The Coaches I Remember

More Than Half My Life Around a Track

By Jana N. Yost

I never imagined myself as a coach. As an athlete, I was never the absolute best. I was not the athlete breaking records, earning headlines, or drawing much attention. At the time, I probably saw that as a disadvantage. Looking back, it may have been one of the greatest gifts the sport ever gave me. Not being the absolute best taught me how to work.

More than half my life has revolved around a track. As a Fresno State athlete, I learned lessons that would follow me long after my competitive days ended. The sport taught me discipline, consistency, and how to respond when things did not go my way. It taught me that improvement often happens long before anyone sees the result. Most importantly, it taught me how to be coached. Those lessons became the foundation for much of my life that followed.

In 2001, I had the privilege of helping start the Fresno Christian Track & Field program. What began as an opportunity to give back to a sport I loved quickly became a new learning experience. Coaching forced me to see athletics from an entirely different perspective. Athletes see the workout. Spectators see the competition. Coaches carry everything in between. It was the first time I truly understood the responsibility that comes with influencing young people.

Over the years, coaching took me to different communities and countries around the world. Wanting to become a better coach, I pursued both USA Track & Field Level 1 and Level 2 coaching certifications. My first Level 1 training was hosted by Coach Bob Fraley, whose passion for the sport and commitment to coaching education left a lasting impression. What stood out to me was not simply the knowledge in the room. It was the willingness of great coaches to continue learning. The best coaches were always students of their craft.

The coaches I remember were not always the loudest. They were not always the most decorated or the most recognized. They were the ones who paid attention and knew their athletes. They understood strengths, weaknesses, fears, and potential. They prepared before practice, during the season, and long after everyone else had gone home. They understood that coaching was about more than results.

The coaches I remember were well rounded. They understood the technical side of their sport, but they also understood people. They developed training plans with purpose, monitored progress, evaluated performances, and adjusted when necessary. They communicated clearly, created accountability, and built trust over time. They continued their education, sought mentorship, and remained curious. They understood that yesterday's knowledge would not always meet tomorrow's challenges.

For the last ten years, my priority has been raising my children. These days, I spend more time in the stands than I do on a track. Watching sports as a parent has given me yet another perspective on coaching. I find myself watching coaches almost as much as I watch the competition. I notice who is engaged, who knows their athletes, and who continues learning. I notice the coaches who understand they are developing people, not simply athletes.

The older I get, the more grateful I am for the coaches who shaped my life. Their influence extended far beyond a race, a season, or a personal record. They taught lessons about preparation, responsibility, perseverance, and leadership. Years later, I may not remember every workout, every race, or every result. But I remember the coaches. And I am grateful for the ones who understood that coaching was never just about the sport. It was about the people entrusted to their care.