Tony Holler is the Owner of “Feed the Cats” speed program and the Head Track Coach at Plainfield North High School in Illinois. Holler taught chemistry at PNHS for 38 years, and during his time there he also coached football for 28 years and basketball for 15. He is the Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Track Football Consortium with Chris Korfist. Tony is a member of the Illinois Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Coach Holler has led his track teams to three Illinois State championships. His athletes hold multiple team and individual state track records.

Tony is part of a track and field family legacy. His son, Quinn Holler, served as Plainfield North’s relay coach in 2018 (setting a state record in the 4×1) and now coaches at Tinley Park Andrew. His other son, Alec Holler, coaches at Edwardsville. In 2016, Alec coached the best hurdler in Illinois history, Travis Anderson (13.59 in 110 HH). Tony’s father, Don Holler, coached basketball at the high school and college levels for 47 years.

Coach Tony Holler, in this episode, gives us a look inside his track practice schedule, which focuses on minimal effective dose, speed, and precision. His model of low-dose training has proven effective, and he details this “Feed the Cats” approach.

In this podcast, Coach Tony Holler and Joel discuss:

• Periodization by fluctuating the mode of speed training throughout the year.
• An in-season lactate training program.
• The X factor workouts and the rationale behind them.
• Making track practice about performance not time.
• The importance of record, rank, and publish.
• The evolution of his sprint philosophy.

Tony can be found at SimpliFaster, where he’s written several articles on speed and other topics.

Podcast total run time is 54:57. 

Keywords: Feed the Cats, speed, minimum effective dose, track and field