Amy Yoder Begley
Amy Yoder Begley (born January 11, 1978) is an American runner and coach. She grew up in Topeka, Indiana, where she won four state titles in high school and set the 3200-meter state record from 1996 until 2011. She attended the University of Arkansas, graduating in 2001 as a two-time NCAA champion and 15-time All-American, and she won the Honda Sports Award in 2000.
As a professional, Yoder Begley won national titles at indoor 3,000 meters, road 10,000 meters, and road 15,000 meters. She ran the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finishing 26th. In 2009 she won the U.S. 10,000 meters title and finished sixth at the World Championships in Berlin, setting a personal best of 31:13.78.
From 2007 to 2011 she trained with the Nike Oregon Project under coach Alberto Salazar. She later coached the University of Connecticut’s women’s cross country and track teams (2013) and became the Atlanta Track Club’s first full-time coach in 2014, helping train many members and Olympic hopefuls. The club and the Begleys separated in 2023.
In 2019 she spoke out about abuse by Salazar and said he disciplined her for her weight and forced her to sign a contract limiting friendships with teammates. In 2023 she became the director of long-distance running programs for USA Track & Field (USATF).
She started the Heartland Athletics Club, with her husband Andrew Begley coaching there. The club works with athletes such as Allie Wilson, Emma Grace Hurley, and Gemma Finch. She and Andrew Begley have been married since 2000; in 2020 they held a commitment ceremony with their partner Stephanie Reynolds Begley.
Personal note: Yoder Begley was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2006.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:43 (CET).