Galen Rupp has found a new coach in Mike Smith, the head coach at Northern Arizona University. This change comes after Alberto Salazar’s anti-doping ban.
What happened?
Galen Rupp was in need of a new coach after Salazar's ban. According to Runner’s World, Smith was surprised when Rupp reached out to him about working together in the fall.
Why it matters for Galen Rupp
Rupp has only ever been coached by Salazar, dating back to high school. Smith has no known association with Nike, Rupp’s sponsor for his entire professional career.
What comes next?
Rupp will prepare to defend his U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials title on Feb. 29 in Atlanta. He dropped out of the 2019 Chicago Marathon in October, his first race back in a year after undergoing surgery.
Rupp has not raced since the 2019 Chicago Marathon. He will work with Smith to get back in shape for the Olympic Trials.
The former Nike Oregon Project assistant, Pete Julian, remains in Portland and is coaching many of the same athletes. But Rupp has elected to go a different route.
Smith is based in Flagstaff, Arizona, while Rupp lives in Portland, Oregon. It is not yet known if the pair will work together remotely or if Rupp will begin training in Flagstaff.
Rupp considers Salazar like a father figure. Salazar was banned from coaching by USADA for four years on Sep. 30 for anti-doping violations.
Rupp's new coach, Mike Smith, will help him prepare for the Olympic Trials. Smith was surprised by Rupp's offer, but he eventually accepted.
Rupp will remain in Portland, according to reports. He will work with Smith to prepare for the Olympic Trials.
The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials will take place on Feb. 29 in Atlanta. Rupp will defend his title against other top marathon runners.
Galen Rupp's decision to hire Mike Smith as his new coach is a significant change. He will work with Smith to prepare for the Olympic Trials and get back in shape after his injury.