Bathampton's Dan Cossins is looking to play his own small role in rejuvenating Great Britain's relay culture as he prepares to take up his new role with UK Athletics.
The former sprinter was recently confirmed as the new national men's junior 4x100m coach and will take charge of the squad for the first time on Sunday at the Loughborough International Games.
The main goal for the summer is the European Under-20 Championship, taking place in Italy in July, and Cossins cannot wait to get started.
"I am really proud to be recognised for this role," said Cossins, whose coaching group at the University of Bath includes Danny Talbot, who was part of the Team GB relay squad at London 2012.
"It is nice that people within the organisation of British athletics have seen that I am doing some good stuff down here in Bath and that I deserve this opportunity.
"I have worked very hard to get this far and it will be nice to say that I have not only competed as a GB athlete but also worked as a GB coach and be part of the set-up for a major championships.
"That is going to be really good for me in my development as a coach and can only help the likes of Danny and all my other athletes."
Cossins admits that one of his first tasks will be to persuade the sprinters in the squad that the relay is a serious event and one which they should treat accordingly, not just as an after-thought once their own discipline is out of the way.
"The British 4x100m relay has had a good tradition but over the last ten years or so the races have gone wrong and the public perception is that now we always drop the baton," added Cossins.
That happened in London when the handover between Talbot and Adam Gemili didn't go as planned and the team failed to finish.
But it is only nine years since the GB squad, featuring Bath sprint legend Jason Gardener, stunned the world with their gold-medal success in the Athens Olympics.
"There is an opportunity now with these kids for me to try and change the culture," explained Cossins.
"We have to value the relay and appreciate its importance. It is not a second rate event. All athletes want to do well in their own event first and foremost, and you have to aspire to be the best you can be, but it is very hard to win medals in the modern world of athletics, especially in the sprints which are among the strongest events on the programme.
"I sometimes think that sprinters do not appreciate they have a second opportunity to win a medal that other athletes do not have and they should make the most of that opportunity."
If that message is taken on board by the current crop of rising British stars and medals are delivered this summer, then Cossins may find himself having an even bigger future in this event.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
