Schiefer- Your concerns about Bucknam are understandable. No one can compare to McDonnell and anyone outside the system will understandably be met with some trepidation.
I dont know much about McDonnell other than what ive read- hes a hell of a coach and built an awesome program. I did, however, run for Bucky and feel like I know him fairly well. I few honest observations, hopefully to give you some hope in the new coach.
Bucky is a go getter. He is very personable and a hell of a one on one recruiter. He is not the type to try and live off the laurels of the previous coach. He knows the pressure is on and will work twice as hard.
The improvement of kids in his program at UNI has been phenominal. A 1:54 high schooler winning an NCAA title and running 1:46 his Junior Year. A 4:09 miler 2 years later is the NCAA runner up in the 1500. A 4x400 team of all Iowa kids, that almost every year makes nationals and runs around 3:04. Kids that couldnt break 10:00 in the 3200 or barely 4:30 running mid 14's 5k and 4:10 or faster miles. Point is year after year kids develop and get faster under Bucky. He has had a bunch of success with walk ons at UNI. I know McDonnell has at Arkansas as well. Look for that to continue.
Some of the success, especially of the 400 runners, goes to his assistant Doug Case. Case is like a younger, more intense Buck. I would not be surprised at all if Case if choosing between the head coaching job at UNI or an assistant job at Arkansas. Point being Bucky lets his assistants do their jobs. Booth will not have Buck looking over his shoulder trying to tell him what to do. Neither will the others.
Bucky stayed at UNI for almost 25 years. He isnt the type to just bolt. He will be aggressive at Arkansas and go after the best athletes, also getting solid walk ons as well. He is well liked and respected up here and will be at Arkansas as well.
As for Green and White. Like I said, if Case comes down, that would probably put the sprint coach out. I just cant see Bucky keeping all the assistants from the previous staff, in my opinion. Buck doesnt like the admin duties, like most coaches, so look for the coach overseeing operations and admin stuff to be kept on board.
Bucky will be missed here, and there are a lot of new Arkansas fans up here because of him.