A gen wrote:
We’re on page two and we still have yet to hear why he’s retiring now, as the new season gets underway. That’s never a good sign.
As an aside, that was one of the worst press releases/announcements I’ve ever seen. You don’t throw random Kipling quotes in the middle of an announcement.
if is the middle word of life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kqFwVuQ-HgWhen I was in high school in Annapolis the track team really had no distance coach so because my father was an officer at the Naval Academy he asked Al Contello if I could run with the plebs. Coach did allow me to run workouts with the plebe team for X-C, indoor and outdoor. He called me "Annapolis High" and the last time I saw him at an indoor meet at the new Navy indoor facility some four years ago he remembered me, called me "Annapolis High" and we talked about some of the athletes back in the days I was there, Jim Dare, Buzz Lawlor and some others. Yes, it was over 50 years ago. Yes, he was eccentric and and sometimes unpredictable but if he gained his respect he was loyal to the end. He also had quite a devilish streak in him. Read the book about the Rome Olympics "Rome 1960" by David Maraniss. He tells a story about Contello stealing the Russian flag from the stadium after partying a bit hard one night. He was ranked #1 in the world then but I think came in 7th. He could be a regular guy too. I will always respect him.
Rumors about his mental acuity fading for years. Im surprised he lasted this long. Lot of athletes seeking outside coaching guidance bc he wasn’t all there. Not my style of a coach but had some good results and worked for many.
Rumors by fleetwood mac wrote:
Rumors about his mental acuity fading for years. Im surprised he lasted this long. Lot of athletes seeking outside coaching guidance bc he wasn’t all there. Not my style of a coach but had some good results and worked for many.
That’s really interesting. Do you know who was giving guidance? It seems that things have been fairly successful last couple years with making nationals and with successes of certain individuals such as Lucas.
25 minutes to Zeps wrote:
I was a 1:53/4:15/9:20 guy in high school. Cantello turned me into a 1:52/3:48/4:08/8:00(3k)/14:00 guy after 2 years running under him. I like to think I turned myself into a 1:50/3:42/4:01/7:57 runner the last two years after spending a lot of time begging him for tougher workouts, getting into better races, and doing a lot more work on my own (writing my own workouts during leave and on weekends, strength training and cross training).
My experience with the man was a lot like everyone else's: a mixed bag. Some days he was a genius, other days he was difficult to work with. A lot of guys throughout the past 50 years have blamed him for not developing them, causing their injuries, and burning them out. However, almost no one fully understands what it is like to run at a place like the Naval Academy (even members of the xc and track team, past and present). I'll be the first to admit that I never really understood that running at USNA was not like running for a normal D1 university until long after I graduated. With rigorous academics, added military obligations (formations, inspections, every day quirks of military life such turning a corner in the hallway and running into an angry Gunnery Sergeant...) and being trapped within the walls five days a week, it takes a different mindset to be a successful athlete there. And Cantello recognized that.
It's true anywhere that the desire to succeed has to come from the individual athlete. And that's where the coach comes in, to harness that desire and direct that energy towards achieving goals. Some coaches give positive reinforcement and a lot of structured guidance. Others, such as Coach Cantello, test the athlete's motivation by driving them away and pushing their resolve. He abhors athletes who want to be spoon fed.
He is the perfect coach for a runner who knows what works for them, is able to stay within their limits without overtraining, quickly picks up on college-style racing tactics, and has the maturity to be patient and see the bigger picture. In my opinion, the problem with that is most 18-22 year old kids - even the kind who attend the Naval Academy - need guidance and coaching to learn that kind of awareness. He is a great coach. However, he asks a lot from of his athletes in terms of taking ownership of their collegiate running experience.
Hate to break it to you, but Cantello turned you into a 1:50/3:42/4:01/7:57 runner. Many coaches will hammer younger runners and break them down. Sounds like Al was patient and smart with your development. You don't need to be doing crazy tough workouts your first couple years, if you were trained hard from day 1 you'd be burned out and injured by the end of year 2.
That's the problem now, everyone thinks they know better than their coach.
The athletic department has been to make significant budget cuts. My guess is 1. His contract was higher than they need for the position and 2. Fifty years is a good run. Good luck in retirement coach and GO NAVY!
http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/navy_sports/ac-cs-navy-athletics-budget-20180706-story.html
He sent me recruiting materials in the mid-90’s. He had taken comic strips and whited out the dialogue replacing it with handwritten messages about how good Navy was. If nothing else, it certainly made an impression on me, although not the one intended.
Cantello set a world record in the javelin in 1959.
Let me get this straight. A few malcontents are con planing about Coach Cantello's coaching style, sometimes harsh, blah blah blah? Yet you all went to a military academy, which is a place that owns and controls you 24-7 with endless physical and mental torment? I get it.
Wipe that frown off your face you cowardly barnacles!
Sliding Scale wrote:
My guess is Navy saw this coming, and probably has another coach waiting to make it official. They may have delayed the announcement for a multitude of reasons.
Anyone know if the part about the job being filled is true? When people ask me about whether I'd ever get back into college coaching, I've always said a) I loved it b) it was a terrible job for someone wanting to start a family and c) there are only a few jobs that would interest me. Navy would be one of them.
When you recruit to Navy, you are offering more than a full ride, you are offering guaranteed meaningful employment.
rojo wrote:
Sliding Scale wrote:
My guess is Navy saw this coming, and probably has another coach waiting to make it official. They may have delayed the announcement for a multitude of reasons.
Anyone know if the part about the job being filled is true? When people ask me about whether I'd ever get back into college coaching, I've always said a) I loved it b) it was a terrible job for someone wanting to start a family and c) there are only a few jobs that would interest me. Navy would be one of them.
When you recruit to Navy, you are offering more than a full ride, you are offering guaranteed meaningful employment.
I'm sure there are many coaches thinking likewise, but I can tell you that the job has been filled.
Will there ever be a LetsRun thread about a college coach that isn't filled with former athletes blaming the coach for their failures?
The job has been filled but hasn't been announced. The new coach has been with the team already.
The dude threw 280’ in the Javelin!!!! Stud!
DId he violently degrade and inflict severe metal harm on his soldiers as some other threads here have chronicled on the milttary?
Rumors by fleetwood mac wrote:
Rumors about his mental acuity fading for years. Im surprised he lasted this long. Lot of athletes seeking outside coaching guidance bc he wasn’t all there. Not my style of a coach but had some good results and worked for many.
Jaysus, how old is he?
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has a 1989 Ferrari 348 GTB and he's just put in paperwork to upgrade it
Is there a rule against attaching a helium balloon to yourself while running a road race?
How rare is it to run a sub 5 minute mile AND bench press 225?
Am I living in the twilight zone? The Boston Marathon weather was terrible!
Mark Coogan says that if you could only do 3 workouts as a 1500m runner you should do these
Move over Mark Coogan, Rojo and John Kellogg share their 3 favorite mile workouts
Strava thinks the London Marathon times improved 12 minutes last year thanks to supershoes