A Coaching Dream Realized: 4-Questions With Coach Brady Kiss

Riding and racing bicycles started at an early age for Brady Kiss.

Long before he steered his education toward teaching and coaching Brady was a spending his afternoons and weekends at a BMX track, riding his MTB, or training on his road bike. 

As his High School focus started to shift toward college, the classic question, “what’s next” confronted him.
The answer didn’t take long to come as Brady had always enjoyed helping his teammates on and off the course. 

He knew wanted to be a teacher and a coach.

Fast-forward a few years and Brady had graduated college with a degree in Physical Education that was supplemented by a cycling scholarship. 

Straight-away he was offered an Assistant Coaching job from the school he graduated and proceeded to work tirelessly to help the team win multiple National Championships across many cycling disciplines over the next two and a half years.

Now he is taking his coaching to a new level and working Athletes of all ages and abilities by creating individualized training with BWC rather than a one-size-fits-all team approach.

It is with great excitement that we formally welcome Brady to our Coaching Staff and introduce him to our BWC family via the following four-question interview that mimics our regular Athlete Profile features.
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We hope you will enjoy this special edition Coach Profile of Brady Kiss!

We are excited to welcome Brady Kiss and his coaching experience to the BWC family! Photo Credit: Jason Blodgett.

Interview:
Question #1: Welcome to the Big Wheel Coaching Family, Brady! But you are not new here and have always been in the family, so to speak. What got you into coaching and ultimately to join BWC?

Coach Brady: I have always had an interest in coaching. I got a degree in Physical Education and was planning on doing a different kind of coaching. 

Namely, high-school athletics.

After I graduated, I saw how my racing experience could be translated into good coaching and help many people succeed in their cycling goals. 

I started my Coaching career as the Assistant Coach of the Lindenwood University Cycling team, where I helped develop riders for all disciplines of cycling, including BMX, Cyclocross, MTB, and Road. 
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I can say that I am very excited to bring all of that experience to the BWC team and learn so much more!

As an Athlete Brady helped his teammates win collegiate national championships and numerous races before being asked to join the coaching staff of Lindenwood College. Photo Credit: Ian Seibert

Question #2: In just a short time you are already working with a few Athletes and are excited to help many more. What is one piece of advice you have for anyone thinking about getting a coach?

Coach Brady: I would tell them to give it a try! 

Having someone (a well-trained someone), on your side to help you stay motivated and accountable to the tasks that will help you achieve your goals is very powerful. 

It’s a notion that is true in many aspects of our lives, but especially for any Athlete that sets a challenging goal for themselves.

Having a Coach isn't all about the training plan, there are so many ways to help an Athlete achieve their best besides just making them strong.
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Cycling is both simple and complex. As a Coach it is my job to help my Athletes navigate the complex and not over-complicate the simple.

Coach Brady has been an Athlete, Race Official, and a Coach giving him a unique perspective on how to help Athletes achieve their best leading up to and during competition.Photo Credit: John Gomes

Question #3: What is one aspect of coaching you are excited to bring to your Athletes and the Coach/Athlete relationship?

Coach Brady: I love talking about strategy and tactics! 

Talking training and workout specifics is the first layer, and that never goes away, but once that is moving in the right direction I really enjoy being able to talk with my Athletes about the strategic and tactical aspects of their event(s).

That is the best way to help them maximize their fitness on event day.

Question #4: Flash forward one year from today, what will you be most proud to have accomplished in your first year of coaching with BWC?

Coach Brady: My Athletes have some big targets and I have a passion to see them succeed at each of those goals. 
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One year from today I want to have seen my Athletes crush their goals, but also feel really good about the work they put-in along the way!

Coach Brady started his time with BWC alongside Coach Leo at the USA Cycling Level 2 coaching certification course. Photo Credit: Leo Bugtai

Summary:
We hope you have enjoyed getting to know a little more about Coach Brady’s background and passion for coaching.

As you can guess we are very excited to have Brady as a part of our BWC Coaching Staff as his diverse expertise and intense desire to help Athletes of all abilities is something special.

If you are looking to take your performance “to the next level” we highly recommend connecting with Coach Brady to talk training, strategy, and how to achieve your very best. 

You will be glad you did!

#TrainYourPotential
Until Next Time, Be Safe, Train Hard, & Have Fun!
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-Brian & Joy McCulloch
Big Wheel Coaching