Featured coaches
Susie Minshew – November 2013
Gold Certified Coach
Alvarado, Texas
How long have you been an active coach?
My first coaching certification was from the National Bowling Council in 1989. I have been coaching full-time since 1994.
Where do you coach?
Have knowledge, will travel. I live near Fort Worth, Texas and travel often to teach - internationally, as well as in the USA. I teach extensively in the Fort Worth-Dallas area.
What have you gained from coaching?
Coaching is more about moving the spirit than it is about moving the feet. I've learned creativity and patience, developed a healthy life philosophy, and met the world's best people - bowlers.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
Never stop educating yourself. There are many ways to get the job done.
Learn them all, certify, attend every class you can, read every book, get every video. The sport and its nuances are changing every moment.
Keep up!
Rose Fogg – September 2013
Silver Certified Coach
Slidell, Louisiana
How long have you been an active coach?
In 1996 I started coaching the youth because I had a daughter in bowling. I coached in Louisiana/Mississippi and became a youth director at Bowling USA in Slidell, LA. I sat on the Louisiana youth board for several years while coaching the travel league teams.
Where do you coach?
I turned my interests to NCAA women's collegiate bowling and was hooked. I am the volunteer Assistant Bowling coach at Southern University and A&M College - Baton Rouge, LA and hope to be a head coach in the future.
What have you gained from coaching?
I have gained so much joy from coaching. I enjoy watching bowlers from the very young to the older more seasoned bowler increasing their skills. It gives me such a thrill to watch them shoot their first honor scores.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
I would tell new coaches to remind their students not to dwell on a shot they missed. But to focus on the shot they are bowling now. As your average rises, the mental game is as important as the physical game. Beating yourself up over a bad shot can be the demise of the entire game.
David O'Sullivan – June 2013
Silver Certified Coach
Orlando, Fla.
How long have you been an active coach?
I have been coaching for over 10 years, it started with volunteer coaching younger youth bowlers, helping out with coaching the women's team at Morehead State, and most recently doing private lessons to bowlers of all different styles and skill levels.
Where do you coach?
I coach all over Orlando, FL. I travel to most bowling centers throughout Central Florida to make it as convenient as possible for the student. The majority of my lessons are done out of Boardwalk Bowl.
What have you gained from coaching?
I have continued to learn and evolve as the sport has and I have gained quite a bit of experience adapting my coaching philosophies to all different personality types. I love the challenge of getting each student to understand and apply these philosophies.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
Don't overload the student with too much information. It is a challenge that I continue to remind myself of, you can't fix every single thing right away. Try and pick out the one or two major concerns and just focus on those.
Mark Phelps March – 2013
Silver Certified Coach
Plano, Texas
How long have you been an active coach?
I have been coaching since the early 1990s.
Where do you coach?
Primarily at Plano Super Bowl but I have conducted sessions at AMF Richardson and Showplace Garland.
What have you gained from coaching?
I have not only gained experience as a coach and knowledge of the game but also a huge amount of satisfaction and pleasure in helping other avid bowlers to have improved games and seeing their results.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
Observe "ALL" aspects of the bowler's game but emphasize to the bowler to work on only one piece at a time. Use video.
Jim O'Reilly February – 2013
Silver Certified Coach
Zumbrota, Minn.
How long have you been an active coach?
I started coaching in 1973 after getting a management job at Evergreen Lanes in Zumbrota, Minnesota. With the exception of a short hiatus, I have been coaching ever since.
Where do you coach?
Currently I coach youth bowling and 2 high school teams at Pine Island Pool and Pins in Pine Island, Minnesota. I do individual coaching at Riverboat Lanes in Wabasha, Minnesota, and clinics with my coaching partner David Pearson under the banner of Bowling Coaching Associates. We conduct clinics for 10-30 participants throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. I am a National instructor for USA Bowling, and a Minnesota High School bowling commissioner.
What have you gained from coaching?
I work in the bowling industry as a distributor salesman, and it has allowed me to integrate coaching into my other work as a ball drilling instructor and lane maintenance technician. Using my knowledge from the other side of the sport has helped me to become a more well-rounded coach who can use better tools to improve my students faster. Also, the sense of accomplishment by my clients gives me deep satisfaction.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
Use praise of accomplishment rather than criticism of failure as your main tool.
Mac McLaughlin – January 2013
Bronze Certified Coach
Mukilteo, Wash.
How long have you been an active coach?
I have been actively coaching Youth (junior) bowlers in certified leagues since the year 2000
Where do you coach?
I currently coach at Kenmore lanes in Kenmore, Washington, for adults and juniors. I am the league coordinator for King Country Eastside High School Bowling League, and have helped the elementary PE teachers institute a bowling program for grades K-6.
What have you gained from coaching?
I have gained much satisfaction from seeing the bowlers work to improve their bowling and have watched most youth bowlers average grow by leaps and bounds. It has also made me a better bowler as I try to bowl better myself by coaching myself.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
It is very difficult to give just one tip to a new coach as I have several that I feel are very important.
To synopsize: All youth coaches should be USBC certified and RVP registered.
Watch how the bowlers being coached handles the ball on the lanes before giving any advice to the bowler. It is extremely important as there is NO ONE single way for all bowlers to handle and release the ball onto the lanes.
Joe Stalnaker – November 2012
Bronze Certified Coach
Alderson, W.Va.
How long have you been an active coach?
I have been an active coach for 3+ years.
Where do you coach?
I coach at the Greenbrier Bowling and Recreation Center in Lewisburg, West Virginia.
What have you gained from coaching?
Each person that you work with during your sessions has different idiosyncrasies and that it is important to not to try and rebuild the bowler completely, but to work on their weaknesses. I realize that with each student that I am working on their particular game and style and not someone else's.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
Don't try to make your student's game your game. Let the student develop into their own game, and patience is a must.
As a side note, On March 10, 2012, I bowled 100 consecutive games with USBC regulation equipment (15 lb. strike ball, 13 lb. spare ball). I started at the Greenbrier Bowling and Recreation Center at 6:00 AM and finished at 2:00 AM on March 11, 2012. The herculean effort was to raise funding for the PBA Senior Regional Tournament to be held in Lewisburg, WV, the week of September 28-30, 2012. With the help of the bowling community, we were able to raise over $3,000.
Cory Knop – October 2012
Silver Certified Coach
Tucson, Ariz.
How long have you been an active coach?
I have been actively coaching for 13 years. My passion started by assisting with my daughter's Saturday morning youth program. I have been fortunate enough to train under some of the world's best coaches (Dick Ritger, Susie Minshew, Ron Hoppe…etc.) which has only enhanced my love for teaching.
Where do you coach?
I do most of my coaching in bowling centers in Tucson. I was honored when Mr. Dick Ritger asked me to join his outstanding staff of instructors, and have, on occasion, assisted with his clinics in New York and Tucson. I was also fortunate enough to participate in a couple of Susie Minshew's Bowling Success Clinics in Texas.
What have you gained from coaching?
I have a great job as an Engineer at the University of Arizona, but I have to say coaching has been the most rewarding experience for me. Helping people of all ages and skill levels to accomplish their goals, and to see the pure joy on their faces when this happens, is truly priceless.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
My advice to new coaches would be to take on the responsibility of finding new ways to improve your student's self-confidence. It's easy to get caught up in analyzing all the negatives. However, I think it's equally important to re-enforce the positives! If we constantly hit the negative aspects of a student's game, we erode their confidence. A good coach will find the right balance between identifying flaws and praising their achievements.
Randy Stoughton – August 2012
Gold Certified Coach
Lake Wales, Fla.
How long have you been an active coach?
I have been coaching bowling off and on since the summer of 1972.
Where do you coach?
I am the Head Coach at the Kegel Training Center
What have you gained from coaching?
I have learned that there is so much to learn about bowling that it takes a life time to gain the knowledge. If you're not able to accept being wrong, you will never find out what's right. Every bowler has their own way of learning and even more importantly their own way of hearing your message. It takes a great deal of trust and honesty between teacher and student to for a relationship that produces change.
If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
Coach to the student's skill level.
David Pearson – June 2012
Silver Certified Coach
Rochester, Minn.
Scott Bean – May 2012
Level I/II Certified Coach
Mukwonago, Wis.