Coach Deb Len
Deb Len taught at Liberty Corner School in Basking Ridge from 2001-2020. She also coached Girls on the Run from Fall 2001 to her retirement in 2020. I had a celebration planned for her at our Spring 5K that was to be held on June 7th but never occurred due to Covid.
Coach Len is my 2nd story in my 25 Stories for 25 Years fundraising campaign. I asked Deb questions about her experience with coaching Girls on the Run for 36 seasons. Talking to Deb made me so proud to be celebrating 25 years of being the Executive Director of this organization. Our coaches make a propound difference the life of every girl that had the opportunity to participate in GOTR. They take the life lessons they’re taught with them as they move on to high school, college and their careers.
Please consider making a donation to honor Deb’s dedication to all the students at Liberty Corner School for close to 20 years, and the girls that had the privilege of participating in GOTR for the 36 seasons she coached! All proceeds will be used to provide need based scholarships to girls in the areas we serve. Our goal is to raise $25,000 for 25 Years! You can help by making a $25 donation here: https://www.gotrcnj.org/giving/25-for-25
What originally inspired you to become a Girls on the Run coach?
Coaching was driven by a desire to provide young girls with the foundational support and confidence that didn't exist in earlier generations. Deb reflected on her own youth, sharing that she lacked self-confidence and often felt lost in school—wishing a supportive program like Girls on the Run had existed when she was growing up.
How did your expectations of coaching compare to the actual week-to-week experience?
While the program culminates in a 5K, the core week-to-week experience centers on personal growth, self-confidence, and goal setting rather than physical athletic training.
Is there a specific practice or breakthrough moment that sticks out to you?
Girls with vastly different abilities and backgrounds naturally bridged gaps, supported one another, and formed close friendships. A defining breakthrough was a former student reaching out to her years later in high school for support during family struggles—showing that the trust built during coaching extends far past a single season.
A defining breakthrough was a former student reaching out to her years later in high school for support during family struggles—showing that the trust built during coaching extends far past a single season. Deb also shared that she has stayed in touch with many of her students and GOTR participants, they still talk about all of the lessons they learned in GOTR years later
Where did you see the biggest transformation in the girls?
Girls learned to embrace their unique personal strengths beyond traditional metrics like popularity, athletic prowess, or academic standing. They learned they can be themselves and make decisions based on what they feel in their heart is best for them. Experiencing the accomplishment of a major goal—like completing a 5K race—gave many girls a sense of personal capability they had never experienced before.
How did coaching GOTR compare with teaching the same age girls?
Coaching allowed me to form much closer relationships with students than a traditional classroom setting allowed. The informal structure of GOTR enabled girls to open up and discuss personal feelings and experiences they would normally keep hidden at school.
How did coaching Girls on the Run impact you personally or professionally?
It shifted the coach-student dynamic into a lasting mentorship. The trust established during a season carries over into future years as girls return season after season, eventually coming back as young adults to serve as assistant coaches themselves.
What do you think is the most important lesson GOTR teaches girls?
That they are capable of achieving personal goals they never thought possible. The program teaches girls to rely on their inner resilience, support those around them, and recognize their self-worth outside of social expectations.
Deb moved to Delaware after she retired, I’ve stayed in touch with her over the last 6 years, but it was the first time I had the opportunity to sit down, via zoom, and speak with her about her experience coaching GOTR. Deb left an indelible mark on every girl that participated in the GOTR program at Liberty Corner School. She still keeps in touch with students she had during her years at the school. They continually bring up their experience with GOTR and how they reflect on the lessons they learned throughout their lives.
To donate in honor of Coach Deb Len please click on the link below:
https://www.gotrcnj.org/giving/25-for-25