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Bob Kersee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bob Kersee
Personal information
OccupationTrack coach
EmployerUSA Track and Field
SpouseJackie Joyner-Kersee

Bob Kersee is an American athletics coach.

Initially intending to become an NFL coach, Kersee instead became a track and field coach at the suggestion of his sisters. His training group is known as Formula Kersee.[1]

Early Life

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Kersee was born in the Canal Zone, Panama. He was educated at San Pedro High School, and then attended Los Angeles Harbor College and California State University, Long Beach.[2]

He graduated from college in 1978 with a degree in physical education.[3]

Career

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In 1980, Kersee moved to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was an assistant coach for four years whilst working towards a Masters degree in exercise physiology.[3] He then became the head coach in 1984, winning six conference championships during his tenure.[3]

He established his reputation for training elite level athletes, and continued working for the UCLA Bruins as a volunteer coach alongside his personal coaching. Amongst the famous athletes he has coached are:

and, more recently,

in addition to his wife Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

He has been called a "mad scientist" of coaching, and is often criticized for not racing his athletes often.[1][5]

In 1989, sprinter Angela Bailey stated that she did not want to train with Kersee due to suspicions about performance-enhancing drugs.[6]

Personal life

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Kersee is a fan of the New York Yankees, the NFL, and NASCAR. Off the track, he enjoys furniture restoration. He married his former athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1986.[1][2]

Awards

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In 2005, Kersee was selected USA Track & Field Coach of the year.[7] He also won the award in 2015.[8][3]

Other awards Kersee has won are:

  • PAC-12 Conference
    • In 2016, Kersee took home the Pac-12 Women's Track & Field Coach of the Century honors, with his wife, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, earning the Pac-12 Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Century title.[10][3]

In 2017, Kersee was elected to the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bobby Kersee coaches some of biggest stars in track history with 'mad scientist' training methods". AP News. 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  2. ^ a b "Bob Kersee - Track & Field Coach". UCLA. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Bob Kersee, Allyson Felix's Coach: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". heavy.com. Heavy Sports. August 15, 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  4. ^ Collet, Jasmine (September 11, 2024). "Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: "My goal is to improve my personal bests"". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  5. ^ "USA Track & Field | Bobby Kersee to receive 2023 USATF Legend Coach Award". usatf.org. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  6. ^ "Sprinter links Bob Kersee to steroids".
  7. ^ Surber, Tom (November 29, 2005). "Kersee named Nike Coach of the Year". USATF. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Kersee Named Nike Coach of the Year". UCLA. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  9. ^ "World Athletics awards leaves audience wanting more". 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  10. ^ "UCLA Paces Women's All-Century Team". UCLA. May 24, 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Bob Kersee, USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2017". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
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