems like a weird comment. It is not even clear that he is the best, let alone "by far". Did you forget about Wheating? Not count him for some reason?

I know that was last yrs situation and all. but now u must consider the fact that lomong has signed on with schumacher. He's doing a good job from 5k and up, but if we see a stellar yr from lomong then you've got to consider him america's top coach.

alberto is a close second. A few things prevent him from being number one. 1st, solinsky beat rupp and got the 10k AR when the race was really set up for rupp to get it.

ritz, tho an impressive 09, hasn't done much since then (the bulk of him time with Alsal) and has been injured

And with ritz, rupp, webb: salazar has the most talented trio comparted to solinksy, teg, lomong.

also u got shalane vs kara. with kara having a kid she's been out of the spotlight while simultaneously shalane finishes second in NYC. We'll have to wait a while to see them face each other again, but it'll be interesting to see how kara does in boston.

i think this yr it'll come down to if webb can beat lomong in the 15 and if rupp can get over his mental barrier of not being able to beat solinksy (has had it since freshman yr of college racing him)

i honestly think webb can destroy lomong when he's fit but we'll see.

t-pain wrote:

and if rupp can get over his mental barrier of not being able to beat solinksy (has had it since freshman yr of college racing him)

I think Rupp has a decent head-to-head record against Solinsky over the last few years.

He beat him in a 5000m photo finish at Eugene in the spring of '07 (I think?) with an impressive close over the last 100m. (Admittedly CS was dying a painful death those last strides, and collapsed over the line.)

Rupp also edged Solinsky for second place (and last qualifier for World Indoors) last winter in Albuquerque. That made the fourth US team Rupp has made for track championships, while Solinsky has only made one.

Obviously Solinsky looked in a different class outdoors in 2010, but if you consider the last few years, they're pretty even.

Lomong will destroy Webb this year. He will be with training partners for the first time and a coach that will work with him every day. It makes a big difference no matter what the workout is.

While I agree that he is a very good coach, I do not see that Lomong being there makes him any better. It does mean that there is an amazing level of talent up there in Portland that is unrivaled anywhere but the Rift Valley.

Why does everyone think Lomong is moving to Portland? All I've seen in print is that he'd been getting training advice from Schumacher but was content to live in Flagstaff.

Does anyone have a news story confirming that Lomong will train in Oregon in the near future?

Yes. He has enthusiasm, a no nonsense basic approach, Nike, and the young talent to work with.

Big Pappa wrote:

After the success of his OTC group in 2011 and accolades at Wisconsin, this guy's runners seem to be consistent and performing great.

Is he the best coach America has?

What is he doing different than everyone else?

Nike tells athletes they must be coached by Jerry, Alberto, or Rowlands or no deal. Nothing wrong with that, but tehy also get the best talent.

So if the Nike athletes must be coached by "Jerry, Alberto or Rowlands or no deal," when will Leo, Torrance, Rowbury make the move?

I ran under Jerry. He is a super weird guy but he knows his shit. also, he puts up with ZERO bullshit. ZERO. There is no other life, it is running 100% or nothing. No beers with the guys, no fast food. No girls. Nothing. If you are not 100%, you are a joke to Jerry and he ignores you.

I really believe that Salazar holding the mileage down on Rupp is going to pay dividends when Rupp is in his late 20s and into his 30s even though it sacrifices Rupp's ability in the near term. I would like to see this question posed after the 2016 Olympics.

But another issue is Salazar willingness to experiment, for better or worst. Salazar's decision to change Ritz's running from is controversial at best. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Jerry has done that or would ever consider doing that to a runner as mature as Ritz. Its not like changing a batting swing or a basketball players shooting form. Running is inherently much more ingrained, especially for someone in his mid 20s. Salazar had some ball's to try that. But then again, its an off season. If you are going to try anything at all you may as well try it then. And if you are going to learn what works and doesn't work, sometimes you just have to try something and see what happens.

Ran for Jerry as well, but I did suck. I think Jerry's inability to change/experiment will be what keeps his guys getting to the top level (medals). Once he gets a recipe that works, he is such a creature of habit he won't change at all.

Johnnnny wrote:

I ran under Jerry. He is a super weird guy but he knows his shit. also, he puts up with ZERO bullshit. ZERO. There is no other life, it is running 100% or nothing. No beers with the guys, no fast food. No girls. Nothing. If you are not 100%, you are a joke to Jerry and he ignores you.

Uh, there are pictures of the team having burgers and beer with Jerry. Some of the team is married and Jager has a girlfriend. I call BS.

Are you talking about highly active coaches only? Otherwise, to me, the best around is Dr. Joe Vigil.

My top 5 American coaches

JERRY SCHUMACHER

Solinsky-BEAST

Nelson-Not as talented as the other guys, but still good

Bairu-He's a good long distance runner.

Jager-Injured, but has shown that he's good

Tegenkamp-Awesome when healthy

Bumbalough-We'll see this upcoming season

Flanagan-2nd @ NY in her debut, awesome.

Koll-we'll see what she does under new coach

ALBERTO SALAZAR

Webb-hasn't shown 100% comeback... yet

Rupp-good. doesn't seem to get injured a whole lot.

Ritzenhein-Injury, but when healthy... oh boy

A. Goucher-Lost cause.

K. Goucher-AWESOME!

COOK

Manzano-Best American miler not counting Wheating?

Hernandez-1:45 and looks like he can go faster.

Torrence-Shown that he can hang.

Johnson-1:57, 'nuff said.

LI

Lagat-Nothing but good times

Sambu-Who was this guy a year ago?

Ige-Should've never left him.

Lalang-same thing as Ige

Cheseret-same thing as Ige

Notable Mention

MAHON

Hall-Whoops

Keflezighi-Consistent marathoner

Bauhs-Hasn't improved a lot since Chico State days.

MCMILLAN

Arciniaga-Up and coming marathoner

Got some other up and coming athletes as well.

My take on it wrote:

Uh, there are pictures of the team having burgers and beer with Jerry. Some of the team is married and Jager has a girlfriend. I call BS.

I am sure things are different now that he is coaching adults, although I am sure it is still tough.

BTW, I did not mean that as a bad thing. He is tough. Tough, but fair. He is a nice guy, but I see a lot of bitching on this board, and I know that 99.9% of you pansies wouldn't make it a day under Jerry.

Also, no way in hell Jerry ate a burger or drank a beer. Pictures or not.

Best coach, zero medals.

Jerry reminds me of Colonel Klink on Hogan's Heros.