Brett Sutton and teamTBB have confirmed that as of 1 January 2014, the outspoken, formidable coach Brett Sutton will resign as the Head Coach of teamTBB. In a teamTBB release, Sutton explained the reasoning behind the decision. He alluded to his “constant harping” about Ironman and how this made matters challenging for teamTBB athletes and ongoing relationships with sponsors.
Sutton has built a reputation as a formidable coach. His Wikipedia entry notes that he is ‘known for his forthright views’. In the past he has levelled criticism against the International Triathlon Union (ITU); and more recently he has criticised Ironman brand owner, World Triathlon Corp (WTC).
In an interview on leading long-distance podcast IM Talk earlier this year he didn’t hold back in his criticism. Sutton suggested that the international community of Ironman athletes should buy out WTC and take ownership of the Ironman brand.
Commenting on his parting of ways with teamTBB, Sutton said…
I have made my intentions clear over these past few months that I strongly believe the sport requires a drastic change, but it seems that athletes and teamTBB staff don’t believe in my plan to actually implement this change.
It seems that my constant harping of WTC is causing discrimination towards the [teamTBB] athletes and causing disharmony within the group.
I will say that being in the team stops me also from publically going after sponsors that have made working with the team most difficult for not only athletes but staff also, and their belief that their standing in the market give them the right, to do dishonorable things.
So I’m resigning and moving out of ironman coaching, to give myself the opportunity to talk the truth without harming any part of teamTBB coaching or team’s staff.
Brett Sutton and Alex Bok founded teamTBB in December 2006 with a mission to operate a sustainable and professional sports organization, helping to improve lives around the world.
The team provided opportunities for many young athletes to make the transition from age group level athlete to a starting professional. It’s this environment and culture created within teamTBB that delivered athletes and role models such as Chrissie Wellington, Caroline Steffen, Reinaldo Colluci, James Cunnama and more recently Ritchie Nicholls and Eimear Mullan.
Other than producing so many break-through athletes, the team delivered a stunning list of race results in less than 7 years:
- Ironman World Champion 2007 and 2008
- ITU Long Distance World Champion 2008, 2010 and 2012
- 2x Challenge Roth Champion 2012 and 2013
- Ironman European Champion 2011 and 2012
- Ironman North American Champion 2012 and 2013
- Ironman Asia Pacific Champion 2012
- 47x Ironman Champions across all continents
- 29x Ironman 70.3 Champions
Team Manager Alex Bok shared his thoughts on the decision…
This has been a tough and emotional period for all of us at teamTBB as Brett is an unbelievable coach and more importantly an amazing human being.
His decision and reasons for moving on are both admirable and heroic and confirm once more, when Brett Sutton believes in an athlete or a certain strategy to follow, there is no stopping him at all and he will give his total commitment and devotion without holding back anything and hence his results throughout his entire career.
Brett wants to implement his vision and change for the sport without harming the team, its coaches and staff and I can only honor him for this decision as while a team provides great opportunities for many involved, it can also create some constraints at times for both the coach and athlete. Brett has balanced the well being of our athletes in unbelievable fashion, while at the same time serving our sponsors with pride.
TeamTBB will continue its journey with Brett’s blessings as to provide many of the current teamTBB coaches an opportunity to prove they can become the next generation of champion coaches.
All the teamTBB coaches have been hand picked and trained by Brett and have shown great race results with their pro athletes and age group athletes over the last two years.
For me personally, Brett has become a true friend and his support in team matters, business and life in general to me has been amazing. I therefore want to share with anyone in our sport that the legendary coach Brett Sutton will continue to be an important element in the team DNA. Brett of course will have it no other way! teamTBB will continue to provide hope and opportunity through sports to those who need it most.
We will lose our team’s head coach but his inspiration and friendship will keep this team on track to provide more role models, more elite development athletes and we will continue to produce more triathlon champions!
On behalf of all our past and current athletes, our coaches, staff and sponsors, thank you Brett Sutton for 7 amazing years at teamTBB!
The teamTBB release continued to point out that, in about two weeks’ time, teamTBB management will announce its 2014 strategy, 2014 pro athlete roster and coaching structure ‘with Brett and Alex ensuring this team will continue its journey and deliver its vision for many more years to come.’
teamTBB is a professional organization for triathlon and bike related sports. It nurtures a unique culture by providing hope and opportunity for young athletes. teamTBB is committed to building a better world for youth and has started various social projects around the world. As the athletic success of teamTBB grows so do the opportunities in the social development projects it supports.
teamTBB is the world’s leading and most successful triathlon team in terms of race results with five world championships and countless long distance tri wins under its belt.
