Terrance Mahon has signed a contract with UK Athletics to become their national coach for distane events. He will be based in Loughborough.
Appears the lottery money that UKA has was too much for Mahon to pass up.
Terrance Mahon has signed a contract with UK Athletics to become their national coach for distane events. He will be based in Loughborough.
Appears the lottery money that UKA has was too much for Mahon to pass up.
So who is this guy? And what does "national coach" mean? Obviously all the top athletes have their individual coaches.
UKA isn't funded by lottery money.
What about Terrence Mahon staying in the States?
Doclove wrote:
What about Terrence Mahon staying in the States?
I think this is tremendous.....finally USA EXPORTING something, rather than constantly IMPORTING.
Dan Pfaff was "imported" to England and brought them a gold in the men's long jump.
Big news if true. Source?
This would fit in with the thread about Deena Kastor talking about "big changes" in the Mammoth Track Club.
UKA's new head coach is a Swede and their distance coach would be an American? Is there no local athletics coaching talent?
What about Mark Rowland from OTC Eugene? Top coach and a Brit.
Moe's Tavern wrote:
Dan Pfaff was "imported" to England and brought them a gold in the men's long jump.
Troy, that is also tremendous.
Terrance has several US athletes that will be impacted by his now divided lack of focus as well as time spent in UK although I am sure many UK runners will make move to Cali to train.
How will Morgan Uceny and the rest of his group respond to this not just now but in their performance in the months ahead.
Who is the rest of the group?
Bauhs who is not good enough to get a contract?
Pierce who gains 20 lbs a year?
Smythe who just ran a 2:20 marathonin Chicago?
Uceny is the only athlete left in the group.
Mark Rowland and Mo Farah come to the US... and Terrence Mahon goes to the UK. Makes no sense whatsoever. Are the US athletes going to the UK as well?
Guys, these are the 100m results from The Bryan Clay Invitational in LA this year:
Finals: Heat #1
Wind: 1.9
Place Overall Name Year Team Time Score
1 1 Grimes, Mickey Academy of Speed 10.17 -
2 2 Barnett, Bryan SR Unattached 10.29 -
3 4 Ayanful , Eugene SR Team England 10.34 -
4 4 Yearwood, Levan Team England 10.34 -
5 6 McClain, Remontay FR-1 Azusa Pacific 10.35 -
6 7 Williams, Christopher Academy of Speed 10.39 -
7 8 Gilling, Tremayne Team England 10.41 -
8 9 Scott, Ryan Unattached 10.42 -
The "Team England" are members of the UK Olympic team that reside and train in Los Angeles in the winter. I personally have raced the likes of Dwain Chambers and Christian Malcolm and seen Ohuruogu more than once. Mind you, these are NOT professional races with prize money--these are just ordinary local college races. And in addition to the Brits, Bryan Barnett is a former Canadian Olympic Team member. That's right--HALF of the top finishers in this local race were Olympians from England and Canada.
The Brits are all over the place.
I thought he was going to Kentucky.
If this indeed true the UK will be better for it.
It shows that we don't have a national coach support function.
Private sector ( ie: Nike , Brooks Hanson ) , but nothing the governing body does.
Yes we have some coaching ed programs , that help with education , but thats about it. All USATF coaches and said to be coaches at big events hang out in hospitality or HQ hotels with little or no interaction with athletes or coaches.
Coaches like Terrence are professional , should be paid as such and will have to take opportunities as they present themselves.
I agree that coaches need to be paid and I am happy for Terrence. But the US system is better than a National Coach and is producing better results.
How would it go if Kara or Shalane or Desi were told that Terrence was their new coach? It would be a disaster.
Mammoth TC wrote:
Pierce who gains 20 lbs a year?
really?? this statement is insensitive, untrue, and mean-spirited.
Texas Wildcatter wrote:
I thought he was going to Kentucky.
http://www.ukathletics.com/
pod.
very funny.
i mean it's not like it's out of the realm of possibilities. i mean who in god's name would think that the stanford coaches would all bail ship and head to Kentucky.
The role of the UK national coach is to provide coaching direction , knowledge and resources for individual coaches in the field working directly with the athletes. ( not sure why you think the national coach takes over coaching of individual athletes ? ) An athlete could ask for help if needed. They develop master plans for bigger events : ie training camps WC and Oly games etc. They strategize a cohesive program that encapsulates youth , club programs to the national elite programs. Purpose is to give structure and a path for athletes/coaches as they evolve through the sport.
They help with the dialog for financial support for athletes that qualify.
UK knows it needs to overhaul what its doing , athletes such as Mo F. left to be trained ( ie Nike funded programs ) to improve.
The thought of bringing new people into the UK program is to hopefully develop an infrastructure that would lift the Athletics program to a new level.