How bad will Washington State be under Coach Phipps?

From the outside looking in, seems like the coaching staff has limited funds to work with after the failed attempt to lure Coach James Li away from University of Arizona.

Tragic fail on WSU part, they've shown the willingness to spend money on coaches, but apparently only in "profit" aka TV sports (i.e. football, basketball, and default women's basketball).

Coach Phipps might want coaches he can trust, we don't know yet with a bigger budget, better facilities, and not being the little brother in the area will help him get recruits. In-state makes a big difference and with the size difference between Washington and Idaho, could be what he needs.

First 1-3 years are going to be rough, I just hope that the WSU athletic administration doesn't let this cancer linger for more than 5-6 years without a positive outcome(s). Track & Field is ignored by administrations often and allowed to die slowly instead of a shot to the head. WSU is going to have some limb wounds for awhile, but after 4 years if they're still in last place at every Pac-12's, then hopefully Bill Moos will take Phipps out to pasture and do the right thing.

WSU is a joke regardless, when was the last time they were even top 6 at Pac-12's? The glory days (if you can call them that) of when WSU would show up with 1-2 sprinters and shake up the scene at Pac-12's are long gone.

They need to go back to the Kenyans, that's the only way they're going to score more than 65 points at a track meet and actually matter, most other runners probably don't even know what/where/who WSU is, they're the Oregon State of track and field world, barely have a team and even less actually matter.

Bring back the Henry Rono, and other million kenyans and start buying/importing the talent.

I'd be a sad WSU alum too. Not because of the new coaching hire but because WSU hasn't been any good since Rono. Seriously. Complaining about a new coach when WSU hasn't been any good since forever ago. Lets give the new coach a chance before you bash him.

Agree, Phipps might be good, who knows? WSU needs to find a focus. It used to be the foreign contingent (not just Kenyans) and then stricter international rules (and NCAA violations) changed WSU's recruiting dynamic when Sloan took over. They've had their moments, but never really recovered.

Spokane is a good recruiting base for distance and of late they haven't tapped into the strong Mead and North Central programs.

Sprint-wise, they've found some guys over the years in California, Cali JC's, and the western part of the state.

Washington is a good prep track state, they should be able to find some talent and compete to the middle of the conference. I'm not sure what Phipps' philosophy will be. I do know A.D. Moos is focused on football (which pays the bills, including the track bills), so they'll go from there.

* I thought the WSU distance coach was good and they should've retained him. He hadn't been there long, but I heard good things.

This is typical of the college system.

Inexperienced coaches for cheap.

WS has no chance of beating the likes of Oregon and the southern schools in track, so why not use the CU approach and focus distance.

First off it is cheaper

2nd great area to recruit

Too bad the will always be lame!

That's why my hopes and dreams were crushed when WSU (we) didn't land Coach Li. Would of brought us back to the old Kenyan days. Made the 50 year old crowd happy because they all still talk about how cool it was to see the Kenyans running around everywhere, and breaking records of course.

Phipps might bring that Canadian connection but who needs that?

I was hoping that the money we saved getting our 2/3rd choice coach we could use on regionally/nationally known assistant coaches that can bring the talent to the Palouse.

Instead we got the same faces we saw across the track for 15 years that other than the throwers, didn't hold a candle to WSU on their lowest season.

Idaho's program is a joke, especially the distance runners (the guys Phipps is supposedly 'coaching') Recruiting will not pick up with a woman recruiting whose only experience is offering a full scholarship to every half-decent Canadian guy and girl. Oh well, it'll be nice to not have to worry about Washington State at the national level in XC, mens or womens.

Phipps should just flood his talent pool with male distance runners and just try to turn a half way decent XC program into a substantial threat towards UW's men's side. There's no way he's going to get better talent than his rival Metcalf at UW because A: Metcalf loves the ladies. B: They're a power program already. C: Girls like coffee, whales, and rain boots.

Get the males that enjoy fun football games (not too much) and then recruit girls who are cute and make the 17 year old HS recruits think they have a chance at making out with them (because distance runners couldn't close a book, let alone a lady)

Sprinters, they're already done for without Coach McDonald (former WSU sprint/hurdler coach). Throws is a crap shoot. Jumps, no one cares about because other than HJ who knows what is good.

Wow, it's been at least a month since Insane WSU Guy showed up. And now he's posted nine different times on his own thread. Yay!

We get it, you don't like the new coach. Maybe go for a run and relax.

Well said, WSU guy is obviously trolling and bitter. Move on next subject.