NOTABLE QUOTES

How did this all come about?

It was a whirlwind. There was a lot of personal conflict on what I wanted to do because of all the personal relationships that John (Trautman) and I built with Empire Elite as an extension of the New Jersey-New York Track Club over the years. It was a lot to digest and to do over the last couple of weeks. I had a hernia surgery right after nationals so there was a lot going on. In the end, it’s an opportunity that I couldn’t resist and turn down when I was offered. The position was made public sometime at the end of June. I put in for it and there was a process of interviews. When I got back from nationals, we had some decent performances but not as well as we wanted. I felt a really personal connection to the team and everything we’ve done at Empire. I always will. I felt like we have more to do and I thought of sticking this out so I could make sure everyone gets to where they needed to go. I was almost going to pull my name off the list. I came to find out that I was one of the finalists. After talking to some other people and reconsidering, I decided I needed to explore this.

The struggles at Empire are that lack of funding and some of those obstacles that are there. It’s difficult to sustain the team with all the expenses. John and I gave ourselves a very modest stipend to be able to justify what we’re doing and the hours we’re putting in to be professionals. That’s one of the main reasons I considered it in the first place.

Now, being able to do it is just a whole other level of resources and talented athletes and everything else that comes with being the head coach of the elite team at the Atlanta Track Club is an incredible opportunity for me to share everything I’ve learned and experienced in my career as a coach and athlete.

What was it like telling the Empire Elite team?

The one thing I know and feel good about is that they’re in good hands with John as the coach. I know that whatever each individual decides to do, they’re going to be taken care of. John is a great coach and person. We have a good thing at Empire Elite and we have everything an athlete could want if they have the ability to support themselves with a job. We’ve proven that’s the case. Anyone who wants to continue that will be able to do that with John and the team.

John was supportive of my decision and understood that it was an opportunity I can’t turn down.

The conversation was a bit shocking and difficult for everyone but everyone has been gracious and supportive. I was at practice this morning with the team and everyone went right to work. There’s no drama. People will find their way. They’re in good hands with John. I feel good about that and the system we have in place with the facilities, our doctors, our dietician and weight training coaches.

The infrastructure of Empire Elite isn’t that of a Bowerman Track Club or On Athletics Club, where the athletes have contracts and more support from a major brand. That was hard to get. Looking ahead, the infrastructure at Atlanta Track Club is going to be a bit different because the athletes have contracts, they’re involved with the club in a greater capacity and there’s more support. How much of a weight is that off your shoulders, where you can now solely focus on coaching?

It’s huge. Another part of this decision was the opportunity that way is incredible. I have my own business and I was going to be helping coach at Iona as an assistant coach. That was an opportunity that was on the table. It was going to be a lot to do that and balancing Empire Elite...Now, I can focus on coaching and connecting with individuals to see what their needs are as an athlete. The time that I will have to be able to do that will make a huge impact on the athletes and the Atlanta Track Club because I’ll have more to give that way…There will be a lot of time for me to also be involved with Atlanta Track Club’s outreach in the community. I’m looking forward to being part of that. That’s what I want to be able to do too. I’ve worked with high school and college athletes. I’ve been involved with track at every level and this is an opportunity for me to see an organization doing that at every level and being involved with that.

Do you think that should be a model that can be replicated in more cities? I wish the New York Road Runners would embrace having an elite team or that it could’ve been tied to Empire Elite. The BAA has its own team. But I think this is one way we can start to build that city/pro team feeling.

I think the model is perfect because it works for the sponsors. It’s not exclusively just an elite team. You’re tied to the races, the club, the community and the outreach they can do. For the sponsor, it’s a win-win that way to get exposure. I think it’s great for the members because there’s an association with the elite team. They may want to buy a little bit more gear.

You’ve had to hustle and make a lot of sacrifices in your career as both an athlete and a coach. Do you see any parallels to the type of athletes that you work well with?

I didn’t really break through as an athlete until I was 26. I bounced around in Gainesville with a few coaches and it took a while to figure things out. The model where you sign someone out of school and you have this big-time talent out of college is great but we didn’t have the ability to do that because we didn’t have funding to recruit those types of athletes. I needed to mature as an athlete and find the right situation and the right coach. I was able to improve to 8:16 (for the 3000m steeplechase) from 8:38, which was pretty steep. The idea that’s possible, personally, can be conveyed as a coach. You can get athletes who weren’t necessarily the top recruit out of college and get them to believe that it takes time and work. If you have the support and you’re willing to do it, it’s possible. For me as an athlete, it’s easier to convince someone as a coach if you’ve done it. We’ve been able to do it with guys like Eric Holt, Luciano Fiore, Hazem Miawad and Benjamin Allen.

We almost brag that no one on our team ever made an NCAA final. The idea is that you can work toward something if you have the support and willingness to do it. Coming from where I was as an athlete, it was a little easier to do that as a coach. I have that experience that it does take some time. You have to have the patience to see that through with your athletes. I’ve witnessed it time and time again with Isaac Updike (who qualified for his first World Championship team in the steeplechase this summer). If you’re willing to sacrifice for a long time, put the work in and stick it out, a lot is possible as far as your goals.

What’s the biggest thing that you’re going to miss from the New York Tristate area?

My family and my friends. I grew up here. I have a lot of connections to New York. One of the things that I brought up in the interviews is that I can’t become a Braves fan. I’m a Mets fan. I’m sorry. It just won’t happen. I’ll continue to suffer as a Mets fan, including this year. I love New York. I drive over the bridge and I see the skyline and it makes me feel good. Driving down to all of the locations that we train whether it’s Van Cortlandt Park, the Armory, or Icahn Stadium, I love the city. I’ll miss it but I’ll get to come back for a lot of meets, especially indoors. There are a lot of opportunities for races. I’m going down to Atlanta but I’ll always be a New Yorker in my heart.

What are you most excited about with the athletes that you’re inheriting at Atlanta Track Club, including the likes of Allie Wilson and Olivia Baker?

I’m like a kid in a candy store as a coach. I’m looking forward to getting to know everybody. I want to understand everyone and what they’ve been doing. I want to just try to continue some of the successes they’ve had with Amy and Andrew Begley. I want to continue what they’ve been doing and try to improve and get better too. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and getting started. I start Sept. 15 and I’ll move down there by Oct. 1 when everyone gets started.