The Strength Running Podcast · Jason Fitzgerald

How 'Coach of the Year' Sean Brosnan Revolutionized Newbury Park's Cross Country Team

·54 min·5 clips

Sean Brosnan told Nico Young to stop aiming for 8:55 and believe he could run under 8:40—and he did.

This episode features host Jason Fitzgerald interviewing two-time National High School Coach of the Year Sean Brosnan, author of "Beyond Fast." Brosnan transformed the Newbury Park High School cross-country team into a national powerhouse, winning multiple state and national titles. The conversation explores the mental and physical strategies Brosnan used to develop his athletes. A core topic is Brosnan's "no-limits" mindset, which he implemented upon taking over a struggling program. He discusses working with a sports psychologist and drawing inspiration from mentors like his college coach, Damian Martin. Specific athlete stories include early team leader Ethan Duffy and current professional runner Nico Young. Brosnan recounts a pivotal moment where he challenged Young to stop targeting an 8:55 two-mile and instead believe he could run under 8:40, which Young ultimately achieved. One surprising insight is Brosnan's rejection of traditional goal-setting, arguing that attaching to a specific performance number can limit an athlete's potential. He shares a team "secret" of having athletes repeat "I can" during the difficult middle portion of a race. The episode details a significant setback when top runner Daniel Appleford suffered a serious intestinal issue during an altitude training camp, threatening his season. Brosnan emphasizes that true confidence is built in training, not just racing, and describes manipulating workout conditions to break athletes' self-imposed limits. He recalls a specific workout where he insisted a measured mile was long to push his athletes past a mental barrier. Contrary to public perception, Brosnan clarifies his teams did not run extremely high mileage, typically capping at around 65 miles per week. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal anecdotes with coaching philosophy. Host Jason Fitzgerald actively relates Brosnan's experiences to his own background as a runner and coach. This episode is ideal for running coaches, competitive high school or collegiate athletes, and parents of young runners interested in development. Listeners seeking only basic training plans or injury prevention tips might find the deep dive into team culture and psychology less directly applicable.

As heard by us

A coaching story about belief, process, and shared responsibility behind a team that kept pushing past limits.

Brosnan comes across as a coach who puts belief and responsibility ahead of hype. The conversation settles into a simple idea: runners should not put a ceiling on what they think they can do.

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Why you'd press play

Want a coach's blueprint for turning belief into a process you can trust?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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