Coaching/Swimming by Louis Tharp
West Point
Read More >>Louis Tharp began coaching swimming for the West Point Triathlon team in May, 2006. At the time, swimming was traditionally the weak leg. The first full year of coaching, 2007, the team went from 16th to 5th at 2007 vs. 2006 USA Triathlon Collegiate Nationals. The men's team finished 3rd. Women's team 7th. At the 2008 Collegiate Nationals, the men's team finished 2nd, the overall team finished 3rd, and the women finished 5th. In addition, individuals medaled at age group nationals and ITU worlds in 2007 and 2008.
Louis Tharp published "Overachiever's Diary: How the Army Triathlon Team Became World Contenders" in Fall 2007. http://www.overachieversdiary.com chronicling the practices and philosophy that helped make the team successful. The book was published by Total Immersion, and was positively reviewed by every major triathlon, gay and swimming publication http://www.overachieversdiary.com/publicity.shtml. All proceeds from the book go to the West Point Tri team.
In addition to his coaching duties, Louis Tharp helped plan, manage and run Spring break training at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. And was the director of packet pick-up for the annual West Point Sprint Triathlon.
He was responsible for bringing Total Immersion and Sable Water Optics as product sponsors to the team, created a proprietary swim assessment which benchmarked and then measured swimming speed and efficiency.
Louis Tharp left full-time coaching responsibilities at West Point in 2009 in order to work one-on-one with elite pro triathlete and ’09 graduate Nicholas Sterghos. Tim Crowley, Olympic triathlon coach, agreed to work with Nicholas in 2010 and serves as Nicholas’ head coach with Louis as manager and consulting swim coach.
Overachiever's Diary
Nicholas Sterghos
Read More >>First Lieutenant Nicholas Sterghos, an '09 West Point graduate, tri-team and cross-country team member, is currently a pro triathlete working one-on-one with Louis Tharp and Olympic coach Tim Crowley. Nicholas turned pro after graduating and showed consistent improvement throughout the 2010 season. He is currently assigned to Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. He continues to hold his USAT and ITU pro licenses.