Being a newbie- I start getting antsy when I can't see the front of the pack, fearing that I'll get stuck in the back (@ PPark). I don't think it takes any more energy to sit in up front vs. in back. And there is a better chance at avoiding disaster-- such as the massive midpack crash in the PPark Cat 4 race last Saturday at the Start/Finish line. I guess I don't see any value in hanging out in back, but again, I am a rookie.
And what is his coach supposed to say? Give the guy a break, navigating the impossibly dense Prospect Park packs is hardly something that a few words of wisdom from a coach can fix. Those packs are thick like a tropical rainforest, except all the plants are moving.