 From 2009 there was a passage of coach, from Renato Canova to Gabriele Nicola, who is a student of the former coach.Kosgei started his international career as a cross country runner and a steeplechaser.He came to prominence as a junior athlete in 1997 when he took the junior bronze medal at the 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and he also reached the 1997 IAAF Grand Prix Final for the 3000 metres steeplechase.