WSU hires Wayne Phipps (U of Idaho), absolute awful choice

I agree this is an odd choice for WSU. I would have guessed either James Li or Pat Tyson, with Mike Collins from Lewis-Clark State being the darkhorse, but this one is right out of left field. Phipps is better suited to coaching high school or junior college IMHO. That being said I wish him luck.

Welcome to irrelevance in the PAC 12. Sources in the WSU community have said that he was hired before the conference meet but was told to keep quiet--there would have been a lot of pissed off alums if they had announced that weekend, especially at the Cougar track & field reunion.

Looks like I'm giving up my two season football tickets and they're not getting any money from me anytime soon.

First step should be to clean house. These Assistants are useless and loyal to themselves.

Dr. Li turned them down.

Damn right the alumni would of been upset, it would of been the topic of discussion and then the administration might of ran into an alumni with some balls and been forced to answer the obvious questions, like "Why didn't get Coach Li?", "Why did we settle for a coach who brings little to the table?" or "How is this guy going to help us recruit the talent we need?"

Are you telling me that there was no proven winner from the Big 12, Big 10, or SEC conference that wanted to move up and show that they're ready?

Shame on Bill Moos and Ann McCoy for this C-list coach from one of the weakest conferences in the nation.

Alumni???? Who cares what the past losers think? It is about changing the culture. Is this guy the answer? Who knows, but it can't be worse than the past 20 years.

the Phipps debate here is ridiculous. You do not know what you are talking about. The guy's record is astounding. He's been in charge of multiple conference team wins, and this board is becoming a joke. At this point I don't know why anyone wouldn't just assume the opposite of what most write here when they opine.

Team Conference Titles

2000 Big West Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

2001 Big West Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

2001 Big West Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

2002 Big West Women’s Cross Country

2003 Big West Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

2005 WAC Women’s Cross Country

2007 WAC Women’s Cross Country

2010 WAC Women’s Cross Country

2011 WAC Women’s Cross Country

2012 WAC Men's Indoor Track & Field

2012 WAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field

2012 WAC Women’s Cross Country

2013 WAC Women’s Cross Country

2014 WAC Men’s Indoor Track & Field

2014 WAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

2014 WAC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

http://www.wsucougars.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209508786

Read and explain how the f**&& thats a bad selection?

Astounding? Again, we should probably re-define the word astounding as it is used on this board.

He didn't produce titles as a track head coach until the teams that were better than his left for the Mountain West(after 2010). Sure a few women's cross titles here and there, but other than that he got his teeth kicked in by teams that were actually balanced-(and it showed on the track) and who had athletes actually score at the national meet.

So lets be honest here, the WAC was gutted and his group was just the best of what was left when he was winning from 2010 onward. He was getting stomped by Boise State and Utah State in cross and track on a routine basis and probably dropped to his knees when they moved on to get more competition-'cause his squads sure weren't giving any.

Bottom line, this is just another example of being in the right place at the right time when a cheapskate AD needed a thumb to plug a hole. Shyt, they even saved money by not having to pay his moving expenses, Moscow is less than 15 miles away from Pullman. Just another ridiculous story of the NEW and IMPROVED NCAA!

Read more:

Wayne Phipps squad can't beat WSU, so how is he going to come over to Pullman, compete against the big boys and the best conference in the nation. Does he believe his Canadian connection is going to serve him well?

His resume is nothing but WAC and Big West wins, as mentioned before these conferences couldn't beat the California state meet competitors which he won't be able to recruit.

His best bet better to retain Coach McDonald and keep the one shining star within the program to continue the legacy of hurdlers.

I want Wayne Phipps to succeed, but he isn't new blood. Everyone around here knows him, and I don't know what he brings. It'll be interesting how he tries to recruit in the Pac-12. Only time will tell but he was easily the second choice, if not the last choice.

The WSU fans and alumni have to realistic !

There aren't many outstanding College coaches that want to live in Pullman, WA.

Then you have to put up with all the very long road trips for the PAC 12 meets.

A10 fan wrote:

The WSU fans and alumni have to realistic !

There aren't many outstanding College coaches that want to live in Pullman, WA.

Then you have to put up with all the very long road trips for the PAC 12 meets.

I hate to say it, but the only way to get any kind of program going at WSU is Kenyan ringers. Two or 3 of them, and then maybe you can get some WA HS guys who can go 4:15-4:20 or 9:10-9:20 who will want to train "with" them and get some money.

That's how they used to do it.

He's coached to the level of where he is, and the recruits he gets. the same ideas will work wherever he goes if he is consistent. You get better recruits at a bigger school. I don't know what the frustration is here

If having to be better is the standard theres only about 3 coaches who qualify... are you kidding with this criticism of him?????????????????????????

I am a previous runner at WSU and I agree completely with the Kenyan connection. The reason WSU has been terrible lately is they don't have an identity. I watched Pac-12s on TV and noticed they are average to below average at all disciplines. I don't like the hire let alone the process. I hear from a couple of sources the assistant AD axed all resumes that didn't say Head Coach in some form what is really looks like is an Assistant AD who knows nothing about Track and Field making decisions that hurt the program and place it in a worse position then when she got there.

One thing no one can debate is Phipps character. It is 100% certain Phipps will never be involved in a drunken episode, nor will we ever read about him having a go with some co-ed. And that may be all the Wazzu brass really want - someone who'll keep the program out of the papers.

If his character is as strong as you claim then I can tell you the first person on that staff that needs to be cut loose. I won't put her name so that my post doesn't get deleted.

coach d wrote:

Dr. Li turned them down.

I heard this as well.

I'm not overly familiar with either program, but the WAC is a complete joke compared to the PAC-12. Even if he was great in the WAC (arguable but probably not), it is far from certain he would do well in the PAC-12. Very interesting and somewhat perplexing choice. Can't say I see WSU doing anything impressive on the team level any time soon which is a shame since I live here.

I'm guessing Phipps will bring his daughter to the team as well? Full ride.

Wac,orPac? wrote:

I'm guessing Phipps will bring his daughter to the team as well? Full ride.

Not quite sure what this means, but typically the children of university employees do get to attend the university tuition-free. No scholarship aka grant-in-aid is necessary.

Sylvania wrote:

If his character is as strong as you claim then I can tell you the first person on that staff that needs to be cut loose. I won't put her name so that my post doesn't get deleted.

YES---YES---YES