Charlie Affleck: The Coach Behind the Coach – A Lasting Legacy in Sprint Coaching
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Charlie Affleck: The Coach Behind the Coach – A Lasting Legacy in Sprint Coaching
A Personal Tribute to a Master of Sprint Coaching
It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Charlie Affleck.
Throughout my coaching journey, I have been fortunate to work with and learn from a number of respected coaches. However, Charlie Affleck stands apart. His influence on my development—and on sprint coaching more broadly—has been profound and lasting.
At a time when I was just starting out as a coach, working with only one athlete, Charlie extended an opportunity that would shape the course of my career. He invited the athlete, Kenny Campbell, to take part in the time trials he organised with his own training group. What may have seemed like a simple gesture was, in reality, the beginning of a mentorship that would define my approach to coaching.
From Athlete to Coach: Learning the Craft Properly
The transition from athlete to coach is often underestimated. As an athlete, the focus is personal performance. As a coach, everything shifts—it becomes about developing others.
At that stage, I was eager to learn. I immersed myself in research, regularly travelling to Heriot-Watt University, Murray House College to deepen my understanding of sprint training and athlete development. However, it was my time with Charlie Affleck that truly brought coaching to life.
This was not theoretical learning—it was a genuine apprenticeship.
Charlie was the master. I was the apprentice—inexperienced, but hungry to learn. His willingness to share knowledge openly, honestly, and without ego was exceptional. Every session, every conversation, every time trial became an opportunity to understand what effective sprint coaching really looks like in practice.
Coaching Pedigree: The Influence Behind an Olympic Champion
Charlie Affleck’s coaching credentials were significant. He played a key role in the development of Olympic 100m champion Alan Wells.
In my view, both Charlie Affleck and his co coach Chick Young were never given the recognition they truly deserved. In other countries—such as Australia or France—their contributions to sprint coaching may well have been more widely celebrated.
Yet within the Scottish professional sprinting and athletics community, their impact was undeniable.
The Power of Time Trials and Competitive Environments
One of the most influential aspects of Charlie’s coaching was his use of structured time trials and handicapped sprint formats.
These sessions became a cornerstone of our training. At a time when high-quality competition was difficult to access at local league level, Charlie created an environment where athletes were consistently challenged.
This approach played a critical role in Kenny'’s progression:
- Preparation for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
- Continued development at elite level
- Victory in the New Year Sprint in December 1995
These were not accidental outcomes—they were built through intelligent, competitive training environments.
“The Wee Bit of Paper” – Coaching Beyond Certifications
When I began attending formal coaching courses, I remember Charlie saying:
“Yes Stuart, you go there to get the wee bit of paper—but you come here to learn how to really coach.”
We laughed at the time—but there is more than a grain of truth in that statement.
Coaching cannot ever be about a wee bit o paper. It is shaped by:
- Experience
- Listening
- Observation
- Processes
- Mentorship
- The ability to apply knowledge in real-world environments
Charlie understood this deeply—and lived it every day.
A Mentor, Advisor, and Lasting Influence
Beyond the technical aspects of coaching, Charlie was a constant source of support. He was someone I could turn to during challenging times—a reassuring voice and a trusted advisor.
One moment that remains with me is when Kenny Campbell broke the Scottish record for the second time at the 1994 Commonwealth Games 110m Hurdles Final. Charlie was the first to call and offer his congratulations. That gesture reflected his character—supportive, generous, and genuinely invested in the success of others.
Charlie Affleck’s Legacy in Modern Sprint Coaching
The lessons I learned from Charlie Affleck continue to shape my coaching today.
At The Sprint Stable here in Australia, we still apply principles that trace directly back to his influence:
- Structured time trials
- Handicapped sprint formats
- Competitive, engaging training environments
Our athletes not only benefit from these methods—they genuinely enjoy them. In fact,this approach has become one of The Sprint Stable's key points of difference, and it remains a key part of our success.
A Legacy That Reaches Beyond Scotland
Charlie Affleck’s legacy extends far beyond the athletes he coached directly.
It lives on through:
- The coaches he mentored
- The methods he shared
- The athletes developed under those systems
Since leaving Scotland, I have often said that I was mentored by a coach who coached an Olympic 100m champion. That is something I remain incredibly proud of.
Final Reflections
Charlie Affleck was more than a coach. He was a teacher of the craft, a mentor to those willing to learn, and a quiet but powerful influence on sprint coaching.
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have learned from him.
His legacy continues—every session, every athlete, every improvement.
🎥 Watch: A Tribute to Alan Wells
A short tribute to one of the athletes shaped by this coaching legacy:
The image is of Olympic 100m champion Allan Wells and Charlie at speedball training.