Natalie Schroeder

Prof. Zine
Kin 17
11/30/2021
Interview with Joseph Coddington (Transcript Version)

Me (Interviewer): Hello Mr. Coddington, thank you for meeting with me today, I know your
schedule is quite tight so I will get started.
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): oh no, thank you Natalie for having me today. I know I have
been difficult to reach, but i am happy to be here.
Me (Interviewer): Wonderful! I appreciate your time here. Now, Mr. Coddington, I know you
have been cycling for quite some time, what encouraged you to be a professional cyclist?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): um, well as you know Natalie, I enjoyed a sport where the
rules were limited. Had I realized all the rules as a child I would have not chosen cycling. The
truth is cycling is a mental sport you have to think beyond the here and now, you must see the
whole picture. That is my passion. That is why I gave my life to this sport.
Me (Interviewer): (Laughter) I know how you feel when you say “Had I realized all the rules as
a child I would have not chosen cycling.”. I feel the same way about college at times. (laughter).
Though, I do admire your dedication to this sport. As an individual who instructs indoor cycling
herself, the mental part of that activity, has been the most challenging for me. I could only image
what you have endured and what you have to overcome during your journey cycling around the
world. It amazes truly me how you keep up with this sport.
Me (Interviewer): Now we understand your passion for cycling, what values does coaching
bring you? What does it mean to you to be a professional cycling coach?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Without coaching only the naturally talented succeed. No
person will achieve without coaching. One cannot be more than themselves without someone
looking in and making improvements and providing feedback. Feedback is the real value of a
coach.
Me (interviewer): I like that you said, “feedback is the real value of a coach.”. It truly is. I think
as a coach, active listening helps to establish a trusting relationship with your clients. It enables
you to be an even better coach. Unlike what I call, critical listeners.
Me (interviewer): This brings me to ask you, what type of experiences have you had coaching
other professional cyclists?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): I have brought thirty-five cyclists from the amateur level to
the professional level. As I mentioned before no one can improves without feedback. You can
have any coach guide you through the physical. It takes a special coach to show you the nuance
of tactics and the passion of the sport.
Me (interviewer): Woah, thirty-five cyclists. To me that shows your success of being an
effective coach. I can honestly say, being in your shoes is an intimidating thing. It takes a lot of
work to bring people from the bottom to the top of success.
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): I earnestly can say I am very proud of what my passion has
turned into. As I mentioned, this sport is my life and I dedicate it all to my cyclists. I would not
change one aspect of this.
Me (Interviewer): It is a rewarding thing Mr. Coddington. Something to be quite proud of.
Imperfections and all.
Me (Interviewer): In preparation to be successful, do you create personalized plans for your
clients as they begin their journey?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): I create entirely custom plans for each rider that adjust
through my monitoring of their training. I even provide suggested reading to prepare their minds
as well. Strong mind equals a string racer.
Me (interviewer): And with your monitoring do you recommend specific methods for training?
If so, what type of training do you recommend for your cyclists, and which method has been
your most successful when it comes to coaching them?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Certainly, there are many methods of training. The most
effective is the one that the athlete responds too. Some athletes excel in negative feedback loops
that are aggressive and that force them to constantly doubt their abilities. This can create over
achievers: it can also destroy many athletes. Other athletes need positive and peaceful. A good
coach knows what approach to take with an athlete; a great coach knows when to push their
athlete beyond comfortable.
Me (Interviewer): Facts. I know that when I instruct my indoor cycling classes, every person
has individual needs. Sometimes it takes more from the instructor to push that person, whereas
others don’t always need that big push as they might be more capable of pushing themselves. So,
I understand the methods and different approaches you take. Both very effective.
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Having my military background, such discipline was instilled
in me. It gave me that instinct of I have to make it. I need to make it. I will get there. If I never
pushed my limits, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and that is my goal for my cyclist. Whatever
it takes to get them there.
Me (Interviewer): I can appreciate that mentality. Absolutely.
Me (Interviewer): Now when it comes down to earnings. What are two factors that contribute to
what an individual can expect to be a professional cyclist?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Your Parents genetics… It really come down to your ability to
focus and be consistent. Consistent training and structured racing combined with solid tactical
discipline will allow each rider to maximize earning potential
Me (Interviewer): And what about the earnings for a cycling coach? What determines your
that?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Well in my experience, I have done a few world tours as a
cyclist as well as coaching. What I would say determines my earnings is what type of race,
where it takes place, how long the tour is, my abilities as a coach, and who I am coaching. There
is no set earnings for this but my experiences and professionalism have brought me very far in
my career.
Me (Interviewer): Right, right. Experience and qualifications are important to how much
anyone gets paid. Of course, in your case, you purely enjoy the sport of this, and it isn’t always
about the money. Which to me is admirable.
Me (Interviewer): What type of qualifications does it take to be a cycling coach?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): It takes understanding of the sport and athlete potential. The
real requirement is the element of teaching. Many great athletes cannot pass on their skill or
knowledge or perhaps their ego gets in the way. If a coach cannot step beyond themselves and
put athlete first, they will not succeed.
Me (Interviewer): That’s an important part of coaching, being able to step beyond yourself. I
assume that is something you experienced yourself while coaching?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Yes, it has allowed me to be a better athlete as well as a
better coach, which has helped others accomplish the same. For an athlete, we achieve what they
do because we orient a goal or create that self-purpose that is so grand that we must step beyond
ourselves to achieve it.
Me (Interviewer): Absolutely, that’s a great way to perceive that. I know in this sport there are a
lot of challenges as a rider, and as a coach. It takes you as a coach to help address any challenges
a rider faces to keep them going and focused.
Me (Interviewer): what challenges have you faced during the pandemic when coaching? Do
you supply online coaching?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): The biggest pandemic challenge is lack of racing. It is hard
to motivate an athlete that has nowhere to exercise their craft.
Me (Interviewer): I can imagine the difficulties of what this pandemic has thrown at you. It
really has slowed down training for all athletes. I can also imagine that motivation has ran low,
and it was challenging for athletes to want to get back up and going.
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Most definitely, I never imagined how drastically myself
and my clients’ relationships would change with cycling. I have worked from home for many
years, but my desires even as a rider had plummeted with this pandemic intertwining itself into
my life. For once in my life, I didn’t feel like picking up my bike. Was truly troubling to me.
Me (Interviewer): Well hopefully that has changed for yourself, and you are motivated to step
beyond yourself Mr. Coddington. (laughter)
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): (laughter) Way to bring that back around. But yes, I can say
I have stepped back into the cycling world once again. (laughter)
Me (Interviewer): Good to hear!
Me (Interviewer): Now, with all the world tours your have done as a cyclist. Have you coached
clients outside the United States?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Yes, I have coached all over the globe. My athletes have
raced in Europe, South America, and Asia. Cycling is a global sport. My desire doesn’t stop here
in the states. I love to coach, no matter where I am coaching.
Me (Interviewer): Love the dedication.
Me (Interviewer): I know you mentioned the magnitude of problems the pandemic has caused
for training, but how do you keep your clients focused and driven while coaching from home?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): You must create small daily goals that provide success.
They cannot be too easy because failure drive a true winner forward. If they fail thirty percent of
the time, they will want success one hundred percent of the time.
Me (Interviewee): I can relate to that determination of wanting to push for success when
obstacles have intruded on my success. That’s great advice. Start small with your goals and work
your way to success. I like it!
Me (Interviewer): Have you ever coached clients with disabilities, both physical or mental?
What have been those challenges?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Yes, I have dealt with Hand cyclist and para-disabled. They
are the same as any athlete. The biggest battle you face as a coach is convincing them that. The
sooner they learn that they are an athlete, and the rest is either pity of excuses they become who
they were meant to be as a rider.
Me (Interviewer): Amazing! Discrimination against the disabled athletes has been a battle for
years. It’s been very controversial topic. They should never feel that they “Have to fit in” in the
standards of society. Sports aren’t for the weak, its for the strong willed that they believe they
can do anything. I really value for what you stand for, and not giving up on them when there are
challenges to face. Thank you for that. Truly inspires me.
Me (Interviewer): One last question before I let you go. As a coach, how important is it to hold
yourself and other inspiring coaches accountable?
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Um, well, one thing is certain. Self-accountability it the key.
If your athlete cannot see you practicing the same level of commitment, they will not believe.
You must accept that coach athlete is a trust and faith relationship, how can they trust if you
show them no faith in what you are asking of them. If you fail, own it, and be better.
Me (Interviewer): Accountability is a pet peeve of mine. It’s an obligation in which i expect a
peer and or coach to accept their responsibilities. We must accept what consequences come from
our actions, and it disappoints me when they cannot be accountable for that. It’s something I
require of myself.
Me (Interviewee): I want to thank you for all your time, Mr. Coddington. You are the epitome
an overall good coach. I appreciate your values that you hold for this sport and as a coach. I hope
that you continue to learn from your clients and just continue to enhance your coaching skills
through whatever challenging experiences this world brings.
Joseph Coddington (Interviewee): Oh, it was a pleasure speaking with you, Natalie. Again, I
am sorry for the time I was unavailable. I appreciate you taking time out of your day and wanting
to interview me. Till next time.