Bryce Hoppel, at 27 years old, has qualified for two Olympics. Specializing in the 800-meter discipline, Hoppel’s dominance dates back to his college days, where he boasts of a two-time NCAA champion’s title. Later, transforming to the senior scheme of things, the Kansas University graduate was a six-time US champion. One of his significant achievements includes an 800-meter gold at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

Hoppel was so close to topping that when he ran an American-best 1:41.67 in the Paris Olympics 800m finals. But in one of the greatest 800m races ever, he had to settle for 4th place, 0.17 seconds away from bronze and 0.48 seconds from Gold. Nonetheless, the upward trajectory of his career is intact. And behind the rise of Bryce Hoppel lies a person who has been through Hoppel’s thick and thin for seven long years. He is, of course, Hoppel’s very dear coach. Here’s everything about him that you should know.

Meet Michael Whittlesey: Bryce Hoppel’s Coach

Well, the person who has been training Bryce Hoppel for almost eight years is Michael Whittlesey. Hailing from Morris, Connecticut, Whittlesey is currently at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus. He is the assistant coach in the distance and middle-distance running category. Before this, he was at North Carolina for 11 years in the capacity of the assistant coach for the cross country and distance running program.

Regarded as a ‘mastermind’ by Bryce Hoppel, Whittlesey’s journey to become a coach started at the University of Connecticut. There, he took up sports medicine/athletic training as his bachelor’s course. He would graduate in May 1990, following which he did a Master’s in exercise physiology till 1993. Whittlesey had an inquisitive mind that wanted to understand thoroughly about sports, training, and their correlation to the body. This led him to get his doctorate in the philosophy of sports in 1997.

His vast knowledge has helped athletes become outstanding champions and record makers, but more about that later. As for Michael Whittlesey, he is married to his wife, Carol, and has two children. His daughter, Samantha Whittlesey, coincidentally, is also at the University of Kansas and in the same distance and middle-distance program where she runs cross country under the supervision of her father. Samantha’s brother, Ryan, is 3 years younger than she is.

On this foundation of years of learning and practical experience, Michael Whittlesey built his coaching legacy that has produced innumerable champions and collegiate superstars.

Michael Whittlesey Career Highlights and Achievements

During his time at the University of Connecticut (UConn) as a bachelor, Whittlesey operated as a graduate assistant. And he didn’t just participate in track. To get a more holistic understanding, he got involved in pole vault events along with distance events and other multi-event endeavors. In 1996, started his journey as an assistant coach at UNC-Charlotte. And immediately, he was a difference maker, helping athletes set a mammoth 53 school records.

Upgrading to North Carolina in 1998, he made his team a force to be reckoned with. Whittlesey produced as many as nine NCAA individual and relay champions, with his track team winning back-to-back NCAA titles in the distance medley relay at the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Besides this, he also successfully trained 70 All-Americans and 36 conference champions. Because of leading North Carolina to a 4th-place finish in the indoors and top-10 finish in the outdoor Championships in 2003, Michael Whittlesey was named NCAA DI track and field National Assistant Coach of the Year for women’s middle-distance/distance. In 2007, he would also be named the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.

While at North Carolina, Whittlesey also had the distinction of winning both the ACC Cross Country Coach of the Year and the Southeast Region Coach of the Year awards, twice, in 1999 and 2003. Taking his depth of expertise and experience to the University of Kansas (KU), Whittlesey started to weave his similar magic with the KU athletes, too. And the result? 12 NCAA championships, 96 All-America honors, and 56 conference titles, which included 18 Big 12 Conference titles. Along with that, his athletes would also win three USA National Championships.

The 2019 season was the highlight when then KU star Bryce Hoppel would go on a 19-race win streak, which included both indoor and outdoor. As a result, Hoppel would win both the indoor and Outdoor NCAA titles in the 800m event. 2024 marks his 13th season on the job, and boy, does he do his job well, especially with the kind of experience he holds. And this experience is not only limited to the sidelines.

His academic and coaching accolades are also complemented by his professional achievements as a runner. Participating in the 1995 Boston Marathon, Whittlesey became the first American to finish the race. Hoppel’s coach also earned a ticket to the Olympic trials for the 1996 games, even though he could not make it into the final team. He competed as a non-recruited athlete at the University of Connecticut.

As you can understand, we are talking about a man who has experienced it all. He understands it at a scientific level and has had the personal experience to be able to correlate with his student athletes. And that is the making of a great coach, one who can see what makes Bryce Hoppel unique.

What makes Bryce Hoppel’s training approach so different, according to Coach Whittlesey?

Speaking about what sets Hoppel apart from the rest, his coach pointed to Hoppel’s work ethic and, more importantly, his personalized training as the deciding factors. He said to Runnersworld on June 30, 2024, “Bryce trains completely differently than any 800 runner I’ve ever coached or any 800 runner I’ve ever talked to.” The workouts and training Hoppel do are generally opted by 1500m or 3000m runners. But why, though?

Well, because his method helps him in getting better at 800m distance. Generally, 800-meter racers go for high-intensity short distance workouts. But Bryce Hoppel doesn’t need that, His coach confirmed: “His natural foot speed doesn’t need a ton of sharpening. His competitiveness puts him in that situation”. The Olympian’s secret weapon is his kick towards the end of the race, which helps him run down the final stretch.

Whittlesey also shed light on Hoppel’s strategy: “As long as he can continue to kick with the best at the end of a race, he’s going to continue to stay as an 800-meter runner. Could he run a really good 1500? Absolutely. But he loves the 800, and his mindset fits the 800”. And if Michael Whittlesey gives the thumbs up, that’s all the validation Bryce Hoppel needs.

The 800m specialist told CJ Online in July 2022: “I’ve always kind of said, coach (Whittlesey)’s like the mastermind behind it. He obviously has his Ph.D. and knows the science behind it, and he knows what he’s doing”. Continuing, the 2-time Olympian said the final word is with his coach: “So, I’ve always kind of had that blind faith of, like, ‘Man, like, this guy’s special and he’s going to do what needs to be done to get me where I’m going’”.

Has Coach Whittlesey planned out the perfect strategy for Bryce Hoppel to run away with the Grand Slam Track honors? We will see!!