Bucknam new Arkansas coach

Hogwild Pizza wrote:

What a great day for Joe Walker. The 2008 SEC XC trophy should be mailed to Tuscaloosa.

What if Bucknam hires a distance coach as has been speculated (not a sprint coach as I was proposing) and it is Joe Walker?

Why would Bucknam hire Joe Walker?? Somebody with an inside look should throw out some feasible names and everyone should stop bi$*in about the hire--- if you look @ the guy's resume, he's certainly paid his dues, had some serious success & deserves a shot at a fully funded program.

It makes more sense for this thread to move towards who will get hired as assts (his UNI staff?) & who transfers as well as who gets hired at UNI. Lawson?

Hogwild Pizza wrote:

What a great day for Joe Walker. The 2008 SEC XC trophy should be mailed to Tuscaloosa.

Alabama was/is going to win the 2008 SEC XC title whether McDonnell was at Arkansas or not. I believe that is why he retired a year before hosting the NCAA outdoor championships. Didn't want to be there to spoil the perfect record.

The Hogs lucked out last year when Bama had to hold out one of their top guys at SECs. The only way they don't win this fall is if they have passport issues.

By the way, Bucky - great hire. His team at UNI is on par, if not slightly better, than the current Hogs. Just think what he will be able to do with the resources and facilities in Hog-land!

It makes most sense for Bucknam to convince Case to go with with. Wasn't Case the Drake head coach the assistant job opened up at UNI?

I think the two of them together is what has turned the team into what they are today.

It makes most sense for Bucknam to convince Case to go with with. Wasn't Case the Drake head when coach the assistant job opened up at UNI? I'm not sure whether he decided it was better to coach with Bucknam or better to coach at his alma mater. That is now the decision he needs to make, if given the chance.

I think the two of them together is what has turned the team into what they are today.

To who said they never heard of UNI then you arent really into track and field. I have no connection to UNI but if you pay any attention to the NCAA meet you would have seen the uniform plenty of times. I hope he does well.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if Bucky pulled a Dana Altman and turned around and went home after the first press conference scared him off.

All I can say is if Coach McDonnell recommended him as his first choice, the Razorback Nation will respect and support Coach Bucknam.

Nobody has ever done anything great with any program anywhere until someone gave them the chance to prove themselves. Steping into the shoes of the winningest coach in collegiate sports history wouldn't be an easy task for anyone. I think he'll do great because if the passion I've already seen from him in just the past week.

According to the Georgia Milesplit forums, Girma Mecheso has recently committed to Arkansas - this is a guy who could make a bit impact in XC as a freshman. Watch the Peachtree results later this week to see what kind of shape he's in.

UNI needs a xc/distance coach.

Educated Guess wrote:

There are also a number of current Head Coaches in the midwest who could come down as the sprint coach, as well - Ron Boyce, is one.

Ron Boyce!!!! ahhhhhh

Check final results from outdoor nationals the last two eyars to see who the better program is...

UNI used to be solid on the cross country side of things. Did the hungos bleed them dry or was the focus just shifted to the other events? Not much development over the years for the cc squad

with rumors of assistants and current athletes leaving UNI, will the new recruits coming in still show up or will they follow as well?

i heard the whole team is headed south. recruits too! its called an nli---uni would be stupid to release more than one guy & buck would look pretty bad trying to take more than one guy. i'm sure ARK has tons of scholarship money just sitting there.

what happens to andrew perkins?

Bucky and Case better be prepared to recruit their butts of like they are three coaches. Booth does not like to go out on the road and recruit. For a fact both present Arkansas ELITE jumpers (Nkosinza Balumbu and Alain Bailey)were recruited by former Hog assistant Lance Brauman.This staff will be limited with two hustlers and semi-retired coach that wants to drink coffee in the morning and give orders to the secretary.

Educated Guess wrote:

Bucky will get the job done. He will probably bring in a big name distance coach, bring Case down with him and hire an Arkansas alum or 2 to fill out the coaching staff.

Case is the next Head Coach at UNI. He is not going to Fayetteville unless they do not give him the job.

This is not a combined program. They have Bucknam, Booth, and one more coach (at least at the salaried - official level that is all they have - 3 coaches).

If it is a sprint coach I am starting with Joey Woody, who ran for Bucknam at UNI. He is now at Iowa. There are also a number of current Head Coaches in the midwest who could come down as the sprint coach, as well - Ron Boyce, is one.

Travis is still at UNI and would be the replacement for Booth, but not right now (but for how long - ?)

This is going to work. The only questions are how much longer are they on scholarship reduction from the Tyson Gay thing and will Bucknam pursue the high risk recruits (academically or personally) that it seems to take to be successful on the SEC / NCAA Championship level.[/quote]

Travis was most likely the recruiting machine at UNI but don't worry--- they'll git er' done down south if its those two hustlers. Especially if there's coffee involved.

Case has Arkansas ties, he used to coach at Arkansas State, and has already once moved from a head coaching position to be an assistant at UNI(from Drake). If being a head coach were the most important thing to him, he would have never done that.

Assistant coach at Arkansas has to be a better paying position than head coach at UNI. Plus he doesnt have to deal with funding restrictions, begging for travel money, etc.

Dont rule out him going to Arkansas.