Rich Anderson joins the coaching staff at MCTC having been involved with track & field, and road racing for over 35 years. As a member of USA Track & Field since the TAC era, he has served on the executive board of the USATF Ozark Association in charge of adult long distance running, championship race sanctions, and as a nationally certified USA Track & Field Official. He is also a past President and 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient of the St. Louis Track Club, established 1970, and  former Race Director of the St. Louis Half Marathon, a race now in its 41 year.

Coaching Background

After a number of years learning the coaching end of the sport, Rich decided to pursue formal coaching certifications through the USA Track & Field Coaching Education program. Upon completion of USATF Level I General Coaching Certification, he went on to complete the USATF Level II & USATF Level III Endurance Certifications, and was selected to attend the highly acclaimed IAAF Level 5 Endurance Academy which was held at the Chula Vista CA Olympic Training Center. Rich completed the course and received his diploma “With Distinction” after passing all the tests and submitting a paper detailing his 8-month practical project on altitude training,. His paper was a detailed documentation of the training progression of one of the athletes he coached from her post-collegiate journey to   her transition to altitude training, and her ultimately making the Romanian National Cross Country Team, her first national team.

Team Coaching Experience

In addition to running his own USATF Club of Professional Athletes, Speed Factory Athletics, for a number of years with over 10 athletes, a club that produced multiple sub 4 minute mile performances, national championship and USA Olympic trails qualifiers, and an IAAF World Indoor Championship Gold Medal, Rich also coached the Men’s Cross Country Team for Missouri Baptist University for 3 seasons. His primary responsibilities were overseeing the daily workouts, and writing the day-to-day training. The improvement to the cross country program during that period was substantial, as evidenced by their meet record improvements.