Ridgewood's Brown honored

[open]

This weeks Runnrs Warehouse Coach of the Week - Jacob Brown (http://www.dyestatmetro.com/?pg=us-Running-Warehouse-Coach-of-the-Week-Brown-NJ-111209)

[Paul Schwartz]

Jacob is probably unknown to 90% of the posters on this board because the Maroons haven't been quite so good recently but his numbers are astounding:
34 years
24 Bergen Group titles
19 North 1 Sectional titles in 34 straight appearances at State Groups
24 BMOC titles
At least a divisional title in 28 of the 29 years the NNJIL had girls team scores
4 Group 4 state titles
15 appearances in SMOC
2 SMOC titles
That's 101 major league, county, sectional and state titles (out of a possible 199)

44 different runners have finished in the top 10 of sectionals a total of 91 times

And he's one of the great guys of all-time

[norunbacks]

Jacob is truly one of the all time greats in terms of coaching girls in any sport. As someone who coaches girls exclusively, he is someone I look up to and constantly compare myself to.

It should be noted that his success in XC often carries over to the track. While most coaches build teams around their own strengths, Jacob builds on his athlete's strengths. He always has large, balanced teams that can run, hurdle, jump and throw. An important principle, if you are interested in building the best team possible.

When I was first starting out, we were at the County Relays and Jacob came up to me and complimented me on the technique of one of our high jumpers. Even though I knew her excellent style had nothing to do with me, as a young coach who didn't know his head from his butt, that moment always stuck with me.

Great coach, Great guy

[njrunz]

but I'm a little confused about this choice. Throughout the track and cross-country seasons, the editors of DyeStat.com will choose a Running Warehouse Coach of the Week to recognize coaches around the country for outstanding recent achievements in guiding prep athletes.
The criteria for the Coach of the week says outstanding recent achievements. Now, I'm in no way denying the fact that he's a great coach who's had a tremendous influence on the sport and had some amazing teams and athletes (trust me, I am well aware of what his teams have done)..but I just thought it was an odd choice for this season. Ridgewood's team this year is nowhere near the level it's been in the past. It just seemed weird to me that he's being profiled this season, when his team is actually a lot weaker than normal.

[Paul Schwartz]

As you know, Cross-Country/Track didn't start when Dyestat decided to choose a coach of the week. If Jacob didn't win another meet for 20 years it would still be more fitting to pick (and other coaches like him) other than the flavor of the week. If the coach of the week selection had been around for 10 years I'd agree with you but I'd much rather hear what Jacob (and other vets) have to say than a newbie with a great team this year.