Dan Pfaff headed to England

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 612610.ece

Great Britain's London 2012 athletes get coaching boost
Rick Broadbent, Athletics Correspondent

UK Athletics has proved that the pound is mightier than the dollar by enticing one of America's top coaches to take up the role of Charles van Commenee's right-hand man.

Dan Pfaff, who coached the former Olympic 100 metres champion, Donovan Bailey, and is owed $240,000 (about £145,000) by the disgraced American sprinter, Marion Jones, becomes the director of the Lee Valley Performance Centre.

Pfaff's appointment backs up the claims of Niels de Vos, the UKA chief executive, that money would be no object as Van Commenee, the head coach, sought to finalise his backroom team. A hugely respected coach who has helped 33 Olympians to seven medals, Pfaff is at present working for the US Olympic programme.

He teamed up with Jones in the summer of 2003 after the sprinter and her husband, Tim Montgomery, sought to repair their reputations after a disastrous liaison with Charlie Francis, the former coach of Ben Johnson, the drugs cheat.

It was an uneasy alliance, however, as the Balco scandal broke that year and Victor Conte, the head of the Balco laboratory, accused Jones of doping three years earlier. There has never been any suggestion of wrongdoing on Pfaff's part.

Indeed, Jones ended up suing Pfaff for a breach of contract, but he counter-sued and won $240,000. However, with Jones bankrupt, he is still owed the money.

“Over 30 years in the business means I have developed networks across a variety of disciplines which I can utilise for GB athletes and coaches as we move towards 2012,” he said.

Derek Evely is the other new director, taking charge of the Loughborough University Performance Centre. He comes from Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre in Edmonton.

“This is an outstanding opportunity to work within one of the strongest federations in the world going into a home Olympics,” Evely said. “My plans for Loughborough are very simple - to make it the best centre in world.”

Van Commenee said: “We have to give ourselves every possible opportunity to win in 2012. With these appointments, I am sure our chances of success have just become even better.”

Pfaff and Evely will take up their posts after the World Championships, in September.

[SlickVT]

I wonder how long it will take until all of our talent is pulled abroad because of the lack of funds, fans, and general interest in track here in the USA.

Can't blame Coach Pfaff... its just sad the state the sport is in. Hopefully the changes being made by USATF will be effective.

[baggettpv]

I believe that until USATF recognizes and rewards commercial training centers then the talent of the coaches will always be looking for the big dollars wherever they can find them. Similar to the professional athletes search for the best contract situation they can get. As I ahave said before, It's only business.... It's just tooo bad that business is not in sinc with very high levels of performance. Good luck to Dan and may he make enough money to help his family to the levels they deserve for the sacrifices they have given.

Rick Baggett
WSTC LLC