USATF Club Feature Sunday Spotlight Austin Speedsters

 

Interview with Head Coach David Weisman:

1. What is your club’s official name?

• Austin Speedsters

2. Where is your club based (where do you practice)?

• Austin, Texas. We primarily practice at Austin High School Track

 

3. When was your club established?

• The Austin Speedsters was established in 2011.

 

4. What is your coaching background?

• I started coaching in 2010 when I volunteered to coach track at the inaugural track & field program at the Austin Townlake YMCA. Coaching at the YMCA I realized a number youth wanted to take their interest in running to the next level, so I contacted USATF and formed the Austin Speedsters. From there, I obtained my USATF Level I and Level II Coaching certificates.

 

5. What is your athletic background?

• As a youth I played community and high school baseball. In college, I played on the Tennis Team. I started running at age 40, and have completed 30 marathon’s, 2 (1/2) IronMan and 2 Full IronMan events, as well as many other road and trail races.

 

6. How many coaches do you have on your staff?

• I am the only coach.

 

7. What is your coaching philosophy?

• My philosophy is to build confidence in all my athletes and to inspire and help them to achieve their highest goals.

 

• Our team motto is “Run with Heart”, where even when every muscle in your body aches, your lunges are burning, and you feel like you have nothing left, to tap into the love and passion in your heart for your team, your family, religion, for running to gain strength to carry you forward.

 

8. On a scale of 1-10, how competitive is your program?

• 7

 

9. What is the age range of the athletes you coach?

• Ages 11 – 18

 

10. How many athletes are part of your program?

• My club is all-female. I currently have 12 athletes. I like to have a relatively small club so that I can feel that I’m giving sufficient attention to all my athletes. I balance my professional career as a lawyer and ethics officer with my passion for coaching.

 

11. Who has been the most successful athlete from your program?

• Sophia Muñoz

 

12. What is your proudest coaching moment in your career?

• When Ms. Muñoz, above, finished 6^th in the National XC Championships (14 year old division) – my proudest moment came as she crossed the finish line and stopped to stay with a collapsed runner for over a minute until an official arrived, where she then proceeded, as was her custom, to congratulate all the other runners. I sent the video of her crossing the line to her mom in Texas. Then I sent her a video clip of her post-finish and remarked that I was even more proud of her for her that (mom agreed). When Sophia was younger, to bring balance to her running career, I would remind her not to worry about herself so much, that she was part of something bigger.

 

13. Do you coach all track and field or long-distance running events? If not, which ones do you not coach?

• I coach most track & field events, as well as running events. I do not coach pole vault, javelin, hammer throw, high jump

 

14. Why did you become a coach?

• Originally, it was to support my 6 year old son’s interest in running. I coached him and other 6-8 year old boys and girls at the YMCA. As they gained interest, I looked into and started a USATF club. My son is off at college now, but I still coach out of just a love and passion for working with and inspiring young athletes.

15. Which sports/disciplines do you coach?

1. Cross Country {X }
2. Indoors {X }
3. Outdoors {X }
4. Road Running {X }