You're given unlimited resources at a D1 school to build a championship program, which event do you begin with?

Which “event” do you START with….you=guys guys this dis what I do. I get the best person in every event! Done!!! Oh yaaaaaaa why dint any1 think of that!!!

First, you need to find a school that is comfortable for the maximums in track. These programs are becoming scarce. Where I went to school, we had zero chance of getting anywhere near the maximum as we were so good in other sports that the other sports used up the total minor sport scholarship quota. One can always choose a school with just a few sports, so there is no crowding out. One also rely heavily on financial aid, although some athletes from tough backgrounds may not qualify for a rigorous school.

For men. 12.6 scholarships allowed.

Hire a stud sprint coach. Here, the NCAA doesn't care what you pay.

Start with the best sprinters you can find. Build a cadre of sprinters.

Offer substantial, but not full, scholarships to events that don't typically offer big scholarships. The hammer throw and the javelin, both just outdoor events, are limited and these athletes will respond to reasonable offers. Make sure these athletes are stars.

Have two or three jumpers, better if they can double in the triple and long jump.

Recruit a great decathlete. He/she can do three or four events in a conference meet and score at nationals.

Recruit a great 400m hurdler, as they can also run the 400m. One of the sprinters should run the 110m hurdles.

For women, 18 scholarships allowed. Add a few distance runners to the above mix.

Given the above figures, I am surprised that women's distance is not deeper than men's distance. Maybe it is, but I have not seen any figures to support this contention.

Most of you are not thinking clearly. Sprinters are the most important due to 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays. Every conference championship in college races those two relays and only those two relays. Often very good long jumpers are also good at 100m &/or 200m athletes. Logically, it does not make sense to recruit 5000m & 10000m athletes.

Idk so what event group are you starting with?

With NIL, scholarships don't matter. If the budget is truly unlimited, that means you can offer every eligible athlete in the world NIL money to replace the scholarship.

But within the intended spirit of the question, the above is the correct answer. Sprinters who can also jump.

Agreed. A good 60/100 runner can run 200, 400, 4x4, and 4x1.

As an NCAA D1 coach you can't offer kids any amount of NIL money. That would be a violation and you would be sanctioned.

Sprints are also by far the most competitive as every coach tries to do this. Better off going where other people aren't focusing. Build a dominate group of shot, discus, javelin, and hammer people and then find one or two scorers in some other event.

And of course you should pretty much only bringing in transfer portal kids. Or internationals who are already at the scorer level.

For the quickest route to D1 success you need to look at the weakest D1 track and field event. The weakest event right now is the high jump.

Easy. Start with the sprints. People don't have the attention span to watch most events beyond 400 meters. It will build a good fan base if successful.

Mine had the 4x800 relay, DMR, etc. I get that we weren't a "traditional" D1 conference, but still.

I would perfect the pole vault. Out of this you will also get decathletes.

From there you build the sprints, hurdles and throws in that order. Sprints will help yield results for jumps.

Then finally you cater to the distance runners where you get xc free.

I would start with the 400m hurdles. The best intermediate hurdlers are also elite in the open 400 and can fill spots on the 4x4 and dmr. The athletes are probably also serviceable in the high hurdles, 200, and 800.

Perfect opp to put discus OP and you missed it

I'd build a team focused on Indoor Track.

800

mile

3k

5k

DMR

I'd go after the top 400/800/1600 meter high schoolers in the country. With 12 scholarships, 3 (full, halved, whatever) scholarships toward 400/800 runners and 9 (full, halved, whatever) scholarships toward 1600 meter guys.

I'd try to concentrate all points in those areas. I'd make XC and outdoor secondary options. Just a hot nasty badass Mid D team.

lol

Wow it's that simple lol

It seemed too easy lol

Calling your athletes hot? Are you Rita Gary?