Obviously I believe coaching
matters. I saw two prime examples this past weekend in soccer. First my good
friend Juan Osorio is now coach of New York Red Bulls. I watched their game
against Dallas last Saturday. With the lineup New York was able to put on the field
they should not have been on the same field with Dallas, but because of their technical,
tactical and fitness preparation they won the game 1-0 and essentially
dominated play. It has been fun to watch the progress of the team. I am sure when
they get their two premier players back they will be a contender. Juan is unbelievably
thorough as a coach, very detailed and meticulous in his preparation. The other
situation was to watch Russia take apart the Netherlands in the second overtime
at the European Championship quarter final game. The coach of Russia, Gus Hiddink
has to be one of the greatest soccer coaches ever! What he has done with South
Korea in the 02 World Cup, Australia in the 06 World Cup and now Russia is amazing.
I do not know what they do in terms of fitness preparation but all of his teams
get stronger as the game progresses. Go to http://euro2008.castrolindex.com/
to see some great game analysis statistics. The intensity of play is unreal!
The other coach I want to mention
is Bob Williams, Bob coaches middle distance and distance in Portland Oregon. I
got to work with Bob three years ago when I was out in Portland. This guy is
real quiet, definitely not a self promoter but boy does he get the job done. He
is now coaching the high school boy who won the USA Track & Field Junior
Championships in the 800 meters as a high school junior! He ran the 4th
fastest time all-time for a junior. His methodology is very sound. He ran for
Bill Bowerman and has stayed true to the Bowerman principles. All you
middle distance and distance coaches out there take note, it is not more it is
what you do.