Making a Champion Takes a Village

Years ago, I was interviewed by the Skating Lesson after Ashley Wagner won her first national title with the Black Swan. Dave Leese and Jennifer Kirk asked me a very important question, “What is the single most important quality of an elite skater?”  

I responded stating that the single most import quality of any skater at any level is compliance. Ashley was the model student encompassing talent, drive, athletic ability, and most importantly, she was compliant with both John Nicks and me.

For the past three years, one of my former students, Jackie Brenner, who became a coach, asked me to choreograph a program for one of her up and coming skaters, Landice Mullins.  I’ve had the pleasure of choreographing programs for Landice for three seasons.  And each of these programs was created and trained on Zoom. 

In June of this year, we finally met in person when she came to California to work with me. We had a wonderful time working together in real time.

When Landice entered Denver University last fall, I told her that she would now be responsible for the success or failure of her season.  I added that Jackie and I were not going to be there to make sure she did her daily run throughs. Possessing that very important quality of compliance, Landice soared to success this season.  She not only became Inter-Collegiate National Champion and Collegiate National Champion, she went from landing her double axel and triple salchow to getting all the other triples through triple lutz. 

The success of any athlete is grounded in a trust and bond relationship that develops over many years with their head coach. Jackie Brenner excels not only as a technician but also as complete manager of her skaters and their training. 

Coaching excellence has been evident with some of our most famous USA skaters from the past who only worked with one head coach.  Brian Boitano had Linda Lever, Kristy Yamaguchi had Christy Ness, Michelle Kwan had Frank Carroll, Nathan Chen worked with Rafael Arutyunyan, and Sasha Cohen had John Nicks. In these days in figure skating, however, most high-level competitors work with more than one coach as it can take a village to forge success. 

Landice Mullins works with such a team that has helped her to achieve her great accomplishments. Her team consists of:

·       Head Coach – Jackie Brenner   

·       Choreographer – Phillip Mills  

·       Costume Designer – Brad Griffies  

·       Consulting Coaches – Jeff DiGregorio and Cindy Sullivan   

·       Off Ice Trainer – Elizabeth Mullins

This is the village for Landice Mullins.  I always try to teach my skaters to be the CEO of their corporation.  In this case Landice Mullins Inc. was quite successful.

The pace of my career has slowed down a bit by choice. I am thoroughly enjoying where I am at this time.  No longer is the stress there of being responsible for skaters at Olympics, Worlds, Internationals or National events.  My job now is to help my former elite skaters, who have become coaches, with their up-and-coming skaters, like Jackie Brenner. It has been a great ride and I am fortunate to have another National Champion in Landice Mullins.

The session is over and the Zamboni is coming out. 

Auf Wiedersehen