Williams Coach Ralph White?

This whole thing is sad. Ralph White, who like all of us may not be a perfect person, has been a successful and inspiring coach these past 7 years. My daughter is a senior on the team this year, and she has become an All American in her events as the result of the excellent coaching, hard work, and inspiring atmosphere at Williams. These athletes never forget that their academics come first, and Coach White has been totally supportive of that emphasis while still running one of the most successful D3 track programs anywhere. It's a difficult juggling act, and the result is a student body with dozens or hundreds of true student athletes. Maybe "everyone hates people from Williams," as someone wrote a few days ago, but that smacks of sour grapes and diminishes the real accomplishments of the Williams students and their coaches.

I ran track in the 80's for Farley and Farwell on a cinder track - that is, when we even had a track! It was much simpler then. The program was 'successful' because we approached running as artists, as students of the sport. Farley and Farwell are honest men. We ran FOR them.

After Farwell relinquished the head job around the year 2000, Williams wanted it's cake and to eat it too and shot for the moon by recruiting a Div I coach who coached Olympic level athletes. A lot of ideals are sacrificed at that high level.

Anyone who has coached multiple Olympians has had contact with athletes using performance enhancing substances. To believe otherwise is just plain naive.

However, if a Williams athlete/s were to test postive, that would be much harder to recover from (compared to a coach who buys his Masters and puts a relative to be on the payroll for work not performed) - and as an alum, I would be very, very pissed and vocal about it.

I don't like the way I see the program going. I had some 'questions' about 2 female Williams athletes I saw competing this season, and I didn't even know there were rumors circulating about same until I came across this board after getting that weird email from Williams about the 'no rehire' fiasco.

There's too much emphasis at Williams on winning titles now. If Williams keeps it up - insist on winning nationals, etc, - it will bite them in the ass one day soon. Believe me, a Williams athlete testing positive will make nice Sunday Edition reading in both the LA Times and New York Times.

Williams can recover from this current "decision to not rehire" by going back to basics. They should really ask the next candidates, "Why do you want to coach at Williams?" - and listen carefully to the responses.

I hate to have to set the record straight, but I can tell you there is a HUGE gap between what you are observing from afar and drawing inferences from and what is actually going on. Just because Ralph White is a great track coach doesn't mean he is only concerned with winning titles. It's naive to think you have it all figured out, and that Williams only hired Coach White because he would bring home a national championship at all costs. Believe me, I have been a skeptic myself, and can see how somebody would view the situation like you do. However, let me assure you, as a truly unbiased person who has no personal connection to whether he stays or goes, Coach White embodies everything you would want in a typical DIII coach. Sure he loves to win, but he cares much more about instilling in his athletes a sense of hard work and dedication to the sport, a dedication to fair play and academics, and of course desire to be the best. I'm sorry, but you are WAY off on this one.

Apprentice - I rarely respond to outlandish statements but I could not help myself this time. I have known Ralph White for over 20 years as I ran for him and then we coached together for several years. I now coach at a D I program and can tell you that because someone coached olympic athletes does not mean you sacrifice ideals.

More importantly I have not met a more dedicated, hard working, enthusiastic, motivational, or KNOWLEDGEABLE coach than Ralph White. No one prepares their athletes for practice or competition better than Coach. He is everything a student-athlete would want in a coach. He brings out the best in you - without steroids or anything else. In his 30+ years no athlete that he coached has ever been accused of any drug use.

We had weekly meetings when I was an assistant. I assure you that Coach would never even entertain someone using drugs. He made that extremely clear to all or us. We would just outwork and outcoach everyone. Here is a man who does not allow assistants or athletes to curse in front of him and out of respect, no one does. If you actually went to Williams you will know how hard that is for Dick Farley. Also, two of Ralph White\'s biggest supporters are Pete and Dick. Call them and ask what Coach is about. You will change your opinion, if you are open to that.

You are also way off on his puting a relative on the payroll to coach. The person in question was a man from Africa that Coach\'s son and daughter met during the Peace Core. Coach paid for the man, his wife, and their three children to come to the United States. They lived with Coach and his wife for the year they where here. The children were malnourished and where starving to death. It is hard to believe someone would try and turn that around. You should be ashamed of yourself.

It is true that Coach White can upset administraters. He will fight for his athletes and track & field. He refuses to accept track & field as second class. All of us who read this site should want someone like that. He said many of times that T & F is the most important sport on any campus. Coach loves track and seeing athletes of all abilities. I know I spoke with him last year about being at Williams compared to D I and he said if you throw away the stop watch and tape it is still competition. Maybe the athetes are not running as fast or jumping as far but it was rewarding to see someone work hard and improve. He sometimes misses the \"big time\" meets but loves his team so he is happy.

You wrote about making the LA or NYT. There will not be an athlete under Ralph White\'s watch who test positive for drugs. He is a man of principle. Not taking anything away from Williams but if he would not do it at big time D I\'s with world class athletes he is surely not going to have D III athletes take them. Coach does not need to win at D III to be successful. He has been extremely successful at the highest level.

Apprentice, you also do damage to two athletes when you make accusations. That is so unfair to them as many will not read this email and will take your ridiculious statement as facts. Being a former Williams runner (which I doubt) you make the school look bad when they are doing great things.

Everywhere Coach has been the teams do well because he cares about the students and will spend countless hours to assure that the little things are taken care of. For those of you who have to compete against Williams do not try and ruin someones reputation because they out perform you. Stop trying to bring others down. Instead do what Ralph\'s athetes do - work harder and stop making excuses.

My kids will enter college in a few years and there is NO ONE I would rather coach them than Ralph White.

I will not respond any more but please stop the rumors and misinformation. Track & field needs more people like Ralph White who truly love the sport.

Tracknut,

Any info on why Coach White left Clemson? Might it be similar reasons as at Williams? Is there a trend here or is merely a vociferous (sp?) athlete advocate that has been wronged by at at least two institutions? Many great college coaches have good relations with their administration and can therefore more effectively champion their athletes - are you suggesting that one is supposed to give props to a coach who can't do this?

Sorry, meant to type "...or is Coach White merely a vociferous..."

Apprentice,

Please do not insult a coach you have never met and never worked with. Coach White cares only about athletes and their well being. Go watch the video hosted here

http://www.ephblog.com/archives/004000.html#comments

and then maybe edit or recant your previous post.

Apprentice wrote:

After Farwell relinquished the head job around the year 2000, Williams wanted it's cake and to eat it too and shot for the moon by recruiting a Div I coach who coached Olympic level athletes. A lot of ideals are sacrificed at that high level.

I think Farwell was a great coach but let's not pretend that attitude started after he left. As soon as NESCAC lifted the prohibition on team competition in NCAA's, Williams went full bore. I could name several athletes rejected by "lesser" NESCAC schools that went on to compete for Williams. That's their right and I'm not criticizing the school for that, but let's not pretend that it wasn't happening under previous coaches.

two cents wrote:

Are you kidding me? This is a Div. III program you're talking about. People come to Williams for its academics, then for its athletics. To accuse someone on the Williams T&F team of using steroids is ridiculous. Just because the teams are successful doesn't mean the athletes are using steroids.

I graduated from another NESCAC college a few years ago and know for a fact there were athletes at my school on unsuccessful teams using steroids and supplements of dubious legality. I don't know anything about Williams T&F, other then the program was/is a powerhouse with a lot of very strong runners, jumpers and throwers, but - while I would find it sad - I would not be surprised if athletes were using PEDs considering the extreme infrequency of testing in DIII and NESCAC competition.

I know for an absolute fact that not a single person on the Williams team takes or would even consider taking steroids. I almost didn't respond to this because I consider it beneath me to even entertain this notion. If you had any idea how hard the men and women at Williams work, how much they sacrifice for success, and at what high principles they always compete, you would see how ludicrous the suggestion is that any of them are on steroids.

Struck a nerve, did I 'track nut'? You truly come across as wishful and naive in your thiking.

As for 'alum' who suggests I edit or recant - sorry but I'm not on your payroll.

"Coach White embodies everything you would want in a typical DIII coach."

Then why is he essentially being fired?

To have the success he's had and not get renwed, you have to truly #$%@-up somewhere and multiple times at that.

One other observation: some people are making it seem like a coach is the main reason why such and such an athlete has success. Ralph White isn't the one out there working through oxygen debt. T&F is an individual sport. The track coach above all else has to be a good role model and good person and not wear an athlete out for the sake of team scoring and quest for titles - a general problem with US collegiate track and field and from what I see, a problem at Williams too.

Williams runners should be smart enough to essentially coach themselves. (The high skill field events are a different matter - here the coach plays a more important role.) Running for a Div III, Ivy League Track team should not be a Club Med type experience.

Life is not black and white. Coach White has his act together for 90%. But that last 10% is kicking his ass. I hope he can solve it out before he retires.

PS: This rule someone mentioned of coach White's above of 'no cursing' would not have worked for us on the 80's squad. We got into Williams based on our academics. We didn't owe the coach or school anything. The coaches were grateful just for having warm bodies to fill the lanes. As first week freshmen at Williams, we drank beer with the college president on his front lawn. We cursed like sailors on the track team, especially during spring break. We were not 'PC' - whipped. The team was small enough and dedicated that we felt at ease to rib each other over race and religion. At practice, we approached the coaches with the workout WE intended on doing.

BTW, I am not suggesting the program is full of dopees. I see a lot of nice athletes. But like I said, I have concern over two females. One looks suspiciously like steroids/HGH.

eph wrote:

I know for an absolute fact that not a single person on the Williams team takes or would even consider taking steroids. I almost didn't respond to this because I consider it beneath me to even entertain this notion. If you had any idea how hard the men and women at Williams work, how much they sacrifice for success, and at what high principles they always compete, you would see how ludicrous the suggestion is that any of them are on steroids.

Really? You "know for an absolute fact" that "not a single person on the Williams team takes or would even consider taking steroids"??? You must be an omniscient, omnipresent being - anyone with such an inflated sense of self worth must go to Williams! Try to think before you make such unequivocal, hyperbolic statements.

Personally, I would rather be on the team described by "Apprentice" than the current regime.

Did you watch the video or do you refuse to learn any real facts?

If you watched the video and still have these negative feelings about Coach White then I guess it is useless to convince you of anything because clearly you see no value in people who help those that are victims of awful abuse.

Farley and Farwell who you apparently ran for support Coach White. What do you think of that? Why don't you contact them and ask them about this situation? I am sure they would love to hear from you since 30-40 year old men who spread rumors about people they have never met on message boards are real winners!

And swearing reflects poorly on your parents and your upbringing. It also shows a weak vocabulary and or a problem with verbal expression.

I love being on the circa 2000’s Williams track team.

They say my coach diddles a steroid-addled charge.

I refrain from uttering four-letter words in his presence.

They say my coach purchased an online degree from the warmth of his den for few hundred bucks.

I attend a rigorous college for four long winters at $30,000 per year per to get my degree.

They say my coach hires a family friend to be an assist coach at 20K/year who never shows up to assist us.

I work a campus job for bus fare home.

My coach receives the credit for having many All-Americans and championships.

I over-train and run multiple events at meets to win one for the Gipper.

The coach goes to New Englands and Nationals.

I am injured from over-training and running multiple events and have to view the meet results online.

Still, I am so happy here; I want my own children to run track at Williams one day under coach. However, if there is one area where we can improve though, it is in hydration department. They serve Gatorade at now, but the coach says we should drink Kool-Aid.

"I am sure they would love to hear from you since 30-40 year old men who spread rumors about people they have never met on message boards are real winners!"

True, I am somewhat of a loser. True, I don't think Farley and Farwell would like to hear from me, especially since I am expressing something they may not agree with concerning a colleague whom they may like very much.

"And swearing reflects poorly on your parents and your upbringing. It also shows a weak vocabulary and or a problem with verbal expression."

True, I am the byproduct of bad breeding and have a limited vocabulary (based on Williams standards). I have to give you credit on that one.

Apprentice,

Which 2 female athletes are you referring to? If you don't know their names what events? Don't leave us in suspense, say what ya mean bud, say what ya mean.

C'mon guys and gals, even though it may be "lowly" Div 3, the job insecurities are like any in the corporate or global scene. I went to Billsville and although I played soccer in the 70's, I have gotten to know Pete and the program. No way would a coach endorse PEDS.. Individuals may seek a boost but certainly not under a coach's advisement: that recourse wouyld be professional suicide. I've coached numerous Footlocker finalists and current D1 runners, so forgive me if I sound like a know-it-all, but dosing out drugs is not the way the game works. Parents, friends, fellow athletes might encourage this decision, but not coaches. My guess is that Eph athletes have too much on the ball to be risk so much in college. I may be wrong. I can say this about Pete Farwell: in no way would he ever touch the subject.

I was on the team from 84-87 and apprentice you just proved you are not an alum. There were no spring breaks for you to curse like a sailor in the 80's. There are many other stupid comments but we do not need to go there.

You may be interested in knowing that you will soon be identified. Another alum who now works for a certain agency in Washington DC says he can find out who sends what on this site or any other. That is the nice thing about computers, you can trace everything.

People who make false accusations will end up in court. Starting rumors will not be taken lightly in court when you tarnish someones reputation. There are a lot of people who take this very seriously. Be prepared to pay the consquences.

Williams just won the women's NE Championships and finished 3rd on the men's side.