Sean Brosnan: How Dreaming Big And Going All-In Made The Greatest High School Athletic Team Ever

I’m so excited to welcome Sean Brosnan to the B.rad podcast!

Sean is the author of Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running, written with Chris Lear and Andrew Grefe. And yes, it’s a book about running—about high school workouts, races, and championships—but it’s also so much more than that.

In this episode, you’ll hear Sean break down how he coached some of the fastest high school distance runners in America, including strategies for teaching athletes to embrace the challenge of intense training, embrace discomfort, and push past perceived limits. He shares the thought process behind skipping traditional state meets to chase world-class opportunities, why mindset and belief can transform performance, and how he cultivates those breakthrough moments that turn talented athletes into record-breakers.

We also dive into the realities of post-collegiate professional running: the struggles of sponsorship, building a pro training group, and creating a sustainable system that lets elite athletes thrive without being weighed down by financial stress. Along the way, Sean reveals his personal coaching philosophy, the influence of legendary mentors, and why connecting with athletes on a human level is often the difference between good and extraordinary performance.

Whether you’re a runner, coach, or simply interested in peak performance and shattering self-limiting beliefs, this conversation is packed with insights, stories, and strategies that will inspire you to think bigger and train smarter.

Sean Brosnan is the author of Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running, written with Chris Lear and Andrew Grefe. A two-time national high school coach of the year, he turned Newbury Park High School into a national powerhouse with multiple state and national championships. A native of Long Island, he began coaching as a volunteer at Queens University of Charlotte and now lives in Big Bear, California, where he coaches a professional running team. Follow him on Instagram @RealSeanBrosnan.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Sean says it's essential to stop placing limitations on ourselves. [03:05]

What happened when Newbury Park headed out to Alabama for the national championship? [07:20]

Newbury had multiple national championships, both boys and girls and JV. [11:46]

On a team, you can be competitive, but you can also be happy for the others' successes. [17:48]

Starting as a new coach in 2016, Sean brought the team to winning the State meet and on to Nationals in two years time. [22:41]

A month training camp seemed to be what really worked. [24:03]

How do you get better without running harder and breaking down, like the programs that grind these kids out? [26:33]

There was a huge shift in the training schedule during COVID times. [33:18]

There were people who criticized the program at Newbury Park. [34:59]

There are many different ways to get to the final result that you want. [40:07]

Why aren't there more programs like Sean's at Newbury Park? [44:51]

Focus on the personal development of the athlete. [55:55]

Everyone can do better. [59:07]

What happens when Sean moves on to his next coaching position? [01:06:09]

Nico Young 's progression has been sensational. [01:15:43]

Sean can be contacted @realseanbrosnan on social media. [01:18:56]

 

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