Who's taking over the job at Oregon?

Baracuda Bob wrote:

People are just tossing random stuff out there......

My guess is it'll be someone that has a connection with the Oregon program or Robert Johnson or potentially someone the Powell's or Vin suggest.

They don't necessarily have to have a huge resume, but I would think UO will continue with the track-first formula (miler types) and look to be a top 10/podium contender in cross. Thomas (V Tech) and Vig (Princeton) come to mind, but not sure either of these guys would want to move across the country.

Either would kill to be at Oregon. Along with most every other distance coach in the country. All you do is coach. You have pressure but recruiting is a piece of cake and you don’t have to set up travel or equipment or meet management or alumni stuff or fundraise.

JustGurgleIt wrote:

Old School Runner wrote:

How many of you can remember where Pat Tyson coached before he was the coach at Mead High School?

Morgan Jr Hi, Shoreline, WA, 1973-1977

Kellogg MS, Shoreline, WA, 1977-1983 (same as above, only school name changed)

Shorecrest HS, Shoreline, WA, 1983-1986

Mead HS, Mead, WA, 1986-2006

Univ. of Oregon, spring 2005

Univ. of Kentucky, 2006-2007

South Eugene HS, Eugene, OR, 2008

Gonzaga Univ., 2008-date

IMO, he is not only a good coach, but also a great leader of youth.

Correct! What's not shown on here is that he also was coaching the distance runners at Shorecrest back in 1975 and 1976 while he was at Morgan Jr. High.

As long as we're tossing out hypothetical situations...If you want a husband-wife team who would knock it out of the park, consider the tandem of Marc and Joan Hunter.

Another hypothetical, but not very likely option, might be Chris Bennett the current global director and coach of the Nike+ Running Club. The Nike connections are obvious, but Chris has experience with some very successful years coaching at CBA. He’s a great guy and motivator and there were more than a few times that rumors went around NJ that he might have been looking for a college job. Now that he is based in Portland he wouldn’t need to up root his family too much for what would be another great opportunity. Oh and also he has connection to Vin as he ran under Lanana on the Nike Farm Team.

Baracuda Bob wrote:

People are just tossing random stuff out there......

My guess is it'll be someone that has a connection with the Oregon program or Robert Johnson or potentially someone the Powell's or Vin suggest.

They don't necessarily have to have a huge resume, but I would think UO will continue with the track-first formula (miler types) and look to be a top 10/podium contender in cross. Thomas (V Tech) and Vig (Princeton) come to mind, but not sure either of these guys would want to move across the country.

This is the most sensible post so far. Leave it to LR to get in pages of nonsense and idiocy first.

I trust that Vin and the Duck Brain Trust will make a considered and intelligent effort and select top flight people.

Ben Thomas and Robert Johnson were both assistants at Appalachian State (NC) from 1997-99, there's a connection, albeit an old one....

Likeliest candidates for Oregon distance position (if Robert Johnson doesn’t bail to Kentucky or Notre Dame). Note-two candidates will likely be hired:

1. Matt Sparks-can coach men or women, especially success with elite women. At Oregon would score big points at ncaa’s. Looking for job most likely. Very good coach. Respected in coaching circles.

2. Ben Thomas-I don’t think he will leave Tech but RJ should come after him with everything he’s got. Thomas is best coach currently in NCAA and can coach men and women.

3. Jason Vigilante-RJ wants points. Vig will give him that consistently.

4. Robert and Rita Gary-proven success. Good recruiters, good coaches. Success at NCAA level at power 5 and at Furman. See it happening only if Furman is cutting funding.

5. Marc Burns-recent success with Schweitzer may be enough to get him more than a look. Oregon > Mizzou.

6. Van Hoy-I think RJ wants him bad but I dont think he would leave a wonderful boss like Connie for the opposite. Obviously he would make sense here based on performance he has had.

7. Andrea McD-very good coach. Proven success. Will her personality mesh with another strong personality in RJ? Would be very successfully at Oregon leading the women.

8. Pat Henner-Happy at usc with very little resources in distance running? Want to get back to big time distance school? If so, Henner has had results and could be effective at Oregon.

9. Jason Drake-may not be sexy enough for RJ to go after but would be good candidate for men’s distance coach.

10. John Hayes- why give up Wake Forest? 70k a year to go to school. Terrible at track ACC. Hayes can coach. Get him elite talent and he can shine. Could do this at Oregon.

Dark Horse-Greg Metcalf, man, this would be crazy. Can see RJ going for it but not the administration.

Major head coaches will not be interested-Joe Franklin, Ihmels, Milt, Dave Smith, Bucky, Pat Tyson, Rob Connors, Mick, Steve Dolan-all have good things going and would never even consider working under RJ as his distance assistant.

RJ will never hire a HS coach. He could hire a professional coach if he feels very strongly in their coaching ability.

I think there is a decent chance that RJ will go hard after Kentucky and we will be talking about a completely different coaching search!

You are leaving out Mike Hickey, who currently coaches Alexa Efraimson. She has had an impressive career. Additionally, he took McKayla Fricker from 2:06 to 2:00.8 in one year. Also coached a guy who made the 2005 US Cross Country team, Paul Kezes. Strong ties to the NW.

Jerzee wrote:

Another hypothetical, but not very likely option, might be Chris Bennett the current global director and coach of the Nike+ Running Club. The Nike connections are obvious, but Chris has experience with some very successful years coaching at CBA. He’s a great guy and motivator and there were more than a few times that rumors went around NJ that he might have been looking for a college job. Now that he is based in Portland he wouldn’t need to up root his family too much for what would be another great opportunity. Oh and also he has connection to Vin as he ran under Lanana on the Nike Farm Team.

Hopefully Oregon considers him although I do admit it is unlikely Oregon chooses someone who's new to coaching on the collegiate level. At CBA, Bennett was wildly successful and his skills very likely would have translated well over to college coaching. Would he be as good as already proven college coaches such as Vanhoy? I'm not sure Oregon is ready to risk that.

Thanks for the heads up on your resume Mike. You have not chance.

[quote]Oregon Alumni 3001 wrote:

You are leaving out Mike Hickey, who currently coaches Alexa Efraimson. She has had an impressive career. Additionally, he took McKayla Fricker from 2:06 to 2:00.8 in one year. Also coached a guy who made the 2005 US Cross Country team, Paul Kezes. Strong ties to the NW.[/quote

Oregon Alumni 3001 wrote:

You are leaving out Mike Hickey, who currently coaches Alexa Efraimson. She has had an impressive career. Additionally, he took McKayla Fricker from 2:06 to 2:00.8 in one year. Also coached a guy who made the 2005 US Cross Country team, Paul Kezes. Strong ties to the NW.

Does he just coach Alexa now? It would be tough to extrapolate the talents of a coach based on one athlete. It sounds like he helped out Fricker but what does it mean that she is no longer with him?

The only thing that makes Tyson qualified to Coach at Oregon is his disregard for NCAA violations.

Just wait, I'll be back baby.

-Giggity

Rumors in Des Moines abound. RJ to Kentucky is slowing Vin Lananna’s job filling.

5 leading candidates.

Vanhoy if can get paid more than Ole Miss.

Ben Thomas would kill for this position and has been doing great job on middle distance like Powell’s have done.

Greg Metcalfe might appear crazy and Lananna too savvy politically, but has always handled star athletes well and that’s pretty much all Oregon deals with

USF coach for women and one of aforementioned men’s coaches.

Rita Gary with her husband to be assistant (stability of husband/wife and women in charge trending).

Can see it wrote:

5 leading candidates.

Vanhoy if can get paid more than Ole Miss.

Ben Thomas would kill for this position and has been doing great job on middle distance like Powell’s have done.

Greg Metcalfe might appear crazy and Lananna too savvy politically, but has always handled star athletes well and that’s pretty much all Oregon deals with

USF coach for women and one of aforementioned men’s coaches.

Rita Gary with her husband to be assistant (stability of husband/wife and women in charge trending).

Vanhoy or Ben Thomas best options of ones listed.

RJ isn’t going for the husband wife scenario he was dealt that with Lananna but I’m sure now as the head he isn’t going for that, unless Lananna is making the call.

Metcalf will not see a power5 situation let alone Oregon any time soon he’s done

Another thing to consider: 2 staff openings with both Powell's departing. Will they keep the coaching structure as it was previously - 2 distance coaches - 1 men's hc, 1 women's hc - or a coach who will coach both genders with another lower-level assistant working under them? Or is it possible RJ restructures to add another sprint coach? First scenario seems most likely, but depends on what their options are I suppose.

What's a good estimate for when picks will occur?

Cross country is coming up soon, so I'm guessing within 6 weeks at the latest.

They don’t need 2 distance coaches. Just one who can really coach as that is all he/she will be required to do. Recruiting is not needed at all. Pick out 10 best and if they can’t get into Stanford (or maybe Washington now), they go where Prefontaine went.

RJ needs a sprint coach to build up that area. Tonja!

app alum wrote:

Ben Thomas and Robert Johnson were both assistants at Appalachian State (NC) from 1997-99, there's a connection, albeit an old one....

Interesting! Vanhoy with NC connections as well.