Testimonials

Being new to San Diego and track, when Danielle qualified for CIF we did not understand what an achievement that was for a freshman. Her El Camino Coach recognized her talent and suggested that we get in touch with Coach Roberts and look into Dwight Stones ( Steve’s Cousin) High Jump Camp for that summer. I could not believe there was such a thing as a High Jump Camp! Since then Steve has guided us through Danielle’s High School Career, and has become an integral part of her success and friend of the family.

 Danielle attended Dwight’s camp that summer getting personal instruction from both Steve and Dwight. Steve was able to give us an idea of what we could expect Danielle to jump in the coming years. IT WAS SUPRISINGLY ACCURATE! I was not familiar with private coaching and was hesitant at first. After thinking it over, I realized that if Danielle’s passion was music or dance I would pay for instruction. To me this was no different regardless of the outcome concerning CIF, States, College Scholarships Etc. Over the next three years spent working with Steve not only has Danielle jumped higher, but her confidence, maturity and independence has grown immensely. Steve kept us focused, providing work out plans to improve Danielle’s heights. He was totally committed to Danielle’s success. Danielle has reached every goal set by Steve and has enjoyed more success than I could have imagined. Now attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo University on full track scholarship, I could not be more proud. Without Steve’s unrelenting encouragement and passion for the sport, Danielle would not have this awesome opportunity. His enthusiasm for Coaching and how much he cares for his athletes is unmatched. We will miss him tremendously. Danielle continues to session with Steve when at home from school so as to help her with her progress.    Cindy Bryan

Cindy Bryan

Mother of High Jumper Danielle Bryan

 I have been very blessed to work with Steve and have him in my life as more than just a High Jump Coach, but as a Best Friend. I first began working with Coach Steve back in March 2009, when I came to him I had a personal best of 6’2” and was just beginning my Junior season of track and field. During our first interaction and coaching session he began to adjust my approach, running, and overall technique. He had such insight into the event of High Jumping that it was hard not to improve after working with him. By the end of my Junior year and after working with Steve several times I finished the season with a NEW PERSONAL BEST of 6’7” and was Ranked  #2 In San Diego and #15 in the State of California. As my Senior year approached we began to take a different approach in my training as we aimed to place in the State Meet. Steve and I began to work on a more technical level because we had already laid a solid foundation the prior season and had a strong base to build from. As the season progressed I began to see improvements and ultimately ended my high school career with a PERSONAL BEST of 7’0”, 2 CIF HIGH JUMP CHAMPIONSHIPS, and a CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

I have complete confidence in Steve’s ability to coach and understanding of the High Jump event. He not only gives his athletes the tools and knowledge to jump high, but the confidence and experience needed to compete in big meets and go after higher heights. Steve continually supports his athletes 100% of the time and will always do everything he can to help you to improve as an athlete in and out of competition. He will also be honest with you in every conversation or interaction and will give you realistic obtainable goals. I believe that Steve is one of the best High Jump Coaches you will ever meet and has the knowledge and capacity to take athletes to the next level. He will always be positive and always support you in your High Jump career. I owe much of my High Jump success to Steve. I ultimately was the athlete who jumped and competed, but he gave me the tools and taught me how to do so with so much success. Steve is a wonderful coach and will help his athletes reach their maximum potential whether that be achieving a personal goal or becoming a State Champion. I love Steve and he will always be my coach throughout my future career as a High Jumper. We will continue in the pursuit of the goals that we set together.

Tyler Jordan Ramona High School/ United States AirForce Academy

Tyler Jordan

7’0” PR High Jumper

 I first met Steve at the 2009 CIF Semifinals, when my son who was the highest jumper in San Diego at the time secured the number one slot with a jump of 6’8”. Initially, I was struck at how he was able to coach so many athletes competing in the same event with the same vigor, aren’t they competing against each other I thought. My second thought was why isn’t my son’s coach here, near the mat, offering the same enthusiastic support and guidance.

The following year, as my son entered his second year as a track and field athlete, he experienced a lot of pressure having achieved so much so quickly the year before. Everyone expected him to come out of the gate soaring. That wasn’t the case. I quickly turned to Coach Steve to come on board. He immediately recognized all of the thing s that Alex was doing right, and a few areas that needed some work. Coach Steve was amazing! He recognized right away that Alex needed a positive approach to coaching, instead of focusing on what was wrong, he said ” try this…, I would like you to do this…, ” so that the instruction was what remained in Alex’s head, not the mistake. It became evident to me early on that Steve had a vested interest in my son on many levels, he really cared about him.

Alex told me, ” Mom, he knows more about High Jump than anyone I’ve ever met.” Alex would relay all the funny stories that Steve would use as a teaching tool. Quite simply Coach Steve made the event fun again. With Coach Steve, Alex was now in a community of jumpers that extended the borders of just their high school, and they all encouraged each other, competed with each other and developed an admiration for each other.

This is why I can confidently state, that it was under the direct influence of Coach Steve that Alex was able to hit his season high of 6’8”. More importantly, perhaps, were the immeasurable marks; confidence, tenacity, and resilience. I highly recomment Coach Steve, because I believe he has a gift for working with athletes, and a wealth of knowlege and skills to share.

Elisha Templeton

Mother of High Jumper Alex Templeton

I have known Steve Roberts for five years. We first met when I hired him to be my High Jump Coach at Rancho Buena Vista High School. The first thing that I notice in any individual is their character and personality. This is how I can see into their heart and soul. Meeting Steve was positive from the beginning. After working with Steve for five years I feel that I have gained terrific insight into the type of person Steve Roberts is. I do not believe that Steve ever did any coaching before he came to RBVHS. With that in mind consider that he has developed a number of CIF Champions, attained CIF Team Championship level and a California State High Jump Champion (2010). He has developed more talent in his short coaching career than most coaches will see in a lifetime.

     I have observed Steve’s ability to bring any athlete to their best. The reason for his ability to develop young athletes is because Steve is always looking for new

techniques in the High Jump. Steve consults with some of the best High Jumpers in the world in order to gain more insight into the developing young High Jumpers. Steve has confided in me about the progress of his athletes and has made predictions about their progress. His predictions are amazingly true. This is the mark of someone that knows what they are doing. I have observed many coaches that will only work with top athletes. it does not matter if his athlete shows greatness or very little talent. Steve trains each athlete with a respect and dedication that is beautiful to watch!

    Steve’s greatest asset is his character. He truly enjoys what he does. He is sincere and honest with all that cross his path. Steve cares more about others than himself. I fully trust Steve Roberts in every respect. Steve will give anything that he can give to assist or help an individual. I am blessed to have him as my close friend.

Tom Lux Head Coach Rancho Buena Vista Track and Field/Cross Country

Tom Lux

 Steve is such a passionate coach that his energy and love for the sport only makes you want to work harder. As my coach, Steve pushed me to always do my best, and I believed in myself more than I had ever before. Steve may have changed my run-up and tweaked some things here and there in my jump, but that is not all that made me a better jumper. He gave me the confidence to go after those higher heights and I was starting to make them consistently. His constant support made it possible for me to keep on jumping as well as enjoy what I was doing. I started doing well and was having fun, Steve makes that all possible. Steve is a great coach in that he brings out in his jumpers the success he knows is there.

If you ever have the pleasure of watching Steve coach you will see how invested he is in each of his jumpers and he feels the happiness of their successes and the pain in disappointments as if they were his own. It is because of this that Steve is able to be an amazing coach and help many talented athletes reach their potential

Thanks Steve for being such a great coach! This has made me miss jumping!

Lots Of Love, Ashlin

Ashlin Yahr

Torrey Pines High School PR 5’6”

I’ve been around High School High Jump coaches for a long time now because I am one. I hear many different methodologies for how to motivate and instruct High Jumpers. Ultimately, we’re Teachers, and Educators of the athletic movement and there are many ways to approach a technical event. Unfortunately, because our event is dependent on so many small elements that add up to making a big difference in a young person’s performance, there are a lot of coaches who just haven’t taken the time to learn the many nuances of the High Jump. They get hired as High Jump coaches because they might have performed the event at the High School or Junior College level. They weren’t terribly accomplished because they were never really taught the event correctly themselves, so they are just passing along what they don’t know. Steve Roberts was a relatively accomplished High Jumper in High School. He loved the event and soaked up as much information and knowledge through our personal interaction in the heyday of my career that he comes to the event with the perspective of someone who performed it at a very high level. He always asked intelligent questions that went well below the surface, as if he knew that someday he would be charged with the responsibility of passing what he knew along to young impressionable athletes who were thirsty for the “ Right Way ” to learn the event so they could realize their true potential.

Steve is one of the Best High Jump Coaches I’ve come across anywhere in the country, and I am exposed to a large number of them at the meets I attend and cover for Television. Whenever he is uncertain of something, he doesn’t “ Wing It ”, he runs it by me first, and 9 times out of 10 he has the right answer for his athlete or is pointing them in the right direction.

It’s great that we coach in adjacent counties because we get to know each other’s athletes and can share and swap experiences that will benefit us both in the future.

Eight straight years sending his High Jumpers to Eleven State Meets Indoors/Outdoors isn’t an accident. Steve will continue to be the Dominant High Jump Coach in San Diego for as long as he chooses to continue Coaching.

Dwight Stones

Two Time Olympic Medalist and Multi-World Record Holder