Does your coach need to be an elite ultrarunner?
When you’re searching for a coach, it may seem reasonable to equate sport performance with coaching ability. If you want to succeed at Leadville, it’s good if your coach has also competed at Leadville, right? Not necessarily, and here’s why.
Phil Jackson wasn’t the most remarkable basketball player, but he became a legendary coach, leading the Chicago Bulls to win six NBA titles and the Los Angeles Lakers to win five championships. It wasn’t Jackson’s elite performance on the court that made him a world-class coach, but his aptitude for understanding systems, team dynamics, and strategy. He understood the game and the people in it. Jackson was known for studying psychology, embracing unconventional leadership tools like mindfulness and meditation, and building cultures that allowed athletes to thrive rather than simply grind.
1. Sport performance does not equal coaching competence
Being great at a sport doesn’t automatically translate into being great at teaching it. Coaching requires communication, planning, observation, and long-term athlete development. It requires understanding the unique strengths and weaknesses of each athlete, sport psychology and physiology, and the scientific foundations behind activities that deliver the right physiological adaptations. Strong coaches know how to adapt training to different bodies, schedules, histories, and goals, which matters more than having a long race résumé.
Phil Jackson wasn’t remembered for dominating box scores, but for designing systems and tailoring leadership styles to player personalities. His success came from synthesis and adaptability, not personal athletic superiority.
Key Takeaway: When choosing a coach, look beyond their race résumé. Consider their education, coaching philosophy, program structure, and athlete testimonials.
2. Competition can mean conflict of interest
A coach who is actively chasing their own goals and results may face competing priorities and ethical conflicts when it comes to their athletes. Preparing for major events often demands significant physical and mental energy, while travelling to races or training camps may overlap with athlete needs. Sponsorship commitments and personal performance objectives can also influence scheduling and availability, and competing in the same event as one’s athletes can introduce potential conflicts of interest. Training for an ultramarathon can feel like a full-time job, and while this doesn’t automatically create problems, it can lead to tension if expectations and boundaries aren’t clearly established from the start.
Jackson was known for making himself fully present for his teams. His leadership philosophy emphasized service to the group over personal spotlight, reinforcing the idea that coaching is fundamentally about long-term athlete stewardship and growth.
Key Takeaway: Use your initial coaching consultation to discuss communication frequency, accessibility, and shared approaches to goal setting so the coaching relationship is set up for success.
3. Competition can mean competition for attention
Athletes rely on timely feedback, thoughtful plan adjustments, race-week check-ins, and steady emotional support. When a coach is deep in their own training cycle, communication can sometimes slow, weekly schedules may arrive late, and the coach’s peak weeks might overlap with critical moments for their athletes. Many excellent coaches manage this balance skillfully or choose to step back from major racing to focus on their athletes, but it remains an important factor for athletes to consider.
Jackson placed emphasis on emotional availability; he recognized that performance is fragile when athletes feel unseen or unsupported, regardless of physical readiness.
Key Takeaway: Ask your coach how they manage their own training alongside coaching, whether they limit athlete numbers, and what systems they have in place to ensure you receive consistent support when it matters most.
4. Personal experience isn’t universal truth
Personal experience can support coaching decisions, especially in areas where scientific research is limited, but it shouldn’t be the foundation of a coach’s philosophy or programming approach. Athletes respond differently to training volume, intensity, strength work, and recovery, and life context often shapes what is realistic or sustainable. What sparks a breakthrough for one runner may push another toward overtraining or lead to a nutrition breakdown on race day.
Effective coaches ground their decisions in evidence and observable patterns, not isolated anecdotes. When research is unavailable or inconclusive, they draw from a broad base of comparable athletes rather than a single personal story, and they continually adjust plans based on the unique needs of their athletes rather than prescribing a fixed, one-size-fits-all template.
Jackson rarely coached by rigid doctrine; he adapted systems to people, evolving his leadership style across decades as players and the sport itself changed. His longevity came from flexibility, not dogma.
Key Takeaway: Seek out coaches who can explain the reasoning behind your training, reference research or collective experience, and demonstrate flexibility in adapting programs to your responses, lifestyle, and changing goals.
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Choosing a coach is about far more than finding someone with impressive race results. Great coaching shows up in thoughtful communication, timely scheduling, ethical clarity, evidence-based decision-making, and a genuine commitment to each athlete’s long-term development. Phil Jackson’s career reminds us that the most influential coaches are architects, psychologists, and facilitators of growth, not merely former stars. Asking questions during your initial coach consultation will help you determine whether a coach’s approach and philosophy truly align with what you need to reach your goals.
References
LeadershipNow.com. Phil Jackson’s coaching style and leadership through the triangle offense and mindfulness. June 2013. https://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/2013/06
SportsAlDente.com. Phil Jackson: Zen Master of Basketball Coaching. 2025. https://sportsaldente.com/nba/how-zen-master-phil-jackson-transformed-coaching-with-leadership-mindfulness-and-team-unity
Athlon Sports. Phil Jackson: Influence and legacy in NBA coaching. 2024. https://athlonsports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/phil-jacksons-lakers-dynasty-how-the-zen-master-transformed-nba-basketball
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