By James Smith
Skill Player Physical Preparation Coach PITT Football
The sport training world has recently sustained an immeasurable loss. Canadian Sprint Coach Charlie Francis lost his battle with cancer last Wednesday the 12th of May.
How Charlie has impacted my development as a coach:
I began studying Charlie’s work nearly a decade ago and it was my great honor to have met Charlie at his Vancouver Clinic in 2004. Like the myriad of others who have been deeply affected by his work, his teachings have become an integral part of how I approach coaching and programming the training of my athletes.
It is important to note that Charlie’s work encompasses a great deal of mandatory coaching and training programming doctrines that extend far beyond speed development and the training of speed-power athletes; such as:
- categorization and organization of training load elements based upon their training impact to the body
- individualization of training loads, warm up, and recovery needs for each athlete as an individual
- recovery and regeneration techniques
- social interaction with athletes based upon their temperament
- assuming a holistic approach to real time coaching tactics
- maximizing resourcefulness- there’s always a solution
- doing whatever is necessary to ensure that your athletes preparation and readiness is maximized
- and the list goes on
While coaching at the high school level, the influence of Charlie’s work in my own contributed to winning the 2004 Division 1 NSCIF Championship, and multiple school T&F records during the 2005 season in the 100m, long jump, shot put, and discus.
In 2005, before our football team returned to our second consecutive appearance in the NSCIF Championship Game, I released a self-published training manual. In it, I explained various approaches to organizing CNS intensive training elements. The material was heavily influenced by Charlie’s work. In fact, I sent the entire draft to Charlie, prior to its publication, in order to receive his approval.
Throughout that time period Charlie was very generous in spending time communicating with me via email offering his valuable insights.
In 2006, before reaching the final round of the NSCIF play-offs, I released a second self-published training manual and once again, Charlie’s teachings were present in my work; as I illustrated the importance of speed training throughout the year for non-track athletes.
In the spring of 2007 Buddy Morris presented me the opportunity to join him at PITT in order to serve as the Skill Player Physical Preparation coach for the American Football team. Since then, Buddy and I have been part of a program that has realized national rankings that have not been attained by the Panthers in over a quarter century; dating back to when Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino led the team. Our contribution to the advancing physical preparation of the players owes a great deal to Charlie Francis. Charlie’s work serves as an integral part of how Buddy and I conceptualize speed training and the organization of training within the framework of our annual programming strategies.
I am grateful to have been able to connect on the phone with Charlie a couple years ago and express to him how important it was to me to be able to communicate with him.
While the impact that a physical preparation coach has on a collegiate American Football player’s sports results may surely be debated; due to the tactical-technical complexities of positional biodynamics and the game as a whole, as well as the players genetic gifts, I believe that the impact I have on my players sporting achievements is meaningful. To this end, it is remarkable to mention certain standout player accomplishments which have occurred since I began coaching at PITT and integrating Charlie’s lessons into the training of my skill players:
Since 2007 players such as LeSean McCoy, LaRod Stephens- Howling, Scott Mckillop, and Dorin Dickerson (who are now in the NFL), as well as current PITT players Jon Baldwin, and Dion Lewis, have racked up season accolades ranging from 1st Team All American, #1 tackler in the nation, breaking Tony Dorsett’s freshman rushing record set in 1973, to the 2010 Heisman Trophy Watch List.
Most recently, our 2009 First Team All American Tight End/H-Back Dorin Dickerson set the school tight end record in totaling 10 touchdown catches. During this past spring I trained Dorin for the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis IN. Dorin was one of the stars of the combine earning Top Performer rankings (in the tight end group) in six different disciplines.
I make it a point to illustrate a brief account of these player’s accomplishments because they share a commonality amidst their physical preparation: Charlie’s principles are integrated into all of their annual training, NFL Combine, and NFL Pro Day training programs.
I asked my players to honor Charlie for his influence on their training during a game week last season. I was speaking to Derek Hansen, a superb coach at Simon Frazier University and colleague of mine, and long time close friend and associate of Charlie’s, and Derek informed me that Charlie was hospitalized and the prognosis wasn’t good. The following morning I brought my skill players together and explained to them how much this man, who they don’t know, has had so much to do with how their bodies feel and how they’ve physically developed. Before I finished explaining that Charlie was hospitalized and wasn’t doing well the entire group bowed their heads. While I didn’t show it, it was an emotional moment for me.
Since 2007 I have released four lecture DVDs; each of which references Charlie’s impact on my thinking. Serving as an integral part of my planning tactics it is difficult for me to foresee an instance in which Charlie’s work won’t be referenced in my own.
My account is only one of so many other coaches and athletes accomplishments who have been influenced by Charlie’s work.
Unlike so many others, the principles which constitute the basis of Charlie’s work were forged at the Olympic level over 20 years ago; and they, unchanged, will endure the test of time. Unique to Charlie is that he, himself, was a world class athlete and Canadian sprint champion; earning a personal best of 10.1 in the 100m at the Pan Am trials in 1971.
It is my personal feeling that Charlie is the most important coaching figure to have emerged from the Western Hemisphere. Charlie had it figured out.
While his body no longer walks the earth, his spirit will remain amongst us. The legion of those influenced by Charlie will forever remain impacted by his work.
I am in debt to Charlie for what he contributed to the sport training community and I will honor his legacy as long as I am coaching athletes.
On behalf of myself and PITT Football,
Rest in peace Charlie
It’s nice to see an article about Charlie and all he has done for the world of athletics.
Fantastic article/write-up James. As a member of cf.com since 2002 I to explained to my athletes and even my “non-athlete clients” the impact this man whom they had no idea about has had an impact on the way I train them. He surely will be missed by many.
It was an honor to get to meet Charlie on several occasions as well as learn from the man directly.
To say I’ve been influenced by his works and the carefully thought out and time-tested methods would be a vast understatement.
I’ll always feel he was largely misunderstood. His care for the well being and health of his athlete (this despite what he is unfortunately best known for) goes beyond what I’ve ever seen from another coach. His willingness to share and help other coaches and athletes went way beyond, in my opinion, the promotion of his business.
James describes well Charlie’s influence on not just sprint coaches but many outside of track and field. He either trained or consulted with top athletes from other sports as such as hockey, football, hockey, soccer etc.
James, thanks for the tribute to a truly great coach(a description that really does apply in this situation) and a pretty good guy.
Wonderful article, Thanks James. I also had the pleasure of meeting Charlie and he never turned down a question, was always wanting to help.
James,
Fanastic article! Truly spoken from the heart. I hope all we keep Charlie and his family in our prayers. I think as time past we realize that Charlie was truly ahead of his time.
Excellent job James!!! Your article is an amazing tribute and insight into an amazing man. You were the first person that I thought of when I heard the news about Charlie. You have always been as helpful to me as Coach Francis was to you, and I have always appreciated.it.
I agree with the posts above, Charlie was a great coach that never got the respect he really deserved. Check out his book “Speed Trap” it’s all about how he coached Ben Johnson and the whole fiasco around the 1988 Olympics.
R.I.P. Charlie
Thank you all for your sincere comments. It is difficult to fully articulate all the ways in which Charlie impacted so many coaches and athletes.
Now that he is gone, even though he left us just last week, I find myself that much more aware of how many times I quote Charlie over the course of a day.
Buddy and I are fortunate to have nearly 15 volunteer interns this summer. As a result, I have plenty to explain regarding how I do things and Charlie is so integral to this process. What I learned from Charlie is not only forever present in the realization of my programming but also infused into my very thought process.
Charlie’s spirit is very much alive and well within so many; not the least of which is me and my work.
Thank you James, more coaches should be as honest as you are.
Great tribute! Your acknowledgement as Charlie being the most important coach to come out of the western hemisphere sent chills up my spine.
I can still remember the day in 1992 when I received The Charlie Francis Training System. I was like a kid in a candy store because I knew the impact this book would have on my approach to sprint training.
I’m glad someone such as yourself has come forward to give Charlie the credit he deserves.
Thanks to you James, I felt encouraged to talk to Charlie on the phone in the last couple of years, to discuss Electrical Muscle Stimulation. He was very supportive and believed in it. He wanted me to come visit in Toronto while he was training some athletes last summer, and I was waiting for his call. I couldn’t understand why we never went through with the plan. Now I understand that the illness was probably making him not available. Nevertheless I feel honored to have been able to talk to him form the distance. Thanks James for sharing your long relationship with him.
I was fortunate to attend the 2007 salt lake city seminar. I will never forget his blazzing saddles reference of the heddy versus hedley lamar scene. Very dry wit. Genius. James Smith great article.
James,
Excellent article on Charlie. I had known he and Angela for 10 years at his passing. I met him in Toronto while in seminar with Ian King. Over dinner, I probed him for 2 hours with questions, which he was gracious enough to answer. I took athletes up to see him on a few occasions. I told them, this man is about as good as it gets in this field. Brilliant beyond compare, great sense of humor, and a caring coach and mentor as you know. It’s great to see his work live on through all of us who he has impacted. His thoughts and theories were so far ahead of their time that people still fight the thinking as “heretical”. I was deeply saddened back when he first got sick and he told me on the track at York. I was hoping the day wouldn’t come, but sadly it did. I know that he is proud of your work, as he lives in it. I am sure every time one of your athletes do well, he will be smiling. Thanks again for the brilliant article.
Coach,
Wonderful memorial to a true legend of the sports world. Someone who truly was a guru and from everything I ever heard and read was a total class act. More of us should aspire to be like Coach Francis. I actually have one of his quotes posted throughout our facility in which he compares designing a program to a puzzle….”the pieces are always changing”. His spirit will indeed live on and through witnessing your own passion toward physical preparation his legacy to educate athletes from all walks of life will surely continue on…
I deeply appreciate the comments.
So many insightful points are being made. I hope that this sort of sincere feedback will inspire the viewers of EFS, who are not familiar with Charlie, to investigate his work and support it by investing in his products.
This site, being more of a ’strength training’ conglomerate, can unfortunately add fuel to our viewers interests that may be less informed- in relation to maximal strength training being so commonly celebrated amongst coaches of physical preparation.
As we all have noted, Charlie’s work extends to sport training fields far and wide and, in my experience, I cannot think of one single Olympic or professional sport athlete or coach who wouldn’t benefit from reviewing Charlie’s work.
I feel strongly about stating that Charlie’s work is required reading for anyone who prepares athletes for competition.
Thanks again to those of you who are taking the time to provide such thoughtful comments and it is an honor for me to see my name mentioned alongside Charlie’s in some of your posts.
James
No doubt that Charlie’s works will live through the efforts of the coaches he has influenced and the athletes they work with and I believe there to be many.
I would invite any coach to examine Charlie’s materials/products (a few free articles are available on the internet). Anyone who thinks he was “just a sprint coach” is very much mistaken. His understanding of the complex inter-workings among various components of athletic fitness and application of a very complete training program is something most could learn from as he trained high level athletes from numerous sports.
James, thanks again for giving tribute to a true giant in the preparation of athletes.