Emma Coburn dropping Wetmore, will be coached by fiance

Although this is a pretty big surprise after her recent Olympic medal, we have to remember that Wetmore is a college coach. His priority is, and always will be, his Colorado athletes. By switching to Bosshard, Emma now has a coach that makes Emma his number one priority. Bosshard went to Colorado. He's been alongside Emma throughout her entire career. Between the two of them, they likely have enough knowledge about her training over the past decade to do it on their own. I'm curious as to how it will affect her training situation with the university/Jenny. She'll probably won't be allowed to use the school's facilities and probably won't have Jenny as a training partner. There were rumors on the board about whether or not Emma and Jenny got along. If they really dislike each other that ma be anther element to the coaching switch. Now, Emma will be training alone (or with her husband) as opposed to working with Jenny. Curious to see how that affects her performances.

This is the interesting question. For track the coach is just as much about the training atmosphere s/he creates than anything else. The other athletes around that coach being the key. Trying to recreate a successful atmosphere that works for a particular athlete can be difficult, just ask Mary Cain.

Dogmax wrote:

No one is saying he isn't a fast runner but what does that have to do with his experience and ability to coach a professional female steeplechase runner?

I used to run with a bunch of national level distance runners. These guys could run 3:40 but can barely coach a high school team.

Being fast has nothing to do with knowing the technical ins and outs of coaching.

Unless Emma had a personality clash with her existing group, she is nuts to leave.

To me, this smacks of a situation where she is putting too much faith in her husband, and her husband is way overestimating his abilities as a coach.

We will see Emma have a decent season this year as she rides her years of fitness and then the fall off will occur.

Seems like a terrible decision

Bosshard is a joke

There could be so much besides money for the reason she is leaving. She could maybe just be coached by Bosshard during a transition period before she joins a different group or even moves to another city.

Additionally, as mentioned above Bosshard knows the CU program. He also knows his lady too. I don't know if he coaches any other athletes in Boulder but obviously he can reach out to the different pros in town. And leaving Wetmore allows them to go train outside of Boulder as well. Maybe they just want to break up the training location?

rojo wrote:

How many times do I have to say, the coach is the jockey/caddy.

I know a few runners that ran under you at Cornell, and that's exactly how they describe you. Wetmore is not a jockey/caddy just because you were a mediocre coach.

My guess is Emma was forced out by Heather.

someone should pay the coaches. but why the athlete? all these independent coaches should get paid by usatf if they have an athlete who qualifies for world or olympics. this eliminates conflict between coach and athlete being sponsored by different shoe companies.

The title of this thread reads like an Onion headline.

Anyway, best of luck to them. It's odd, but hopefully it works out because it would suck both professionally and personally for her if it didn't.

Apparently Coburn is not allowed on the CU track anymore.

Burroughs already tried having her banned from the CU track but the Athletic Director put a kabosh on that. Besides, why would you ban an alumni Bronze Medalist and American record holder from the track? Heather was critical of her ESPN body issue deal and Red Bull endorsement. When someone is interfering with your ability to market yourself and financial future I would say it's time to dump that 120lb weight like a bad habit. Emma is plenty smart and I'm sure she's weighed all the pros and cons of her decision.

This is exactly what happened. I agree with Emma on this and it sucks she had to leave but track athletes need to make the money, when they can make the money. It's not like Emma is a millionaire off this sport and will be set for life when she retires.Her and Jenny also pay Burroughs and Wetmore around $30,000 each. So the coaches should work around the business and help their athletes, not be dictators

Colokid wrote:

Burroughs already tried having her banned from the CU track but the Athletic Director put a kabosh on that. Besides, why would you ban an alumni Bronze Medalist and American record holder from the track? Heather was critical of her ESPN body issue deal and Red Bull endorsement. When someone is interfering with your ability to market yourself and financial future I would say it's time to dump that 120lb weight like a bad habit. Emma is plenty smart and I'm sure she's weighed all the pros and cons of her decision.

Haven't seen it mentioned, but assuming she has 8 years of running logs, let alone entire olympic cycles, it shouldn't be too hard to self-coach/let Bosshard analyze. He ran for CU as well (I think) so both are products of Wetmore. Is there really anything THAT different he is going to have her do after 8 years?

Makes sense to me.

ClonedDuck wrote:

Haven't seen it mentioned, but assuming she has 8 years of running logs, let alone entire olympic cycles, it shouldn't be too hard to self-coach/let Bosshard analyze. He ran for CU as well (I think) so both are products of Wetmore. Is there really anything THAT different he is going to have her do after 8 years?

Makes sense to me.

Not at her level

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

Hey Rojo, a good question for a thread is, "Do already elite athletes need a full time coach?" Sometimes a coach's philosophy actually harms an athlete and an athlete actually knows there own body.

Silly question.

Just cos most of these athletes went to college, doesn't mean they can tie their own shoes.

[quote]Controlla wrote:

This is exactly what happened. I agree with Emma on this and it sucks she had to leave but track athletes need to make the money, when they can make the money. It's not like Emma is a millionaire off this sport and will be set for life when she retires.

Her and Jenny also pay Burroughs and Wetmore around $30,000 each. So the coaches should work around the business and help their athletes, not be dictators

[quote]Colokid wrote:

Not a chance $30,000 to both Heather and Mark, but I guess 10% of Emma's $300,000 salary (winning, bonuses, etc) sounds right.

Read on her twitter that Phoebe W also pays Danny and I get the distinct feeling she doesn't make more than $40,000? Are all coaches paid on top of salaries from shoe sponsors? Is 10% the going rate for coaches for salaried athletes? A real shame that Agents make 20%!

SJW wrote:

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

Hey Rojo, a good question for a thread is, "Do already elite athletes need a full time coach?" Sometimes a coach's philosophy actually harms an athlete and an athlete actually knows there own body.

Silly question.

Just cos most of these athletes went to college, doesn't mean they can tie their own shoes.

Silly question, I'll tell you a silly question. An Aussie guy who was 6-9/10 tall, thick as two bricks, asked me once about marrying one's sister locally then crossing the border and getting a divorce, "will you still be brother and sister?"

Lots of great athletes essentially coach themselves.

As long as this coaching decision doesn't affect the way she looks.

If you follow her on Instagram, you will see she looks happy, free, absolutely stunning. Posts of her running in the mountains, training at elevation. Motivational.

She must be like the only person who posts only happy stuff on social media. That's a really good idea. She must know everything.