Bernard Lagat + Priscilla Schultz = The Arizona Nightmare

That's not true. I know someone who went there recently who literally thought that Lagat was going to turn them into an Olympian. They found out otherwise and transferred.

I think word has gotten around that Lagat isn't a good coach, so even having a famous name like his isn't helping with recruiting.

And Schultz not being the friendliest person ever isn't helping with recruiting either.

That person wasn't paying attention then because word was out years ago, including on this message board in multiple threads years back. I mean just look at their results. Arizona has only been in the last third and several times dead last and even a team DNF at PAC-12 cross country since Lagat has been coach.

That’s the point. A coach/leader should lead and he’s obviously not doing it. The amount of international recruits that they’ve had with their sights on becoming pro just to decline in performance after being coached under lagat is not something you can attribute to simply giving up. If it was one or two then sure but 6 in the past 3 years is something. Much less their men’s freshman class in 2022 was pretty solid and a good point that should have changed the future of the program… but they all got worse…

You’re literally acknowledging that he doesn’t have any coaching credentials, so how can you say that Arizona’s recent lack of success is due to a lack of intrinsic motivation. The point of a coach is to guide runners towards success and to develop them. Even without any real coaching credentials, you’d expect Lagat of all people to be able to guide and motivate this runners. Especially considering that he does have talent to work with. Any lack of motivation within the team is likely the result of poor leadership on Lagat’s end as there are plenty of mediocre runners that have developed into good runners because of the right guidance from a coach. Though Arizona may not have the best track record historically, there’s no reason a PAC-12, power 5 school can’t turn things around under the right guidance from a coach.

But can you blame young naive high school runners for putting their trust in someone like THE Bernard Lagat? Obviously his team’s results speak for themselves and realistically an athlete should run in the opposite direction of a team like that… but you can’t deny the appeal of being coached by someone like Lagat. Sure that athlete probably should’ve done some more research if they thought Lagat was going to develop them into an Olympic champion, but I’d imagine Lagat does one hell of a job convincing little high schoolers that his personal athletic expertise will get them to their goals. Lagat is toying with young athletes’ futures and is doing the sport a disservice by continuing to coach.

They do. Also they do not have a single healthy female athlete. The only female athlete currently racing in track meets is a triathlete not trained by lagat.

Appears as if it is workouts at race pace or faster, no hills, no thresholds/tempos.

Aside, Shui went from 2:05 to 2:15 under lagat before ending the season. Best lagat accomplishment are taking a 1:54 800m male to 1:50 and ruining the running career of the sanchez twins. Getting a junior to break 14 in the 5km after breaking it his freshman year is an embarrassment.

The Arizona financial issues and Lagat’s amazing training are not mixing well.

Looks like some SUS to say the least!!!

So what I’m getting from this post is that Lagat is a trash coach, Schultz is the bad guy that covers his tail, and Harvey is too busy wishing he was retired to do anything about it. Plus, with AZ football and basketball in the struggle bus no way admin cares about this group. If you are an athlete and reading this : transfer. It will make for more fun Arizona threads. I love diving into the failures of people who think they are better than everyone.

Yup, was talking to a female transferring out and couldn’t believe some of the training. 6-8 x 1k at 3:00- 3:10 pace supposedly “5k pace”, but none of those ladies are 15 minute 5k gals.

On that note, I heard from male transfer that was kicked off the team for budget reasons that they would taper and drop their mileage by 50% for every single race. Their bodies definitely go into shock on race day. In addition, the week after a race and doubling your mileage probably could cause some… injuries… that maybe could lead to the whole woman’s team getting... injured. There’s no consistency. They do “tempos”, but I heard they do not do more than 3-4 a whole cross season and never more than 5miles… meanwhile good teams hit 7-10mile tempos every other week.

This team has no hope until there is a coach coming in who has actually coached, developed athletes, and knows what they are doing. Athletes have complained to admin time and time again. Nothing is done. It is pretty sad. It is more a reflection on the university. I have met plenty of Arizona runners and they have all been great kids. As a former D1 athlete, you normalize things. For most of these kids, this is the only program they know. Run away. This is not normal. Shame on admin.

Now hold on a second, buster. Fred Harvey is the glue that is holding Arizona college track together. What other school hosts college track meets in the Grand Canyon State? Fred Harvey needs to be appreciated for what he and his team contributes. Pris is a meets logistic person, just like she was at Arizona State.

Perhaps UA needs to bring back Dave Murray in a consulting capacity. I don't know, but he certainly knows the system.

All you ingrates on here need to get down on bended knees and fellate Fred Harvey for all he does for Arizona (the entirety of the state) college track. Without Fred and his team there would be NO college track meets in Arizona. I have enjoyed multiple Pac 12 champs at Drachman, and many other fine meets to boot.

Footnote: Mike Smith and his team do a fine job hosting numerous indoor meets at the NAU Lungdome.

Sadly departed Greg Kraft did an equally fine job at ASU during his tenure.

Sure Harvey has put on some great home meets at UofA, but ultimately he’s turning a blind eye to the fact that Lagat is ruining the distance team. There’s no way he’s not aware of how bad the situation is, especially since it seems like the coaching concerns have been brought to admin’s attention. Harvey’s leadership is just as bad as Lagat’s if he hasn’t gotten rid of him yet.

Okay buster. Take a read. Nobody here is talking about Harvey’s coaching style or the races he puts on. He produces amazing hurdlers and fun races. He is a great coach and that’s probably why he has not retired yet, but you are kidding yourself if you think that after his many many years of coaching he wants to deal with the distance team’s drama yet again. let alone be the guy that goes up against the Bernard Lagat. Not a fun thing to deal with. You will notice that at these great races, Arizona distance never performs. Nobody can argue with that. In fact, I bet Harvey would agree. He is a smart guy. As for “pris”, you are just wrong. AZ has a director ops. It’s not “pris”. “Pris” is fully a coach. She left ASU to no longer be a DOP, coached high school, now assist. coaches. Murray may have some advice to give and same with Li. Great thought process there. But nobody is attacking Harvey. Just pointing out the facts around DISTANCE. And Arizona’s distance … YOWZA.

Lagat was a big fat cheater and now sucks as a coach. His assistant is awful. WTF is Arizona thinking

Dear Bernard Lagat,

I hope you read this in your golf cart and say to your boss “these are just internet trolls, it’s what happens when you are the best”

but let’s face it

your fakeness has come to an end.
no more BS.
Good luck to you.
see you on the golf course

This is so unfortunate.

I'm old enough to remember when U of A had REALLY good distance runners.

You gotta crack a few eggs to make an sandwich as they say

Bernand Lagat is a nightmare in Arizona while his brother Robert Chaseret is burning down US ARMY WCAP.

Michael Urbanski and Andrew Gibby (is leaving for New Mexico next season) I know of