Good coaching is the key for athletes success in many different ways, having major impact on both in sports and in life. For sophomore thrower Kristopher James (KJ) Mallett, Coach Bird has played a key role in shaping his mindset, work ethic and confidence. More than just teaching technique, she has helped him learn how to handle pressure, failure and long-term development.
One of the biggest ways Coach Bird impacts her athletes is through motivation. KJ Mallett says that her style is different from most coaches because she focuses on patience and consistency.
“Coach Bird motivates us in a different way than I think most coaches do,” Mallett said.
“Her favorite saying she says to me is ‘How do you eat an elephant?’ because I want everything to be good at once, and it takes more than one throw to do that.” Mallett also states.
The message behind this saying is about taking things one step at a time which struck him. Even though hearing it repeatedly can be frustrating, KJ admits it helps him trust the process and focus on gradual improvement.
Coach Bird’s background as a Division I athlete also shapes the way she coaches. Having competed at high level, she understands the struggles athletes face and uses her own experiences to connect with her team.
“Coach Bird as a D1 athlete went through struggles herself that she’s told us about because we go through the same struggles even in high school,” Mallett said.
He explained that she often talks about transferring from Colorado to Colorado State University, which was a major change in her life. As the first person in her family to attend Colorado State University, she faced challenges that helped shape her perspectives as both an athlete and a coach.
Beyond practices and competitions, Coach Bird has also built strong relationships with her athletes. One of Mallett’s favorite memories was traveling to a national freshman discus meet, where the team had to stay in an unusual Airbnb. “We rented out an Airbnb which we call ‘Grandma’s House,’” Mallett said. “I think it was a great experience between me and her and sort of a bonding experience.”
The most important lesson Coach Bird has taught Mallett is how to deal with failure. During his freshman year, he struggled and even considered quitting throwing. At that point, Coach Bird shared a personal story about her own missed opportunity to compete at the Olympic level because she was afraid to fail. That story changed his mindset.
“She always gave us that you have to fail in life in order to succeed,” Mallett said. “I know I’m going to fail in football, school and in track, and I think that’s something big that’s stuck with me this whole year.”
Coach Bird has had a lasting impact on KJ Mallett just within his year and a half experience at HSE throwing and discus so far. Her coaching goes beyond improving throws, but it teaches athletes how to grow, take risks and believe in themselves, both on and off the field.
