The role of an ordinary coach is to come up with a team roster and offer guidance on the steps required to improve performance.
However, sometimes coaches become family and play an influential role in the lives of sportsmen and women under their tutelage.
One such coach is Patrick Sang, the man who has been with the reigning men’s world record holder Eliud Kipchoge through thick and thin, and helped him bag many titles.
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He has also transformed the careers of other Kenyan elite athletes among them double 1,500m Olympic champion Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon, Bernard Barmasai, Hyvin Kiyeng, Brimin Kipruto and former World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor.
Sang, a national treasure was born in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, the same place that Kipchoge hails from. After completing his post primary education, he was lucky to land a scholarship to study in the United States.
He studied at Iowa State University and the University of Texas while sharpening his athletics skills.
Prior to venturing into the coaching profession, the prominent tactician used to compete in middle distance races, particularly the 3,000m steeplechase.
He went on to represent Kenya in the early 1990s, winning silver medals at both the 1991 and 1993 World Athletic Championships. Sang also clinched a silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games.
The talkative tutor started coaching in 1995 and met Kipchoge six years later.
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He divulged that the first time he met Kipchoge, he did not know he was from his village. It was only until later that he realized Eliud was the son of his kindergarten tutor.
Eliud’s first title under his tutelage came in 2003, when he produced a thrilling performance to win a 5,000m gold medal at the IAAF World Championships held in Paris, France.
In a recent interview, the 58-year-old revealed that he did not have any plans of becoming an athletic coach.
“When I stopped running, I was ranked number four in the world. I did not plan to be a full time coach of Eliud and Kamworor among others.
“Running is a team sport, because when we come together we bring the best out of people. For me to be a better coach, there must be trust between me and the athletes,” stated Sang.
Under his watch, Kipchoge has won two Olympic marathon titles and multiple road races. The latter has also shuttered the world record twice and ran a sub 2:00.00 marathon at the 2019 INEOS 159 Challenge.
Kipyegon on the other hand has won all races that she took part in the 2022 season, bagging a world title and winning the Wanda Diamond League trophy.
Sang also played an instrumental role in Kipyegon’s 1,500m success at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
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