Nobody has dominated powerlifting or any sport for that matter like Ed Coan has. Coan discovered he wasn't made for bodybuilding but when Ed first started squatting he squatted 2x per week and maxed out each time, going up 5lbs per time till he hit 500. By this time he knew he was going to be special in the world of powerlifting . Coan began powerlifting as a 181-pound lifter. He squatted and deadlifted 780-pounds and bench-pressed 485-pounds. He got bigger in his early twenties and at 198lbs Coan squatted and pulled 863-pounds while bench-pressing slightly over 500-pounds.
As a 220-pound lifter, he set over seventy world records and became the lightest man to shatter the 2400 barrier. When he shattered the 2400-pound barrier, nobody was even close- the second best 220-pound powerlifting total was 2102.Coan exceeded the all-time powerlifting total with an historic 2463-total. He became the all-time greatest powerlifter in the history of the sport. Coan not only dominated his weight class but he dominated the giants in the super heavy weight classes- Not only did he beat the 350lbs giants but he destroyed them! Even though, he weighed nearly 200lbs less then the greatest super heavy weights of all time his best numbers were in the same exact ballpark as greats like Kaz and Paul Anderson.
Imagine trying to squat 920 deep? You thought a 400lbs deadlift was tough? Add another 400lbs to that 400 then add another 100lbs and you still don't lift as much as Coan. I had the opportunity to interview the strongest man there ever was, is and perhaps ever will be. Records are made to be broken but under the conditions Coan lifts- it may never happen. When you learn more about Coan the hundreds of trophies he has and being the best isn't what is important to him. Coan is concerned about his lifting; personal records are the name of the game. Here is my interview with the man with super human strength. Ed Coan.
BT: ED, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
Ed Coan: My name is Edward Ignatius Coan, born on 7/24/63. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother.
BT: WHAT ARE YOUR BEST LIFTS?
Ed Coan: My best squat in the USPF-1019 deadlift-901, I'm going to bench 620 really soon.
BT: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROUTINE?
Ed Coan: Monday-squat and leg stuff. Tuesday-off. Wednesday-bench and triceps. Thursday-deadlifts and back stuff. Friday-off. Saturday- light bench, shoulders
BT: YOU DON'T TRAIN MUSCLES LIKE BICEPS?
Ed Coan: nope, biceps are like ornaments on a xmas tree
BT: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE LIFTERS MAKE WHEN TRYING TO GET A BIGGER SQUAT?
Ed Coan: overtraining and bad form
BT: WHAT IS THE KEY FOR A LIFTER TO ATTAIN A BIGGER SQUAT?
Ed Coan: train your ass off and perfect your technique.
BT: ARE THERE ANY ASSISTANCE EXERCISES YOU RECOMMEND FOR A BIGGER SQUAT?
Ed Coan: pause squats and high bar squats. All forms of the exercise.
WHAT ABOUT LEG PRESSES OR PYLOS?
Ed Coan: They have there place but if you squat hard enough you probably won't be able to do leg presses. Pylos will help.
BT: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE POWERLIFTING MOMENT?
Ed Coan: Totaling 2402 in Dallas Texas at 218lbs
BT: GIVE ME 5 FACTORS A LIFTER MUST KNOW TO MAKE GAINS.
Ed Coan: knowledge, genetics, technique, some nutrition, recovery techniques, hard work and don't overtrain
BT: WHAT REP RANGE DO YOU NORMALLY FOLLOW FOR SQUATS AND DEADS?
Ed Coan: 5's 3's 2's
I cycle my training, week by week using lower weights and using more weight over a period of time to peak at a meet
BT: SO WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE?
Ed Coan: I do make sure I get the nutrition I am supposed to, I just cheat from time to time
BT: LETS MOVE ONTO THE MENTAL ASPECTS OF TRAINING...
Ed Coan: ok
BT: WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET BEFORE APPROACHING A NEW PERSONAL RECORD?
Ed Coan: I approach it like it's the same as one of my warm-ups. I don't change a thing.
BT: ED, WHY DON'T YOU CHOOSE TO GO CRAZY BEFORE YOU LIFT HUGE?
Ed Coan: I don't like to waist all my mental energy. I keep it inside and let it out on the weights.
BT: BEING OVER 40 WHAT KEPT YOU MOTIVATED TO TRAIN THIS LONG?
Ed Coan: I listen to my body and believe in pacing myself instead of killing myself. It is hard to hold myself back sometimes but I just need to remember that I will feel better without injuries and lift more in the long run.
BT: WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR THE BEGINNER AND ADVANCED LIFTER?
Ed Coan: Find your way. Take advice from the guys that came before you, but it's only a guide, not the ten commandments
Advanced lifters have to try new things and do what they know really works. If it aint broke, don't fix it
BT: WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHAMPION AND AN AVERAGE LIFTER?
Ed Coan: Mindset. Who really, in their heart wants it
BT: WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST THING YOU EVER SEEN IN POWERLIFTING?
Ed Coan: Kirk Karwoski. Hahahahahha
BT: WHAT MADE HIM SO CRAZY?
Ed Coan: no attitudes of most powerlifters. Much more camaraderie
BT: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ALL THE GEAR OUT THERE?
Ed Coan: I don't really like all the gear, but to each his own
BT: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE STEROID DEBATE?
Ed Coan: It's your life, do what you want. I will not police bedrooms. There are no saints here on earth at this time
BT: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE SQUATTING 900LBS?
Ed Coan: same as 500, but better concentration.
BT: WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU CRASHED?
Ed Coan: I knew it was going to tear on the way down, but I couldn't stop it. There was no pain, I was just disappointed and pissed
BT: HOW DO YOU PREPARE BEFORE A MEET?
Ed Coan: Making sure I am stretched and iced and get enough nutrition and sleep. I suit up a few weeks before the meet to get a feel for the equipment.
BT: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGE IN POWERLIFTING?
Ed Coan: Same rules across the board (fantasy)
BT: WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER DOING A STRONGMAN CONTEST?
Ed Coan: maybe, for the little guys... under 105 kgs. I consider doing one. They are having one this year sometime.
BT: JESSE KELLUM IS COMING AFTER YOUR TOTAL, ANY COMMENTS?
Ed Coan: he's not coming after my total. I lifted under a way different set of rules and different federation. It can't be done unless he comes to the USPF.
BT: WHY DO YOU DECIDE TO STAY USPF WHEN YOU COULD DO BIGGER WEIGHTS IN OTHER FEDS?
Ed Coan: That's the way I feel it should be done. Others feel different and that's ok
BT: LETS PLAY THE NAME GAME FOR A MINUTE
Ed Coan: ok. Humor me
JAMIE HARRIS
Ed Coan: Elvis in his later years. He knew when to get out.
JESSE KELLUM
Ed Coan: Very intense and does not quit
GEORGE HALBERT
Ed Coan: George has not yet hit his best
BT: DO YOU THINK MARK HENRY IS A BIGGER GENETIC FREAK THAN YOU?
Ed Coan: No he's just a larger freak in frame
BT: BRANDON CASS IS A THREAT TO YOUR DEADLIFT RECORD
Ed Coan: at what weight?
BT: HE WEIGHS 229 AND PULLED 805. HE IS GETTING STRONGER TOO.
Ed Coan: He has a long way to go. I wish him the best, but I don't think I know him.
BT: YOU CAN VISIT HIS WEBSITE www.cassstrength.com
Ed Coan: I pulled 901 at 220 and 887 at 242 and might pull more this year
BT: DO YOU FEEL YOU COULD SURPASS SUPERHEAVY WEIGHT WORLD RECORD HOLDER ANDY BOLTENS 933 DEADLIFT?, EVEN BEING MUCH SMALLER?
Ed Coan: Only if I could go sumo again
BT: WHY CAN'T YOU GO SUMO RIGHT NOW?
Ed Coan: I tore some things and don't want to risk it again, but who knows?
BT: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT VINCE ANELLO ANOTHER GREAT DEADLIFTER?
Ed Coan: he is a very nice man. There are many lifters chasing my deadlift
BT: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE LABELED THE STRONGEST MAN EVER WITHOUT A DOUBT?
Ed Coan: some say that, but I am just a regular guy that lifts a lot of weight.
BT: SPEAKING OF GREAT DO YOU FEEL EVERYONE CAN BE A GREAT POWERLIFTER? CAN JUST ANYONE DEADLIFT 700LBS?
Ed Coan: No, with mental strength everyone can be strong though. There are plenty of lifters in lower weight classes that are strong as hell. No matter what you can always like the challenge and appreciate the journey.
BT: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU LIFTED 135,225,315,405,500,600,700,800, 900 and 1000lbs
Ed Coan: it would take too long
BT: OHHHH
Ed Coan: hahaha. Just look in my book. I remember the first time I squatted 900, I did 920 at the nationals at 214lbs
BT: WHERE CAN WE GET YOUR BOOK?
Ed Coan: quads gym- 708-862-9779
BT: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK?
Ed Coan: it has everything in there... training and some good pics and every meet I was ever in and some commentary on each one
BT: IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR GENETICS WOULD YOU STILL BE A POWERLIFTER?
Ed Coan: I made my genetics work for me. you have to develop them
BT: LIKE MENTAL TOUGHESS?
Ed Coan: I think you were born with some of it but you have to learn to develop lots of it on the way.
BT: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU HAD THAT YOU DON'T?
Ed Coan: I wish to be a few inches taller
BT: HOW WOULD THAT HELP?
Ed Coan: I would be heavier by about 20lbs.
BT: OK, LETS CHANGE TOPICS. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE TIME YOU WALKED DOWN THE STREETS NAKED WITH O.D WILSON ONE OF THE BIGGEST BLACKS EVER IN POWERLIFTING?
Ed Coan: he was the biggest guy on the beach that day; let's just say that. It was on the beach, not street. We would have been in jail
BT: WHAT WAS THE REACTION OF ALL THE LITTLE 4'11 95LBS PEOPLE AS O.D. WAS WALKING BY, I HEARD THEY RAN AND IT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING EVER
Ed Coan: Fear. He was a great man. I miss him.
BT: WAS WILSON THE BIGGEST MAN EVER IN POWERLIFTING?
Ed Coan: Jeff Lewis weighs more but O.D. was the biggest
BT: WELL ED, WAS THIS THE LONGEST INTERVIEW YOU EVER HAD
Ed Coan: Yes by far. I didn't know I had this much patience.
HAHAHA YOU JUST BROKE ANOTHER PERSONAL RECORD
Ed Coan: haha Yep
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?
Ed Coan: I would like to thank my training partners Brian Schoonveld and Emmett Cunnane. Another guy, Beau started with us. He is a smaller guy with a lot of guts. I couldn't do it without them.
