Reflections on great Coaches: Jud Logan and Louie Simmons

The most rewarding thing I have done so far in this life is fostering a child's love, passion, and appreciation for physical training. I have watched young men and women have a complete personality change for the better — a huge growth in confidence and a desire to improve day to day. Training has given many something to strive for. If done properly, strength training not only benefits the individual, but develops a sense of team and community with those around you.

Outside of weight-room-specific programming, there are broadly applicable lessons and philosophies around training that have been taught to me by great men. I'm thankful that I listened to them, and I hope to keep finding and learning from other great teachers for the rest of my days.

Coach Jud Logan was a Lightgiver. He could see potential in you that you may not have seen in yourself. He illuminated the path before you and showed you what you could be — and he did this by kindling your passion into a raging fire. When I first met Coach Logan his legacy was already established as one of the greatest Hammer throwers in American history, as well as one of the most successful throws coaches in the nation. However, he did not rest in the past. He was constantly building toward the future, developing overlooked Track and Field athletes into National champions and future Olympians.

He knew the value of outside voices. "90% of what we do is set in stone," he would say, "but it's that last 10% that we are always searching for." He had coaches like Louie Simmons and Boris Sheiko come in to teach and refine his process — always learning, always experimenting. He taught the importance of buy-in and belief: "A good coach that doesn't have his team is nothing; a bad coach who is believed in will produce great athletes; a great coach that has his team will produce champions."

I met renowned strength coach and owner of Westside Barbell, Louie Simmons, through Jud Logan. I only trained with Louie a few times before his passing. I was 19, an absolute nobody, and Louie spent many hours talking to and training me. I did my first box squat at Westside. He went over old Soviet strength manuals and even took my friend and me out to the famous Bob Evans breakfast with the morning crew of lifters. Like Coach Logan, Louie was always searching for that extra 10%, and he never stopped learning or experimenting. Like these men, I aim to live a life of abundant passion — using my resources to encourage and build those around me.