US Runner Gives Tear-Jerking Tribute to Coach Behind Countless Olympic Careers

For Kyle Merber, Frank “Gags” Gagliano was more than the coach who helped him become a better runner. He was the partner who stood beside him through the toughest moments of his career, reminding him that his worth extended beyond the stopwatch. Now, as the legendary coach’s death at 89 leaves generations of athletes mourning, Merber has shared a deeply personal tribute to the man who changed his life. Merber’s final memory of Gags came at this summer’s U.S. Championships at Icahn Stadium, where the veteran coach received an outpouring of love from family, friends, fellow coaches, and former athletes.