UConn Director of Track and Field/ Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan has announced the addition of Connor Mahoney-Ashberry to the coaching staff, pending the successful
Feel bad for these kids. Not sure who would take him after last year spending 9 months at Purdue. Clear red flags even without any information. If it was known what he has said to athletes and how he behaved, I’m sure he would never get a job again.
Boston College Director of Track & Field and Cross Country has announced the hiring of Elisabeth Danis to the coaching staff ahead of the 2024-25 season.
No experience coaching except at hs level. He's got OPS experience and "coffeed" with Kane in his little bit of time there before ISU so that's his super power. Athletes weren't excited. Good luck to all of them.
I was a young coach who also left. Mid major head XC and assistant track. Was making 35k per year, got a $1 raise after winning XC conference (I’m not kidding) and the athletic director got a larger bonus than I did for me winning coach of the year (also not kidding).
Money isn’t everything but it’s really hard to survive on $2k per month take home.
Also looking at the NCAA 5-10 years down the road I didn’t see a lot of opportunity. What change careers at 45 when I can leave at 35.
Yep agree with all the posts related to this. Very similar situation to this poster. I didn't get one raise or bonus over the years I was at my DI school and our team did very well. Lived and breathed the sport, devoted myself completely to the athletes development, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the director and considered him a friend and mentor, but the money (or lack thereof) was just not worth it for the stage of life that I was in. As the poster said, money isn't everything but I needed to provide more financial flexibility for myself and my wife and literally any other profession can provide that.
If you stick with it and gain experience and get better connected to other coaches eventually you probably will land a gig with a bigger paycheck, but with that comes more pressure and with the transfer portal, NIL, and just dealing with the growing number of bratty, entitled athletes the modern NCAA has created it made the decision that much easier.
This all makes sense as to why folks are dipping out on coaching, but what kinds of careers are really available to people who have spent most of their professional years as coaches? It's tempting but it doesn't seem like an easy exit, especially not one that would lead to more lucrative work options. Would be curious to know what former coaches moved on to do.
Sadie Baker is finishing her fifth year as an Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Distance coach at Adams State University in 2022-23. She is already decorated, as she has helped the Grizzlies win three-straight (2019; 2021 and 2022) national championships in cross country, a women’s indoor track and field championship (2023), two second-place finishes on the men’s side (XC – 2021 and ITF – 2023). Baker has eclipsed the century mark on All-American athletes she has coached with 57 women and 44 men earning the honor. During her athletic career, she helped the Grizzlies win the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship while also running on the 2018 team that finished second. She is also a three-time NCAA qualifier in 5k/10k; a five-time conference team champion, four-time conference indoor track and field team champion, two-time outdoor track and field team champion and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors in both XC and Outdoor Track and Field.
WOW!
Impressive, she has coached over 100 All Americans in 5 years time! Why is she still just an assistant?
Sadie Baker is finishing her fifth year as an Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Distance coach at Adams State University in 2022-23. She is already decorated, as she has helped the Grizzlies win three-straight (2019; 2021 and 2022) national championships in cross country, a women’s indoor track and field championship (2023), two second-place finishes on the men’s side (XC – 2021 and ITF – 2023). Baker has eclipsed the century mark on All-American athletes she has coached with 57 women and 44 men earning the honor. During her athletic career, she helped the Grizzlies win the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship while also running on the 2018 team that finished second. She is also a three-time NCAA qualifier in 5k/10k; a five-time conference team champion, four-time conference indoor track and field team champion, two-time outdoor track and field team champion and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors in both XC and Outdoor Track and Field.
WOW!
Impressive, she has coached over 100 All Americans in 5 years time! Why is she still just an assistant?
She just finished her masters in May- at Adams’s State. So probably wanted to stay there until she was done with school. My guess?
Feel bad for these kids. Not sure who would take him after last year spending 9 months at Purdue. Clear red flags even without any information. If it was known what he has said to athletes and how he behaved, I’m sure he would never get a job again.
Sadie Baker is finishing her fifth year as an Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Distance coach at Adams State University in 2022-23. She is already decorated, as she has helped the Grizzlies win three-straight (2019; 2021 and 2022) national championships in cross country, a women’s indoor track and field championship (2023), two second-place finishes on the men’s side (XC – 2021 and ITF – 2023). Baker has eclipsed the century mark on All-American athletes she has coached with 57 women and 44 men earning the honor. During her athletic career, she helped the Grizzlies win the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship while also running on the 2018 team that finished second. She is also a three-time NCAA qualifier in 5k/10k; a five-time conference team champion, four-time conference indoor track and field team champion, two-time outdoor track and field team champion and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors in both XC and Outdoor Track and Field.
WOW!
Impressive, she has coached over 100 All Americans in 5 years time! Why is she still just an assistant?
She just finished her masters in May- at Adams’s State. So probably wanted to stay there until she was done with school. My guess?
Having a female will balance nicely w Cornfield and Smith and she’s had great success at Adams’s State.
don't know much about her but it seems like a great fit. she has experience with altitude training and is used to a winning culture. should transition nicely.