Bob Timmons

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Bob Timmons (born June 20, 1924 in Joplin , Missouri , † August 4, 2015 in Lawrence , Kansas ) was a successful American swimming and athletics coach. He was best known as Jim Ryun's trainer .

Life

Timmons grew up in Pittsburg , Kansas . After attending Pittsburg High School , he volunteered for the US Marines in 1943 and was used in the war against the Japanese in the battle for Okinawa from 1943 to 1946 . He had been turned down for the officer career because he was too small at 1.63 m 15 cm, but as a volunteer soldier he was tall enough. He ended the war as a sergeant , which allowed the army to fund his university studies. On his return he studied sports at the University of Kansas (BA 1950) and was so enthusiastic about the legendary coach Bill Easton that he began to work as a high school coach for swimming and athletics. At the same time, he continued his sports studies with a master’s degree. After Emporia High School , Wichita West High School and Wichita East High School , he returned to Kansas University as an assistant coach in 1965 before replacing his mentor Easton as head coach in 1966. While he was the most successful swim coach (52 high school champions from Kansas), he had his greatest success with Jim Ryun, who was by far the best youth in the world over the mile.

To recruit Ryun for the University of Kansas, they had to hire his coach too. Easton then left Kansas and became Mexico's national coach . Timmons remained head coach for 22 years and led seven of his protégés to the Olympic Games, 16 world records, 24 American championships and 77 international matches.

Training system

Timmons transferred swimming training to athletics and was considered a "tough" trainer who, with intensive interval training, transferred the repetitions he was used to from swimming to the cinder track. He also required his athletes to behave like marines (short haircut, polished shoes, discipline), which made him attractive to many and a deterrent to others.

Honors

He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2011 , the United States Track Coaches Association Halls of Fame in 1988, and the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame , Kansas Relays Hall of Fame , Drake Relays Hall of Fame , and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame , Kansas High School Activities Association Hall of Fame and US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/bob-timmons-coach-of-mile-icon-jim-ryun-dies-at-91 on . 23rd Aug, 2016
  2. ↑ http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article30089979.html on . 23 Aug 2016
  3. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-bob-timmons-20150806-story.html on . 23 Aug 2016
  4. ↑ http://kuathletics.com/news/2015/8/5/TRACK_0805155424.aspx on . 23rd August 2016
  5. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/sports/bob-timmons-91-a-demanding-coach-who-developed-a-star-runner-is-dead.html on . 23 Aug 2016
  6. ↑ Arnd Krüger : Many roads lead to Olympia. The changes in training systems for medium and long distance runners (1850–1997). In: N. Gissel (Hrsg.): Sporting performance in change . Czwalina, Hamburg 1998, pp. 41-56.
  7. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-bob-timmons-20150806-story.html on . 23 Aug 2016
personal data
SURNAME Timmons, Bob
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American athletics coach
DATE OF BIRTH June 20, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Joplin , Missouri
DATE OF DEATH 4th August 2015
Place of death Lawrence , Kansas