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.

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

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 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.

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.

R.I.P. Charlie

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.

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.