Cal-job

[quote]A Cal Track & Field Alum wrote:

If you were Brian Maxwell and you saw your name tossed around with references to your "purse strings" how would that make you feel? What if you were a coaching candidate and were reading some of these posts?

[quote]

These are intelligent, grown men we are talking about, who hopefully have their ego's in check. If their boxers (or butt-huggers) get ruffled by a few posts from anonymous message board attendees, then they have issues that go far beyond the influence of this board.

Handing over a program of this potential magnitude to an unproven coach (Huffins) would be a shame and a potential disaster. Gladstone should look close to home and hire someone with strong local ties. There a few local high school coaches with elite programs that could make the transition and get the ship righted at Cal.

I go back to an original thread: What's up with the cal job? I tired to shed some light on it as one keg did with what I felt were pretty dam good sources. However, I am not a Cal Alum, just some who knows a "lttle bit" about the track going's at Cal and the Track program. If I offended anyone with anything I said or gave the wrong information..well so be it!

As for Brian Maxwell, let's just say I know why the statue of the Maxwell's is right where it is and why ( and yes it's one of the uglyist things I have ever seen ) and so do many others, Brian is a quality person and has donated money to Cal for years but NOT to track....now things "maybe" changing which is great for Cal.

Has one Keg said let's let the situation playit's self out. To all that provided imput, thanks, One Keg..big props let's see what happens and talk later...

In closing, many have wondered why Coach Miller did no want to be considered for the job. LONG time Cal Assistant, Alum, NCAA champ, USA team coach, coached Huffins, loyal, ect..dam nice guy too....

Now if you read the job applcation very close you will find you answer.....Remember whyyou go to college in the first place! I'm out!

First of all, Huffins is not "unproven"(if you would like a list of his coaching accolades, it won't be too hard for me to pull them up). Second, do you really think a bay area high school coach will be able to draw in more recruits/dollars than a Cal guy who happens to be an Olympic Bronze medalist in the decathlon, AND a good coach? Just wondering...

someone mentioned that a newspaper in ca had said that the announcement on who is being hired would be made later this week, is there any confirmation to this

--atribble

Just a guess on Miller,

No degree???

Do I win?

Anyone?

I don't know if Ed Miller got his degree from Cal or not, but that's irrelevent as the job posting does not list a B.A., B.S., etc, as a requirement.

Ed Miller = NCAA decathlon champ in 1975 for Arizona, would be a great hire, problem is likely the white male issue. Brian Maxwell should be cool with a few message board speculations, he knows it's a big deal for all of us Cal folks and the change was a long time coming. The Cal anouncement is later this week or early next. Hopefully by Monday.

KLocke. You lost me with this one. Maxwell is not being paid for anything but he did sell PowerBar to Nestle for $368 mill in 2000.

One Keg- You lost me on that one. Check the results but I believe that Ed Miller was the NCAA dec champ for CAL, not Arizona. Thought you knew more about CAL sports.

Brainfart. Miller trained in AZ after graduating from Cal, which is where his back started to go south on him. Had a lot of other stuff on my mind when I wrote that. My bad.

Actually I do think that there are a couple of H.S coaches in the East Bay that would be better choices than Huffins. They may be H.S coaches but their programs consistently graduate elite athletes and their abundant connections within California would be invaluable.

It's looking more and more like it's going to be Huffins...

Mike, I'm not a coach - high school, college, or otherwise. But you've got to explain to me how a Bay area high school coach would be a better selection than Chris Huffins for the position of Director of Track and Field/Cross-Country at the University of California at Berkeley. Huffins' career as an athlete aside, if you chatted it up with the folks in the ACC(the conference with which he has been associated for 5 years as a coach), you'd find that, while young, he is an outstanding coach who has expertise in a wide range of events. Which of your "better" candidates has actually competed at an international level, for several years, in TEN different track AND field events? And apparently, Huffins recruits like a maniac. Sure, Bay area HS coaches have knowledge of, and access to, a good crop of kids from the cali. But Huffins has a wider audience, and a broader range of experience--I don't really think you can argue with that. Maybe I'm missing something here, please enlighten me. What's your beef with Huffins???

Too much emphasis is placed upon his athletic credentials, which are obviously exemplary. The responsibilities of the position far exceed ones athletic background. Besides coaching and recruiting the successful candidate is going to have to be successful with fundraising, directing camps, interacting with the local community etc.. In my opinion Huffins would be a fantastic assistant, but I'm not sure you would want to hand him a program of this magnitude yet.

Just my opinion, but I think Huffins would do just as good a job as anyone else, including Redwine, definitely better than any Cali HS coach.

Just a distance runner's nitpicking to add. Correct me if I'm wrong but Huffins did not COMPETE at an international level in at least one of those events. You can't tell me that jogging for 1500 meters is competing. I know a 1500 at the end would be a bitch, just calling a spade a spade. He was an incredible decathlete (One event) who was very good at several different disciplines.

So hire someone already.

Mike, if you are familiar with the new athletic director, then what makes you think that Steve Gladstone is going to "hand" anyone a job within that program? Gladstone is a longtime, and HIGHLY successful crew coach who dabbled with administrative duties here and there, but has always been (and still is) a COACH, first. He is going to hire the person he believes is best for the job, from every angle. And likewise, how can you draw the conclusion that a local HS coach is better equipped to fundraise, direct camps, and interact with the local community? Let me think, local HS coach vs. Olympic decathlete, hmmm--not too tough. You seem to have the impression that Huffins is simply an elite athlete who, by means of being just that, accompanied by his status as a Cal guy, can automatically make his way through the door on past glory. It's just not the case. Bottom line is, he is a good coach (I can't say great because I don't think 5 years of experience warrants such merit) who can do great things for Cal, more than ANY High School coach. Not meant to be a put-down to Bay area HS coaches, but I just think it's factual.

One keg...is it looking more like Huffins because time is making the other canidates lose interest or why?...just curious...

this just seems top be the consistent consensus with some insiders I'm in contact with privy to the Cal track coach hiring process. There are contradictory signs: The interview wasn't that great for Huffins, Erv's continued presence is a hindrance, Huffins is untested to an extent, but Gladstone is the man and he seems to like Huffins despite these complications. Gladstone is also tight with Erv so it is a fine kettle of fish for Cal's AD, but he has a brass pair and will make the call he thinks is best for Cal even if it ruffles someone's feathers. Just my .02, let's say for the record I have nothing concrete to add right now.