The problem with a Darren Gauson, Will Palmer and Dave Smith the NCAA isn’t complicated they don’t actually develop athletes, they just scoop up older post collegiate runners from overseas and pretend it’s coaching. They are not respected for their coaching one bit!
Just look at the Oregon Women...How many of the team just competed at the last Olympics and World Champs. Most are older than 22.
100% Shalane doesn’t coach. Oregon has the most NIL to do what they want
At this point some NCAA programs aren’t really developing athletes, they’re assembling rosters. Instead of building runners over four years, they rely heavily on older, already-developed international athletes who arrive with near professional resumes. It creates a situation where the “coaching” is basically just plugging in finished products and collecting results. Plenty of coaches across the country hate this dynamic because it undermines what NCAA cross country should be about, identifying talent, developing it, and building a team. When a program stacks mature athletes who are physically and competitively way beyond the typical 18- to 22-year-old American system, it changes the sport and makes the playing field feel fundamentally uneven. These coaches are snakes and not good for the sport one bit!
When coaches do this, they're basically telling the world they are too shetty of a coach to actually develop talent. I know one coach in particular who fits this. He's a total POS personally too. I think we should speak out more against these types and make it known we don't respect them.
At this point some NCAA programs aren’t really developing athletes, they’re assembling rosters. Instead of building runners over four years, they rely heavily on older, already-developed international athletes who arrive with near professional resumes. It creates a situation where the “coaching” is basically just plugging in finished products and collecting results. Plenty of coaches across the country hate this dynamic because it undermines what NCAA cross country should be about, identifying talent, developing it, and building a team. When a program stacks mature athletes who are physically and competitively way beyond the typical 18- to 22-year-old American system, it changes the sport and makes the playing field feel fundamentally uneven. These coaches are snakes and not good for the sport one bit!
I don't necessarily disagree with your overall premise, but where is it written that this is the purpose of NCAA cross country? My take would be that the purpose of NCAA cross country is the same as every other NCAA support: Win.
Decades ago in Runner’s World there was an article about foreign distance runners on US college teams. They quoted then student Craig Virgin saying something like “it gets tougher and tougher every year.” I’m sure that competition helped Virgin prepare for and win World XC twice.
Even if you have no Internationals, it would still be teams with best American recruits that win.
This idea of developing average hs runners into winning ncaa teams is a fallacy.
Recruit the best athletes you can Develop the athletes that you recruit as best you can Peak at the right time
These are all the job of a coach. Like you, I don't buy this argument other make that there's nobility in only recruiting 11 minute 2 milers. It's failing at a critical part of the job.
People still forgetting that recruiting is part of a coach's job.
At this point some NCAA programs aren’t really developing athletes, they’re assembling rosters. Instead of building runners over four years, they rely heavily on older, already-developed international athletes who arrive with near professional resumes. It creates a situation where the “coaching” is basically just plugging in finished products and collecting results. Plenty of coaches across the country hate this dynamic because it undermines what NCAA cross country should be about, identifying talent, developing it, and building a team. When a program stacks mature athletes who are physically and competitively way beyond the typical 18- to 22-year-old American system, it changes the sport and makes the playing field feel fundamentally uneven. These coaches are snakes and not good for the sport one bit!
I don't necessarily disagree with your overall premise, but where is it written that this is the purpose of NCAA cross country? My take would be that the purpose of NCAA cross country is the same as every other NCAA support: Win.
At least we agree they don’t really coach and just pretend to know how to coach.
Who's talking about race? This is not a race issue. You scram racism and are quick to call someone a racist. This issue has nothing to do with skin color!!! This is predominantly an age issue and possibly a doping issue. What is happening in the NCAA distance program is screwing over all Americans of many different races.
And likely many more that were swept under the rug by NCAA institutions that did not make it out into national media. We are still waiting to see what actually happened with the Iowa State rumors as well.
Dude, that's not "just had numerous high profile Kenyans in the NCAA test positive".
You are right, it's actually FAR WORSE.
These aren't people that came to America and then chose to start doping. They were CAUGHT AND BANNED in Kenya and then STILL came to America to compete in the NCAA.
Coaches are literally bringing in convicted dopers currently serving drug suspensions.
The NCAA does NOT test for PED’s. NCAA ONLY tests for recreational drug use like pot and other commonly used drugs.
This is due to the tests that look for PED’s costing $500+ per test verse the recreational test that is around 5-15 dollars per test.
The NCAA has gotten ridiculous and is completely saturated with a bunch of old Africans beating out Americans who are still early in their development. In regard to consistent coaching by programs like UNM, OSU, ISU, those coaches travel year-old. They’re glorified travel agents and by no means developing anyone besides a random person that comes along every 2-3 years.
Americans do compete at on the international area. However when it comes to competing within the NCAA system, Americans are far behind . Why is this? Too many coaches working as Travel Agents.
Dude, that's not "just had numerous high profile Kenyans in the NCAA test positive".
You are right, it's actually FAR WORSE.
These aren't people that came to America and then chose to start doping. They were CAUGHT AND BANNED in Kenya and then STILL came to America to compete in the NCAA.
Coaches are literally bringing in convicted dopers currently serving drug suspensions.
Athletes on a doping ban making it through NCAA clearing house and competing is definitely an issue that should not happen.
These aren't people that came to America and then chose to start doping. They were CAUGHT AND BANNED in Kenya and then STILL came to America to compete in the NCAA.
Coaches are literally bringing in convicted dopers currently serving drug suspensions.
Athletes on a doping ban making it through NCAA clearing house and competing is definitely an issue that should not happen.
The NCAA eligibility center does not look at the doping list. They only look at grades and if the athletes have ever received pro money.
You're telling me nobody in Kenya gave Lemngole a penny when she ran 14:40 prior to coming to USA? And nobody in Kenya gave Kipkirui a penny when he won the World U20 Cross Country Championship?
Or they were offered money but they both turned that money down despite being from extremely poor villages?
Athletes on a doping ban making it through NCAA clearing house and competing is definitely an issue that should not happen.
The NCAA eligibility center does not look at the doping list. They only look at grades and if the athletes have ever received pro money.
You're telling me nobody in Kenya gave Lemngole a penny when she ran 14:40 prior to coming to USA? And nobody in Kenya gave Kipkirui a penny when he won the World U20 Cross Country Championship?
Or they were offered money but they both turned that money down despite being from extremely poor villages?
And I said they (Clearinghouse) SHOULD confirm whether or not they are on a doping suspension as a part of eligibility confirmation.
In the era of NIL the times of receiving pro money being a concern to people is gone.
The NCAA eligibility center does not look at the doping list. They only look at grades and if the athletes have ever received pro money.
You're telling me nobody in Kenya gave Lemngole a penny when she ran 14:40 prior to coming to USA? And nobody in Kenya gave Kipkirui a penny when he won the World U20 Cross Country Championship?
Or they were offered money but they both turned that money down despite being from extremely poor villages?
And I said they (Clearinghouse) SHOULD confirm whether or not they are on a doping suspension as a part of eligibility confirmation.
In the era of NIL the times of receiving pro money being a concern to people is gone.
So you would have no problem with prime Lebron James being able to play NCAA basketball at age 30 since he never went to college?
You'd be fine with Noah Lyles joining the NCAA after making all his pro money?
And I said they (Clearinghouse) SHOULD confirm whether or not they are on a doping suspension as a part of eligibility confirmation.
In the era of NIL the times of receiving pro money being a concern to people is gone.
So you would have no problem with prime Lebron James being able to play NCAA basketball at age 30 since he never went to college?
You'd be fine with Noah Lyles joining the NCAA after making all his pro money?
That's one of the dumbest opinions ever.
No, I am in favor of age limits.
I would, however, lose zero sleep if Cooper Lutkenhaus went to college and competed in the NCAA. Carson Beck is getting millions why should I be bothered by Cooper getting paid and running at NCAAs?
The academic guardrails are removed. Paying athletes. Collegiate sports are no longer an arm of academics. What you have now is a Frankenstein monster that bears little resemblance to the sport a decade ago. Who cares which school wins with the most East Africans? Not me. I am increasingly disinterested.