Who are the 5 MOST Influential distance coaches in the US

I would add Terrence Mahon and Hansons as both have produced American Olympians in both of the last 2 Olympics.

Brad Hudson

I think by influential we should look at coaches who have coached Americans to Olympic medals.

I like that list.

All have coached American Olympians and are all still working with American elites.

Alberto

Jerry

Mahon

Hanson

Hudson

I think the list has to include Mark Wetmore. He may be primarily a college coach, but the number of athletes he has coached either to the Olympics or have gone on the become Olympians is truly impressive. Culpepper, Gouchers, Torres, Ritz, Coburn, Nelson, etc. Lots of others have been successful pros, like Vaughn, Pifer, Metevier-Ballie, Slattery, etc.

You can also argue that his success while focusing on aerobic development and mileage was a key factor in pulling US distance running out of the low-mileage, intensity based morass of the late 80's and 90's.

I would add Wetmore but take Hudson off the list. Hudsons only Olympian was Ritz who was an Olympian before Brad and after Brad.

1. Salazar -- Produced a medalist

2. Mahon

3. Wetmore

4. Hansons

5. Jerry

That guy 21 wrote:

I think the list has to include Mark Wetmore. He may be primarily a college coach, but the number of athletes he has coached either to the Olympics or have gone on the become Olympians is truly impressive. Culpepper, Gouchers, Torres, Ritz, Coburn, Nelson, etc. Lots of others have been successful pros, like Vaughn, Pifer, Metevier-Ballie, Slattery, etc.

You can also argue that his success while focusing on aerobic development and mileage was a key factor in pulling US distance running out of the low-mileage, intensity based morass of the late 80's and 90's.

I suppose you could argue that. He wasn't training any differently than Martin Smith at Wisconsin that whole entire time, but the Colorado program improved quickly when Wetmore took over, and attracted a solid group of high school talent that all became individual NCAA champs.

Ok I agree it was a factor.

Canova, Salazar, Hudson, Mahon, Jennings ( Margo)

Canola is not US, so I will add Wetmore.

Galen Rupp

Dathan Ritzenhein

Steve Prefontaine

Ryan Hall

Moses Mosop

Anthony Famiglietti

Andrew Bumbalough

Donn Cabral

Anton Krupicka

To the public:

Magness

Salazar

Hansons

Canova

......

We aren't limiting this to american born coaches (which also excludes Salazar), we are basically putting the group to the most influtential coaches on the american population

Magness regarding the masters on runners world and running times

Salazar and Hansons are no brainers

Canova easily because of these message boards

"Influential" suggests to me coaches whose ideas and approach have influenced many others.

Jack Daniels

Alberto Salazar

Mark Wetmore

Bill Aris

Jerry Schumacher

salazar

lance armstrong

steve prefontaine

brian fantana

mo farah

Add Frank Gagliano to the list!

rojo is number one. think about his ability to reach out. he has control of the information that the public somewhat serious running community has access to. if you think anyone cares about what any other coach thinks you're fooling yourself.

Hansons-- because they contribute to creating Olympians from average collegiates and they are willing to share their training philosophy to the average Joe.

Salazar--Has created a medalist which overcomes the fact that he deals in the gray area. Although I don't trust him/

Hudson--Never met an elite that he wouldn't help.

Gags--Middle distance guru. King of the 5k on down.

Wetmore--Every coach steals as much as they can from him, so he has an impact on nearly everyone.

let's not forget Cook

Thank you for putting emphasis on the word "MOST." I was about to name the 5 least influential coaches.

coach wrote:

let's not forget Cook

And Dr. Li.

And the one who has probably been the most influential coach the last 10 years for those of use who actually are coaches and go to seminars:

Dr. Vigil.

The people who have actually been involved with coaching distance medals in the last 10 years or so:

Li

Cook

Salazar

Vigil/Larson

You can add the guy the UK hired away from us: Mahon.

You can add Daniels and Canova and stop right there.

Hansons and Hudson? Wannabes only. Jerry? Show us the medals.