Mike Smith of NAU to Coach Galen Rupp

By Adam Kopet

Sarah Lorge Butler of Runner's World reports Galen Rupp has found a new coach following the ban of Alberto Salazar last fall. Rupp is being coached by Northern Arizona program head Mike Smith in the lead-up to the Olympic Trials marathon next month.

Rupp is one of the most decorated American distance runners in history. He captured the silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 Olympics and followed that up with a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2016 Olympics. He also won the 2017 Chicago Marathon.

After working with Salazar since he was 14, Rupp has been forced to change directions. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Salazar will serve a four-year ban for anti-doping violations last fall, weeks before Rupp was set to compete in his third Chicago Marathon.

Salazar's training group, the Nike Oregon Project, was shuttered in the week before the marathon, leaving Rupp and his teammate Jordan Hasay to race Chicago in generic Nike kits.

Smith, 39, has found coaching success at Northern Arizona. His men's cross country teams have won the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018. His team finished second last fall. His women's team finished 14th.

Smith reports to Runner's World that Rupp is pain-free following 2018 surgery on his Achilles' tendon and heel and training well. Rupp dropped out of the 2019 Chicago Marathon around mile-23 with a calf strain. He might not be in his best form next month for the Olympic Trials marathon, but he is still expected to contend for a spot on the Olympic team.