Assistant Head Coach Dan Goldsmith Shares Lifelong Love of Biking with Kids

Dan Goldsmith started coaching mountain biking at Grass Valley Charter school eight years ago, after going out for a ride with a friend and his kids and seeing how much fun they were having. Despite the fact that he does not have any kids on the team, Goldsmith has shown up for the past three years as the Assistant Head Coach for the Miners, acting as back-up for the Head Coach, and drawing upon his race experience to formulate the training plan for the year. He also holds the very important job of making sure everyone is prepared and gets to the starting line on time at races. 

Goldsmith bought his first mountain bike in 1994, and used it as a way to take a break from med school. Before that, he rode road bikes. He enjoys coaching the team because he can see the positive impact he is having on the kids. “We are making a difference in their lives,” he said. “Watching them learn to race – a lot of them have never done it. To guide them and see them race and like it, and push through, it’s great.” 

He is quick to note that you do not have to have 30 years of mountain biking experience to coach with the team. “There are different levels of riding – you don’t have to be an expert rider,” he said. “The coaches who are newer to riding are an inspiration to kids who are newer to riding. They learn together.”

When he isn’t coaching the team, Goldsmith is typically still on a bike – just with “non-students.” He also works as an ER physician and in sports medicine. Goldsmith encourages anyone who is interested in coaching to just come out and try it. “The whole experience is just very fun and exciting and the kids learn so much from us and we learn from them.”