Imagine pursuing an Olympic dream for more than a decade, fighting injuries, money issues, and times of doubt so overwhelming you almost walk away from it all. Now imagine having someone in your corner who never gives up on you, encouraging you to overcome it all. For Freddie Crittenden, that person is Tim O’Neil—a coach, a mentor, and the quiet force behind one of track and field’s greatest comebacks. Who is this man guiding Crittenden toward greatness? Let’s get in there and see.
Meet Tim O’Neil: Freddie Crittenden’s Coach
Tim O’Neil is no ordinary coach—he’s a track and field guru who has a keen eye for turning raw potential into world-class athletes. A native of Arizona, O’Neil’s athletic experience began as a high jumper and hurdler before he got involved with the decathlon while in college. After racing after post-collegiately on behalf of Adidas, he left his spikes in the corner and took to the clipboard—and the rest is history. Today, he serves as an assistant coach at Grand Canyon University (GCU) and is the genius behind the Phoenix Track Club (PHXTC), where he has moulded runners like Freddie Crittenden into Olympians.
O’Neil’s coaching lineage dates back deep. From 2013 through 2018, he guided Mountain Pointe High School to three team state championship titles, showing that he could develop winners from scratch. His hurdlers also ruled—13 of them claimed individual state titles, with seven earning their places among Arizona’s all-time best 10. Yet, O’Neil’s vision extended beyond high school stadiums. In 2017, he opened PHXTC, a centre of excellence, and it is here that his mentorship became a global phenomenon.
Freddie Crittenden’s Career Highlights and Achievements
With O’Neil at the helm, Freddie Crittenden has reached the pinnacle that previously seemed unattainable. Highlights, please: a best of 12.93 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, sending him to Paris as an inaugural Olympian. That mark didn’t merely place him second behind Grant Holloway—it was tied for the 13th-fastest ever. Not too shabby for a fellow who, three years ago, kissed the track adios, believing his racing career was over.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 110m Hurdles Round 1 – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 04, 2024. Freddie Crittenden of United States in action during heat 2 REUTERS/Phil Noble
But O’Neil’s reach goes well beyond Crittenden. Via PHXTC, he’s coached Olympians Devon Allen (USA), David King (Great Britain), and Johnathan Cabral (Canada), taking them to top-20 world rankings and Olympic Games, World Championships, and Diamond League Final appearances. At GCU, he’s also taken athletes such as Israel Oloyede and James Smith II to the U.S. Olympic Trials finals. O’Neil’s more than a coach—he’s a talent-whisperer, sensing potential and shaping it into excellence.
“Without Him, I Might Have Quit”: Freddie Crittenden’s Emotional Tribute to Coach Tim O’Neil
Freddie Crittenden’s path has not been a direct dash to the finish. Injuries—such as the adductor tweak that almost derailed him at the 2024 Paris Olympics—and years of toiling without sponsorship challenged his commitment. In 2021, after bombing out in the U.S. Trials semifinals, he was about to retire his spikes. “I was broke. I didn’t make any money that year,” he once admitted. But Tim O’Neil would not let him quit.
“Freddie is the toughest person I’ve ever coached,” O’Neil remarked after Crittenden’s 12.93 breakthrough at the Trials. “What he overcame to get here—it’s bigger than track.” That belief kept Crittenden going, even when the results lagged. “He believed in the process, even when the results didn’t show up right away,” O’Neil added. “That’s rare.” For Crittenden, the gratitude runs deep. Following his qualifying for Paris, he made a tearful declaration on NBC: “Tim O’Neil, you’re the best coach in the world. You’re my best friend. I’m so proud of you and I’m proud of us.”
That connection saw Crittenden ride a whirlwind 2024: being part of his first Olympic team, having his daughter, signing an Adidas deal, and placing sixth in Paris amidst his coach leaving suddenly for a family crisis. O’Neil, observing from a hospital room 5,400 miles away, still sent feedback via texts, showing that distance couldn’t sever their connection.
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