I think there are all sorts of variations of a good relationship with a coach--from staying with that coach through a career as Plushy has done with Mishin to parting amicably when it becomes necessary to move on. I too love the relationship that seems to exist between Sasha and John Nicks, and I'm pleased that Frank Carroll has such a respectful student in Evan Lysacek (and that Lysacek finally gave him an Olympic win!). There's also Kristi Yamaguchi and Kristy Ness; remember how Kristi went to Canada to follow Ness? Seniorita, I didn't know how much Mishin had done for Plushy. What a lovely story, showing both men in a very good light.
Layfan, I love your view of Carroll as a "scary coach." I think he must be rather a drill sergeant, tough but fair. His relationship with Kwan is actually very laudable; he seems to have respected her talent greatly, and to have known exactly how hard to push without crushing her. Whatever caused her to leave him, they seem to have retained a mutual respect. And I'm forever grateful that he taught her such a meticulous technique. Her ankles-down excellence didn't come from instinct or inspiration! (Though other aspects of her skating did, that's for sure.) Those clean jumps took hours of honing under a the sharp gaze of a demanding coach. I can see how Evan, famously a workhorse, was born to be a Frank Carroll skater.
Layfan, I love your view of Carroll as a "scary coach." I think he must be rather a drill sergeant, tough but fair. His relationship with Kwan is actually very laudable; he seems to have respected her talent greatly, and to have known exactly how hard to push without crushing her. Whatever caused her to leave him, they seem to have retained a mutual respect. And I'm forever grateful that he taught her such a meticulous technique. Her ankles-down excellence didn't come from instinct or inspiration! (Though other aspects of her skating did, that's for sure.) Those clean jumps took hours of honing under a the sharp gaze of a demanding coach. I can see how Evan, famously a workhorse, was born to be a Frank Carroll skater.
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Though overall I thought Robin had some strengths as a coach, e.g., she knew how to present a skater's good points and let the weaknesses fall to the background (at least in 6.0, don't know how she'd fare with COP, but I think she had some savvy behind the highly excitable exterior. Just my opinion). I also think she knew how to be mentally/emotionally supportive of her skaters, and I'm not sure every coach knows how to do that, or recognizes that keeping them emotionally intact can be just as important as the rest of it.
