Robert Belo

Robert Belo, who serves as the Director and Coach, founded GrassRoots Athletics in the late 90’s in Northern California and has re- established the USA Track and Field club in Southern California to support the local community in providing a support system for athletes of all levels.

His enthusiasm and knowledge motivates his athletes to be the best that they can be. He believes that once you can get an athlete to believe in themselves and to see their own potential, “you have created the most powerful weapon on earth, the human soul on fire (Ferdinand Foch).”

Coach Belo first started coaching in 1990 at his alma mater, Mission Viejo High School, by chance as his former high school and college coach, Gene Gurule (10k NCAA All America and Olympic Qualifier), told him a coaching position was available and the season has started so there is a good chance they could use the help. By the end of the season he fell in love with coaching and knew his calling.

Many of Belo’s athletes have grown to be State qualifiers, All-America in college as well as Olympic Trials qualifiers as he coached at Mission Viejo High School, Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College. He was also a student assistant coach at Humboldt State University for sprints under USATF Sprints Development Chairman coach James Williams.

His experience coaching athletes ranges from the youth to post collegiate. He attended Humboldt State University majoring in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. In Graduate school he was a graduate assistant for the Human Performance Lab, Sport Psychology and Exercise Physiology. Coach Belo also co-taught a college success class at the College of the Redwoods.

Belo continues his education by obtaining a USATF Level II certification for Endurance and Jumps as well as an Instructors Training Course Certification to teach Level I classes. He completed a yearlong cer