Mark Wilson: Billiard Coach

[one stroke]

Thanks for the input. Keith has been singing Skyler's accolades for sometime now. I don't know how Keith even knows who Skyler is, because I don't, but Keith says he's got his eye on this horse to cross the finish line in many future pool title competitions. :smile:

I watched Skylar beat Tony Long in the SBE open was not even a contest. ,, nice kid talked to him several times Told me last yr he plays even with Warren Kiamco
He also has won some regional stuff in the Midwest

1

 

[JAM]

I watched Skylar beat Tony Long in the SBE open was not even a contest. ,, nice kid talked to him several times Told me last yr he plays even with Warren Kiamco
He also has won some regional stuff in the Midwest

1

Tony Long has a little bulldog in him, but I think he's more of a showboat kind of player than a scrapper.

 

[watchez]

Does he call you "Watchez"? LoL

No but you can --- or you can just call me Your Teacher. I'll be here every time I read you make some unfactual, unproven idea on this board or mis concocted analogy, which is often.

Watchez is the teacher

JAM - you forgot

SVB 1:9

 

[CJ Wiley]

I'll have to stick to talking about the 'Touch of Inside' in all my posts

No but you can --- or you can just call me Your Teacher. I'll be here every time I read you make some unfactual, unproven idea on this board or mis concocted analogy, which is often.

Watchez is the teacher

JAM - you forgot

SVB 1:9

Thanks "Teacher" we all need your strength, and guidance. I guess I'll have to stick to talking about the 'Touch of Inside' in all my posts from now on.

I had a great time being the Mosconi Cup Captain in London last year. We came within one match of winning and went up against "all odds" getting into that position. imho

We could see the first day that we were "outrunning the nutz" in the Mosconi Cup....the "deck" was stacked against us in every way, shape and form. Johnny Archer and I dealt with this "reality" and did everything we could to change the course of history.....and we didn't quite make it, although it could not have been any closer.

There is a way to win the Mosconi Cup for the USA Team - I would help out any way possible assure this success. Here are the changes that would have to happen for the USA Team to have a legitimate chance to win - and assure a much better competition.

1) The Captain would have the choice of two extra players that would be part of the team and give the Captain leverage to "bench" players that refused to follow training protocol. Without this factor the players can simply refuse to participate which causes direct and indirect damage to the team's overall abilities.

2) The Team would be allowed a budget of $5,000 to train for the week prior to the Mosconi Cup TOGETHER in the USA. This would give the Captain and team time to unify and train and put together a comprehensive game plan to strengthen the team as one solid unit.

3) The training week would be video taped and used as a promo to the Mosconi Cup (much like the Earl Strickland Doc was this year). This would give the players even more incentive to be productive if they were part of the show, much like Boxing does to motivate the boxers and personalize them to the fans.

4) The USA would need their own practice room so they could have privacy to train, communicate and work on what they need to with the coach on an individual basis.

5) The USA team would require paid transportation to and from the airport (we had a van pick us up, but had to take a cab back to the airport in London at a cost of over $150).

 

[JAM]

No but you can --- or you can just call me Your Teacher. I'll be here every time I read you make some unfactual, unproven idea on this board or mis concocted analogy, which is often.

Watchez is the teacher

JAM - you forgot

SVB 1:9

Oh, man, how could I forget that one. Sheesh! Of course, Shane is most definitely 1:9. :yes:

 

[Rico]

Mark.W

Take a look at the dvd,s Mark &Jerry Brysath made they are some of the best beginner to advanced out there. Mark worked with my wife in the 80,s in one year she finished 2 in vegas bca. but took up golf. Mark teaches hard work and practise . no gimmick shaft or cue will make you a player. And a gentleman and good sport .

 

[oscar]

agree

1. IMO, Earl has 'earned' himself a spot OFF the team due to the actions in this years Misconduct Cup

2. Landon is the known name on the Lindenwood team but there are other champions as well. Brendan Crockett, Sharik Sayed and Briana Miller (I think she has won the Jr National Title 42 times now ) just to name a few

3. Mark doesn't post on AZ but he does read here. I have reached out to ask him what male champions he has coached. I know off the top of my head are James Baraks, Justin Bergman and Don Wardell, just to name a few.

4. Mark doesn't have any World or US Open titles but when the Camel Tour was in existence he was a ranked player ON THE TOUR (so no matter how someone like CJ tries to spin it, Mark has walked the walk) (I tried google but couldn't find his final ranking. I am sure that JAM will be able to find it :wink: --- Ok, I heard from Mark - his highest ranking was 21st and he was ranked 21st - 29th for almost a decade as a pro). He has lost to and beat almost any name pro you can think of. Like a few pros, he quit playing in events once that tour folded. He was the person to beat when John McChesney had the Midwest Texas Express 9 ball tour and if I stated he won a dozen of these events, it would not be an exaggeration.

5. Like I said, it is time to get rid of Old School pool in the Mosconi Cup. Mark is the man for the job. There is not a person in pool that I have met that has a higher character than him. Losing with honor is much greater than winning without out it. And he obviously knows how to coach a team of players with egos cause there are even egos with teenagers as well.

Watchez is the teacher

totally agree i hae had many lesson with mark and a road player jesse glen bond these to new more about billiards more than anybody and thats a fact jack lol

 

[sjm]

Great thread and thanks to JAM for starting it. Mark is one of pool's greatest role models, and I can't add much to what I've read in this thread.

Mark is one of several who'd make a good captain for Team USA at the Mosconi and, like Jam notes, so is Allen Hopkins.

 

[JoeyA]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Thanks, Neil. Thanks to all for the information about Mark Wilson.

With the Mosconi Cup Team USA debacle behind us, the subject of the lack of team unison has come up. A good coach, much like Team Europe had this year, would be a good asset for Team USA to have when playing in a team-like competition.

Here is a question, though, I have for those who know Mark and others better than myself. Mark Wilson is a good coach for teaching the fundamentals to beginners and fine-tuning the amateur player to the next level. But would accomplished pros, such as those on Team USA for Mosconi Cup, respond okay to a coach like Mark Wilson?

What are your thoughts? :smile:

It is unlikely that the USA Mosconi Cup Team would welcome the tutelage or coaching from Mark Wilson, although they would be the better team for it.

That's a whole other type situation. The USA players most likely would respond better to someone like Allen Hopkins that they've played against in the past. Mike Sigel, and even Scott Frost would be great choices for the Mosconi Cup Captain. Having experienced with it takes to be Captain I know it requires more than many "real eyes". The Game is the Teacher'

Mark is a great coach, but not necessary for the men, although when the women have a Mosconi Cup in the future Mark would be a great choice. imho

JAM,

I am extremely impressed with Mark in every way. He executes a very balanced approach as Coach of the billiards team at Lindenwood U.

Mark not only expects high standards, he requires high standards. I could share an email or two concerning Landon and the team but instead I will just simply convey that Mark is all about development of character, self discipline, team work, leadership, personal integrity and yes, skill development-physically and mentally. Not only does Mark set high standards for the team, he leads by example. And lastly his enthusiasm is second to none and contagious to those that are lucky enough to spend any time with him.

Stan Shuffett

Stan,
Mark just like you, possesses the needed characteristics to lead a successful Mosconi Cup Team. It takes time, industry and a willingness on a person's part to want to develop character, self discipline, team work, leadership, personal integrity and skill development. Most of the Mosconi Cup Team players already possesses many of the physical skills to play championship pool. Everyone could stand to polish up different areas of their physical game but what is sorely needed is for the USA Mosconi Cup Team to improve their MENTAL GAME. It was obvious that Team USA was focused this past year, just on the wrong things.

That at least partially depends on who the team is made up of. Mark is certainly capable of top-notch coaching. However, the players at least have to have some desire to start with to win and perform to their best. Mark can bring that out in them if they have anything left to bring out.

But, when you have a majority of the team only interested in maximizing an easy payday by doing savers, or worse, and no real desire to win,or a large desire to lose, then no coach will be able to bring out what isn't there in the first place.

Neil,
Therein lies the rub. The USA Mosconi Cup Team must be humble enough and wise enough to know that they desperately need coaching and they must be willing to give complete respect to their coach's program and to the coach as well. My observation of the behavior and perspectives of the players indicates that they currently do not possess this perspective.

I don't believe that Mark, Stan or ANY other coach could truly channel the talent of the USA Mosconi Cup Team without the team members themselves truly looking into the mirror and realizing that they do not have all of the mental skills necessary to be successful in the Mosconi Cup event and that a coach skilled in those areas is exactly what they need most.

This year, I offered to bring in an INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN COACH, who has had great success in coaching athletes and business people in PROFESSIONAL competition, on my nickel. The offer fell on deaf ears and my offer wasn't even responded to. This highly respected coach charges over $9,000.00 to coach one person and the USA Mosconi Cup Team was not going to have to pay one red cent. The fact that I received no response makes it seem like they had everything under control.

JoeyA

I don't necessarily agree. It depends on the type of "coaching" that Hopkins, or Sigel or Frost could bring to the table. It is more about "leadership" and having a unified approach to winning, and the right mind set to coach the men to victory. And that starts with their mental game and having a plan of attack. Not saying the others don't, but we don't really know for sure how they would respond.

Many other coaches of many other sports (ones far more difficult than pool) have succeeded all over the place without having first to play against their team they are coaching, in fact, I'd say that 99% or more have not played against the players they are coaching, and have won World Series, Super Bowls, Stanley Cups, NBA Championships, College championships in every sport imaginable.

I think it's time to quite putting pool on this pedestal that nobody else can coach except a HOF type player. Pool is the bottom feeders in the sports world, and every other league is stepping right over us with coaches that lead their teams to victory, but would never have been given a chance if they were coaching a billiard team that mainstream America has NEVER even heard of.....

ChicagoRJ,
It is MOST LIKELY that we need a coach who is skilled in the mental game of high level team competition and he doesn't necessarily have to be an expert at pool. In fact, I believe the team would be better off if the person were not a HOF type player but more skilled in the mental game of TEAM COMPETITION.

JoeyA

1. IMO, Earl has 'earned' himself a spot OFF the team due to the actions in this years Misconduct Cup

2. Landon is the known name on the Lindenwood team but there are other champions as well. Brendan Crockett, Sharik Sayed and Briana Miller (I think she has won the Jr National Title 42 times now ) just to name a few

3. Mark doesn't post on AZ but he does read here. I have reached out to ask him what male champions he has coached. I know off the top of my head are James Baraks, Justin Bergman and Don Wardell, just to name a few.

4. Mark doesn't have any World or US Open titles but when the Camel Tour was in existence he was a ranked player ON THE TOUR (so no matter how someone like CJ tries to spin it, Mark has walked the walk) (I tried google but couldn't find his final ranking. I am sure that JAM will be able to find it :wink: --- Ok, I heard from Mark - his highest ranking was 21st and he was ranked 21st - 29th for almost a decade as a pro). He has lost to and beat almost any name pro you can think of. Like a few pros, he quit playing in events once that tour folded. He was the person to beat when John McChesney had the Midwest Texas Express 9 ball tour and if I stated he won a dozen of these events, it would not be an exaggeration.

5. Like I said, it is time to get rid of Old School pool in the Mosconi Cup. Mark is the man for the job. There is not a person in pool that I have met that has a higher character than him. Losing with honor is much greater than winning without out it. And he obviously knows how to coach a team of players with egos cause there are even egos with teenagers as well.

Watchez is the teacher

Watchez,
Mark Wilson is very humble when it comes to boasting about who he has coached, as well as his talent in different areas. It's not likely that you will see him on AZB outing those who have come to him for help with their pool game.

JoeyA

You like this idea because CJ stole it from me as I posted it in the other thread last week.

Watchez is the teacher.

If CJ stole the idea of training from you last week, then you must have stolen the idea from me a year or two ago when I voiced the need for it previously. No harm, no foul. We're all pulling in the same direction. :smile:
JoeyA

Great thread and thanks to JAM for starting it. Mark is one of pool's greatest role models, and I can't add much to what I've read in this thread.

Mark is one of several who'd make a good captain for Team USA at the Mosconi and, like Jam notes, so is Allen Hopkins.

I'm not sure if Mark's "task master" mentality would be accepted by Team USA, but it is what is needed for them to have a chance at succeeding in the future. For those that know Mark, he doesn't accept half-effort on any member of his team.

There is an old saying that goes like this: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I'm not sure the student is ready.

JoeyA

I guess this about covers most of my thoughts about this subject. It's time for Team USA to do some serious reflection about their mental skills and need for coaching in this area. They will not be successful being kicked and dragged to this type of thinking, in my opinion.

JoeyA

 

[pro9dg]

It is unlikely that the USA Mosconi Cup Team would welcome the tutelage or coaching from Mark Wilson, although they would be the better team for it.






Stan,
Mark just like you, possesses the needed characteristics to lead a successful Mosconi Cup Team. It takes time, industry and a willingness on a person's part to want to develop character, self discipline, team work, leadership, personal integrity and skill development. Most of the Mosconi Cup Team players already possesses many of the physical skills to play championship pool. Everyone could stand to polish up different areas of their physical game but what is sorely needed is for the USA Mosconi Cup Team to improve their MENTAL GAME. It was obvious that Team USA was focused this past year, just on the wrong things.



Neil,
Therein lies the rub. The USA Mosconi Cup Team must be humble enough and wise enough to know that they desperately need coaching and they must be willing to give complete respect to their coach's program and to the coach as well. My observation of the behavior and perspectives of the players indicates that they currently do not possess this perspective.

I don't believe that Mark, Stan or ANY other coach could truly channel the talent of the USA Mosconi Cup Team without the team members themselves truly looking into the mirror and realizing that they do not have all of the mental skills necessary to be successful in the Mosconi Cup event and that a coach skilled in those areas is exactly what they need most.

This year, I offered to bring in an INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN COACH, who has had great success in coaching athletes and business people in PROFESSIONAL competition, on my nickel. The offer fell on deaf ears and my offer wasn't even responded to. This highly respected coach charges over $9,000.00 to coach one person and the USA Mosconi Cup Team was not going to have to pay one red cent. The fact that I received no response makes it seem like they had everything under control.

JoeyA




ChicagoRJ,
It is MOST LIKELY that we need a coach who is skilled in the mental game of high level team competition and he doesn't necessarily have to be an expert at pool. In fact, I believe the team would be better off if the person were not a HOF type player but more skilled in the mental game of TEAM COMPETITION.

JoeyA



Watchez,
Mark Wilson is very humble when it comes to boasting about who he has coached, as well as his talent in different areas. It's not likely that you will see him on AZB outing those who have come to him for help with their pool game.

JoeyA



If CJ stole the idea of training from you last week, then you must have stolen the idea from me a year or two ago when I voiced the need for it previously. No harm, no foul. We're all pulling in the same direction. :smile:
JoeyA




I'm not sure if Mark's "task master" mentality would be accepted by Team USA, but it is what is needed for them to have a chance at succeeding in the future. For those that know Mark, he doesn't accept half-effort on any member of his team.

There is an old saying that goes like this: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I'm not sure the student is ready.

JoeyA

I guess this about covers most of my thoughts about this subject. It's time for Team USA to do some serious reflection about their mental skills and need for coaching in this area. They will not be successful being kicked and dragged to this type of thinking, in my opinion.

JoeyA

Joey it sounds like you are talking about the same five players. Could be at least four or five different guys.

 

[watchez]

I don't think Mark would post on AZ on this subject or any. Males he has coached in addition to those previously mentioned, since it was questioned - Jesse Bowman, Lars Vardaman (3 time collegiate champion), Nick Vandeburg to name a few more. You are correct in that Mark is humble and he wouldn't take credit for any of the successes that any player that has been listed has had, just in the same he wouldn't 'take credit' for anyone that has received the same training and then failed.

To be clear as some may be mixing the two, I am not saying that Mark Wilson should be Mosconi Cup captain to teach any pro player how to play pool. That should already have been accomplished. This is not to state that a pro couldn't use a tip or two on their mechanics if Mark saw the need. Even Tony Gwynn had a hitting coach. I am stating he would be a great guiding force in the mental aspects of winning along with instilling and demanding class/respect/team/focus that the USA desperately needs.

 

[Cdryden]

I don't think Mark would post on AZ on this subject or any. Males he has coached in addition to those previously mentioned, since it was questioned - Jesse Bowman, Lars Vardaman (3 time collegiate champion), Nick Vandeburg to name a few more. You are correct in that Mark is humble and he wouldn't take credit for any of the successes that any player that has been listed has had, just in the same he wouldn't 'take credit' for anyone that has received the same training and then failed.

To be clear as some may be mixing the two, I am not saying that Mark Wilson should be Mosconi Cup captain to teach any pro player how to play pool. That should already have been accomplished. This is not to state that a pro couldn't use a tip or two on their mechanics if Mark saw the need. Even Tony Gwynn had a hitting coach. I am stating he would be a great guiding force in the mental aspects of winning along with instilling and demanding class/respect/team/focus that the USA desperately needs.

Here is something that Mark said to me during my lesson that really left an impression. "I can't make you better, I can't give it to you or I would. You have to earn this, YOU have to be willing to put in the work". From that moment on I knew he was the right guy to listen to. No gimmicks, no flowery philosophy, just a old fashion work ethic.

 

[JAM]

Here is something that Mark said to me during my lesson that really left an impression. "I can't make you better, I can't give it to you or I would. You have to earn this, YOU have to be willing to put in the work". From that moment on I knew he was the right guy to listen to. No gimmicks, no flowery philosophy, just a old fashion work ethic.

That is great advice. Thanks for sharing your experience with him.

It is so refreshing to read a positive thread about prospective or hypothetical candidates for a future Mosconi Cup. I think this year was an experience we will all remember and learn from, including the players. I'm not on the band wagon to bash any of them. I think this was a realization of the current status quo in a fractured American pool world.

I am enjoying reading this thread. Thanks to all who contributed their thoughts and opinions.