A good triathlon coach:

1. Plans workouts for the athlete (requiring knowledge of workout timing/intensity/workload, race selection, periodization, etc)
2. Gives the athlete technical instruction (requiring knowledge of exercise physiology, swim technique, training with power, bike fit, other relevant equipment choices, etc)
3. Provides motivation, personal and moral support (requiring communication/teaching/interpersonal skills, time available to be with the athlete personally, “reading between the lines” skills, etc)

The time and energy the good coach devotes to these tasks is variable, and depends on the specific needs of the athlete.  For example, a Junior or newer athlete may require more technical instruction, while an elite athlete may have plenty of motivation and technical skills, and requires only expert planning of his or her workouts.

(Notice how nowhere on this list does it mention that a good triathlon coach must be also an elite athlete, or even an ex-elite athlete.  Often, I find that this creates an “I did it this way, so you should too” attitude in the coach that is unproductive for most athletes.)

While the skills to plan workouts and provide technical instruction can largely be learned through study and experience, the last basic task of a coach–the ability to motivate his or her athletes and relate to them on a personal level–is far more difficult to learn, and is far more often simply part of the coach’s personal identity and world view.

The ability to motivate an athlete, to communicate well, to teach effectively and to understand what’s really going on “under the surface” of the athlete is fundamentally what separates the “decent” coaches from the great ones.  It can be the largest factor in determing the success of an athlete (behind the athlete’s basic fitness level, of course).

In the end, if you’re looking for a coach, you can probably find many who will provide you with a good training plan over the course of weeks or months.  You may even find several with a wealth of technical knowledge to assist you in your training.  However, the coach you want to hire is the one among those whom you feel best motivates you, communicates easily with you and understands you as a person and athlete.