Time for Gibby to take the reigns and build the distance program to the podium. I like Fred, but this move excites me.
Time for Gibby to take the reigns and build the distance program to the podium. I like Fred, but this move excites me.
Cross Hogg: Great idea - lets put another clueless distance guy in charge of the total program and watch it sink into disaster. Any time you put distance guys in charge of the track program there are bad things about to happen. Look at the recent NCAA TRACK championships top teams. Texas A&M, Florida, Oregon, Arizona State, Texas, etc, etc. All led by TRACK coaches. Michigan should hire a TRACK coach who then can support the distance program. Most of us in the collegiate track world have watched distance guys who are ill equipped to lead the total program screw things up time after time.
Gibby is a great distance coach, but unless the programs combine, Michigan will be left with zero middle distance guys. Have you seen the times coming out of that program? They didn't have a guy under 4.10 this year! and no one getting anywhere near 1.50! that is an absolute joke for a major D1 school.
They need to combine so that they can hire a mid-distance coach, or Gibby needs to go back to a small conference school where he can get all the points he wants with 5k and 10k guys.
Far more "track" programs are walling in mediocrity with completely worthless cross country programs led by "sprint" coaches. What you are missing is this: When you have limited resources as a coach you have to go with what your strengths are. If you can build a complete program an have the staff for it then you still better pick what our strengths are and stay with them. Championships are won when head coaches match their assistants with good recruits and let them work. For some that may mean focusing on events other don't. For some that means internationals and other still it means you hope for the best.
There are plenty of examples of successful track programs under various specialties. The individual's ability to designate roles, collaborate with others, and build a unified but separately successful program matters much more than whether he or she knows more about the nuances of a 10k vs a 100m dash.
You are also talking about a host of non-Big 10 schools. As someone else pointed out, there are a ton of track programs led by non-distance guys that not only are mediocre in track, but suck in xc. So they are essentially terrible in everything. At least with a distance guy, at a school capable of being successful in xc, you are trying to win NCAA at Lennon the three. Instead of none of the three.
Yeah look at what a disaster McDonnell was at Arkansas. no one wants a repeat of that!
just another disaster wrote:
Cross Hogg: Great idea - lets put another clueless distance guy in charge of the total program and watch it sink into disaster. Any time you put distance guys in charge of the track program there are bad things about to happen. Look at the recent NCAA TRACK championships top teams. Texas A&M, Florida, Oregon, Arizona State, Texas, etc, etc. All led by TRACK coaches. Michigan should hire a TRACK coach who then can support the distance program. Most of us in the collegiate track world have watched distance guys who are ill equipped to lead the total program screw things up time after time.
Nailed It: look at Stanford.
Not o my a XC guy but a Women's Only XC Guy.
MEN: LAST pac12 LAST NCAA
John McDonnell was an anomaly. Every situation finds one of those.
Reality is of the top 25 men's teams at the recent NCAA Championships #9 Florida State, #14 Penn State, #21 Indiana are led by "distance" coaches. Thats it. On the women's side #6 Stanford, #8 Arkansas, #13 Iowa State, ##18 Michigan State, #21 Oklahoma are led by the distance geeks. Other than that they are "track" coaches.
Certainly the best model would be for a strong track-oriented coach that understands the importance of strong support for the distance head is the most successful.
ok - dumbest statement ever - he was the biggest cheater in ncaa history - so you are correct - we don't want a repeat of that
Florida State is led by a "distance" coach.
Speaking of Florida State.. opening for Assistant Coach:
FSU is sprints and hurdles...
coacher wrote:
ok - dumbest statement ever - he was the biggest cheater in ncaa history - so you are correct - we don't want a repeat of that
I keep hearing this "fact" on THIS site. Would someone please fill me in on all the cheating he did during his time at Arkansas? Maybe some specifics?
I know all about the two titles that were taken away. From what I understand, his then newly hired sprint coach(Lance B.) had partaken in some very shady business at the JUCO he was coaching at, and that followed him to Arkansas. The NCAA took note b/c it benefitted them(Arkansas) in the specific form of Tyson Gay, who along with Wallace Spearmon helped in the winning of the titles that were vacated. What I don't understand is why everyone keeps saying he cheated. How was he able to get away with it and not get caught until an outsider came in and messed it up for him? What are the allegations? Illegal jobs? Pay outs? Guys driving around in new cars after a title? Problems with his international recruiting? WHAT? I really just want to know if he has been convicted in the court of public opinion b/c of his success, or if there is something behind it all? Thanks in advance for your answers!
Tennessee has an opening for throws.
Marcus Newson leaving Wartburg? Anyone know where he is going?
Why do you think Newson is leaving? I have seen the advertisement for an assistant coach, but nothing about the head job...
Midwestrunna wrote:
Marcus Newson leaving Wartburg? Anyone know where he is going?
Well, anomaly or not, I'll pattern my ideal situation after the most successful guy of all time. You can pattern yours after hoards in his wake. I will give you that distance geeks who try to give 10 scholarships to distance runners are ding their team no favors. However, a distance guy who appreciates how to balance his team is your best shot at being truly dominant. BTW- Did you really say "of the top 25 teams." Yiu think anyone's ad is saying, "Great job, you got 12th (or worse) at track nationals?" After the top two at NCAAs you should only discuss conference championships.
Tyson Chicken. Not any worse cheating than the duo of Oregon and Nike.
twotimer wrote:
Tennessee has an opening for throws.
John Frazier is going to UCLA.