No need for coaches at all for 1800 or 2000 otb.
There is a surplus of study material for any serious student.
Hanging around some stronger players can be very helpful. That's all we had anyway, for a couple decades starting in the early 70s. Some lucky few had a mentor, but that was still less than a coach.
I think anyone who is motivated can reach 1800 otb minus a coach, unless they're pretty old or just don't have the time.
Chess.com is a perfect learning place with endless learning sources. But can one have 1800+ with these sources without a personal coach?
Definately!...Yes!!
You can reach 1800 with just good knowledge of the fundamentals, and playing sane moves. Promoting yourself to a Master level needs quite a bit of work.
I have reached FIDE ELO over 2400, an IM title and some decent tournament results without ever having a trainer, a computer or internet access to games (that is a triple of decades ago).
You sir, would be the first International Master ever in the history of chess to decline in strength to such a point that you can only muster a 1700 blitz rating against an opponent average of 1500. Sorry but every experienced chess expert/master agrees that at best you lose about 200-300 ELO points from your normal ability throughout your lifetime. You certainy don't go from being an IM to struggling against beginners in blitz. It doesn't happen, and it's not a result of being older and slower. You should be able to beat beginners blind-folded with a 3 minute handicap at your claimed rating.
Where do you get all that from? Was that a survey or something?
I have reached FIDE ELO over 2400, an IM title and some decent tournament results without ever having a trainer, a computer or internet access to games (that is a triple of decades ago).
You sir, would be the first International Master ever in the history of chess to decline in strength to such a point that you can only muster a 1700 blitz rating against an opponent average of 1500. Sorry but every experienced chess expert/master agrees that at best you lose about 200-300 ELO points from your normal ability throughout your lifetime. You certainy don't go from being an IM to struggling against beginners in blitz. It doesn't happen, and it's not a result of being older and slower. You should be able to beat beginners blind-folded with a 3 minute handicap at your claimed rating.
Oh well...at least he called you sir. 
I really don't believe too much in all this modern-day (I almost said "newfangled") emphasis on coaching. But certainly the sort of thing mentioned in the quote was significant in my improvement.
Wow, some of these responses can boggle the mind, all that was asked can I reach 1800 on my own. First I would ask do you mean in the real world or on chess.com, or any other on line chess sites? In the real world especially before the birth of computers. one reached a rating by playing OTB face to face in a rated tournament. When I read one comment that 1800 is nothing I bet that person got his rating on line, means nothing in measurement against a real chessplayer that goes to real live face to face tournament to measure his real ability.
So back to the original poster, If there is no one to suggest what books are best for you, just like I had to face, (no computers then), you save up your money, and buy a few books and you will see almost right away which books are helping you and ones that are either too deep and confusing, no one has to tell you that! You can do it, either a real deal 1800, face to face but it will be easier on the internet, but not a true 1800. And I sincerely respect you for being realistic and not trying to be a GM in two years if you studied hard! lolo
Was looking for something else and found this. I have reached 2158 as my peak rapid rating on this site, in around 7 years with no coaching and reading few books. I solved some puzzles but not too many. Now after crossing 2150 I am getting books. So yes it is very much possible. I also have a peak 2038 rapid rating and 1797 bullet peak. So see in any format i have broken 1800.
Wow. This was an old thread.
Yes - you can reach 1800 without coaching, but it'll be difficult to get there by simply playing.
You can self teach yourself by solving puzzles, practicing endgames and analysing your games for mistakes.
@TheNameofNames - Andrea Botez is around 1760 FIDE if I remember correctly, and around 2000 USCF. You can check out most peoples FIDE rating by simply googling their name with "FIDE" after it, and it'll often return their FIDE profile card in the first few results.
11 years later, did the person who started this thread become an elite???? Did the woman whose husband was ranked 2nd in their state manage to get a draw against him????? Because seeing her 400 rating, I'm thinking maybe she never did!!!! 
in another word that is easy to get to 1800 here without coach but hard to get 1800 otb and is better to study/get coaching to get there.