A dedicated thread to thanking both coaches Johan Ruijsink and Jeremy Jones.
First, coach Johan...for him to leave a super successful and well stocked team Europe a few years ago and take up an enormous challenge of rehabilitating team USA was the epitome of putting the sport of pocket billiards before personal glory.
Johan shouldered every bit of risk and criticism as he took his team building boot camp methodology to the United States and built the team we saw this week.
It didn't happen overnight. In fact the struggles were great. After last year and a bad loss, the late great Mr. Bond conducted an interview with coach Johan where you could hear the frustration but yet he came with solutions and believed team USA could find success once again.
Players on team USA, including Skyler have said working with coach Johan had made him better. The results speak for themselves.
I not only congratulate Coach Johan but I thank him as well for these players that worked with him are all the better for it and American pool will feel the effects for quite a while.
Coach Jeremy Jones. His addition to the team was the X Factor that turned the corner for the American players.
Watching coach Jones between racks, while Johan was like a battalion general, with a stone face and words of strategy, Jeremy appeared to give that brotherly/fatherly smile and comment to keep the player not just focused but positive.
We all have come to enjoy Jeremy coach all of us during his 4 star commentary sessions of matches throughout major tournaments. If he can do that for folks sitting at home, imagine what he did for the players during the Mosconi Cup warm up match victories over team Russia and team England? Having Jeremy table side in the practice room or in the airport with our players, was that little bit of extra chemistry and pool knowledge needed for victory.
I loved watching these two coaches and I absolutely loved the results their team displayed on the table.
Congratulations to team USA. Amazing play in the lions den.
Coach Johan and Coach Jones - Thank You.
First, coach Johan...for him to leave a super successful and well stocked team Europe a few years ago and take up an enormous challenge of rehabilitating team USA was the epitome of putting the sport of pocket billiards before personal glory.
Johan shouldered every bit of risk and criticism as he took his team building boot camp methodology to the United States and built the team we saw this week.
It didn't happen overnight. In fact the struggles were great. After last year and a bad loss, the late great Mr. Bond conducted an interview with coach Johan where you could hear the frustration but yet he came with solutions and believed team USA could find success once again.
Players on team USA, including Skyler have said working with coach Johan had made him better. The results speak for themselves.
I not only congratulate Coach Johan but I thank him as well for these players that worked with him are all the better for it and American pool will feel the effects for quite a while.
Coach Jeremy Jones. His addition to the team was the X Factor that turned the corner for the American players.
Watching coach Jones between racks, while Johan was like a battalion general, with a stone face and words of strategy, Jeremy appeared to give that brotherly/fatherly smile and comment to keep the player not just focused but positive.
We all have come to enjoy Jeremy coach all of us during his 4 star commentary sessions of matches throughout major tournaments. If he can do that for folks sitting at home, imagine what he did for the players during the Mosconi Cup warm up match victories over team Russia and team England? Having Jeremy table side in the practice room or in the airport with our players, was that little bit of extra chemistry and pool knowledge needed for victory.
I loved watching these two coaches and I absolutely loved the results their team displayed on the table.
Congratulations to team USA. Amazing play in the lions den.
Coach Johan and Coach Jones - Thank You.
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