Jack Maitland: the man behind the medals

After a successful running and triathlon career, Jack Maitland enjoyed a period of unprecedented success as Head Coach at Leeds Triathlon Centre, helping to transform athletes into medal winners.

Jack Maitland (PGCE 1984) is not used to being the centre of attention. But the softly spoken Scot was thrust into the limelight when he received an honorary degree from the University, some 41 years since he was awarded his PGCE.  

“I don’t like to be singled out as it’s always a team effort in sport,” says Jack. “But it’s nice for coaches to gain recognition as that doesn’t always happen.” 

It’s given him chance to reflect on a sporting career that reached the summit of fell and mountain running, and a coaching career that saw Leeds Triathlon Centre win 17 Olympic medals between 2012 and 2024. 

Jack's name is closely tied to many of the finest triathletes in the world – most notably the Brownlee brothers. Under Jack’s guidance, Alistair Brownlee (Sports Science and Physiology 2009, Hon LLD 2013) claimed Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016 to become the most successful triathlete in Olympic history. Jonny Brownlee (History 2012, Hon LLD 2013) won Olympic bronze, silver and gold. Both have been crowned world champion during their careers. 

Jack still remembers the moment he was introduced to 14-year-old Alistair, and the instant recognition that there was “something different” about the Yorkshire lad. “It wasn’t his technical ability – because his swimming and running actually needed some work,” Jack says. “It was the mental characteristics which stood out.” 

Determined, independent, and fiercely competitive. “It was our job to nurture that and help him succeed.” 

Jack had arrived in Leeds from Aberdeen in 1983 to study for a PGCE, choosing the city after a timely run-in with the University’s orienteering club: “I’d pranged my car on the way home from an orienteering competition in Exeter,” Jack remembers. “The Leeds team came to the rescue and gave us a lift. After that I was invited to join them on a pre-season training camp. They were a great bunch. It just made sense to apply there for my studies – and it was also more central for competitions.” 

As a member of the cross-country club, and then as a professional triathlete, he trained in the city’s 50m pool, ran the Meanwood Valley trail, and cycled in the Yorkshire Dales. He was learning the routes he would later guide his athletes around, whilst his studies helped him to understand the mechanics of teaching and experience leading in the outdoors.  

Jack was also busy winning races in mountain and fell running. He hurled himself down descents at such speed he gained a reputation for his fearlessness. His achievements include British Fell Running Champion, Everest Marathon winner, Sierre-Zinal winner and Mount Cameroon Race winner. He competed with the likes of Kenny Stuart – often touted as the greatest fell runner of all time – when few others could. Jack still holds course records in fell running, and broke records at the prestigious Ben Nevis and Snowdon fell races, only to be bettered on the day by Kenny.   

“I was often the best of the rest in Kenny’s prime,” Jack says. “I was self-coached, which taught me a lot about training. I also just loved to race and compete.” He completed 107 races in 1984 alone, something a coach might not condone. But Jack was a stubborn competitor – which sounds a lot like a certain Olympic future champion?  

Jack laughs: “When it came to coaching Alistair, I could understand where he was coming from. We had a very similar approach. I do think that’s why we worked so well together for so long.” 

When he began working with the brothers in 2002, Jack was at the start of his mission to develop the Leeds Triathlon Centre. He had recently retired from professional triathlon – a sport he took up in the late 80s, going on to compete for Scotland and Great Britain. He’d taken on coaching responsibilities for a regional junior triathlon squad, only to find athletes were leaving for Loughborough or Bath once they reached university age. He was certain a performance centre in Leeds was the answer. 

“We had no guidance to follow, but one of the key ingredients we knew we needed was the universities. Not only was the centre going to be of value to students, we needed quality student athletes as training partners for our superstars. They would support them and push them.” 

As things got off the ground – thanks to support from British Triathlon, and the arrival of coach Malcolm Brown at Leeds Beckett University – Jack threw himself into the role. He would join athletes for bike rides. He stood by the track, timing their repetitions. He coached them day-in-day out at the pool – which is where he clocked most of his coaching hours. 

“I am very reliable,” Jack said. “Consistency is so important in reaching a long-term goal, and that means showing up to every session.” During his 13 years as Head Coach at Leeds Triathlon Centre from 2004 to 2017, Jack only missed one training session. He remembers it clearly – he was stuck on a broken train and couldn’t get back in time – and one can tell it still frustrates him to this day. 

Jack recalls an early morning swim session when it snowed so badly driving was impossible. Jack didn’t think twice about running to the pool. When he got there, there were only two other sets of footprints in the snow. “Alistair and Johnny hadn’t even questioned whether the session was going ahead. Of course we were training. Obstacles are there to be overcome.” 

The success of the Brownlee brothers at the London 2012 Olympics attracted more athletes to Leeds. Although Jack stepped back from his role at the Triathlon Centre in 2017, by the time he left they had expanded to four squads of 70 athletes and numerous coaches. He continues to coach individual athletes, and most recently helped transform Beth Potter – a 10,000m runner who didn’t own a bike – into a triathlon world champion and Olympic bronze medallist. 

Jack’s contributions were recognised in 2012 with a Gold Pin Award from British Triathlon, reflecting his significant and longstanding contribution to the sport. He has twice been a winner of the prestigious Mussabini medal for services to British sport and is a member of the Sports Coach UK Hall of Fame.  

And now, front and centre of the University’s Great Hall, he can add an honorary degree to his accolades.