Michigan's New XC Coach

scotth wrote:

There's a third man in the GR area that'd do a very nice job coaching in AA but, like BDiemer & GMeyer, will likely take a pass on the job.

Baltes? Not a chance. Even if he did want it, Brandon doesn't want him.

Sounds like Fred already has the job.

If Fred becomes the xc/distance coach, probably about 90% of the cross country guys will transfer or quit

There is no way Fred will be distance coach. There will be someone appointed by early aug and who ever it is will be approved by the team. With Forys as the leader and eager freshman coming in UM xc team will thrive and adapt. Also Kiwi's are not leaving they are at home preparing for next season.

Sadist part about Ron being forced out is that he has a family to look after and now no source of income. Selfish move by who ever forced him out. Ron is a great coach and always has been. There has been cases where Ron has not had results from his athletes but he can't force his athletes to be smart in their training but only guide them.

Well, if Ron was really forced out by the new AD, then my opinion (and hopes) for Michigan have really sunk, and I'm generally a proud Go Blue alumn. I don't know enough about Laplante to have an opinion on him yet, but I don't see him influencing the distance program the way Ron has. This would be especially sad if Fred had some role in this, as another poster pointed out, that Ron brought Fred in.

What was the deal with Kaiser? Why was he let go?

I hope the AD treats this as the premier coaching job that it is, and doesn't settle for a "demotion" in Michigan XC coaching.

Then again, if all of this is speculation, and Ron really did choose to call it quits, I am very happy for him and his family, and hope that he gets to enjoy a happy, productive retirement. He certainly has earned it!

a good guy wrote:

You are judging him as a person. I am friends with him and know many of the former badger runners. I know for a fact that the team didn't drink during the seasons ever. You obviously don't know the guy so quit making crap up. It's sad to see people who never made anything of themselves in the running world critique people who are accomplished. Being part of the great Wisco teams with Schumacher and having one of the best assistant jobs in the country doesn't just happen. Grow up because Bobby has always busted his ass to do well.

I'm sorry you can't deal with facts and truth. Bobby was at least a problem drinker in college. I hope that is behind him.

anon 2 wrote:

Sadist part about Ron being forced out is that he has a family to look after and now no source of income. Selfish move by who ever forced him out.

I agree with you he got screwed, but Ronnie was there for 35 years and is at retirement age. He should have full pension, no?

Bobby was a great host and recruiter I visited OSU on a visit! I think he would make a GREAT coach!

can recruit cant coach

You must not know the guy in the slightest. To claim he's a problem drinker is outlandish! If you don't believe me ask any of his close friends (ie any of his ex wisco teammates, coaches in the ncaa, dave smith, etc). Nice attempt on trying to make a good guy look bad. Facts and truth? Funny. You're classy.

BLFan-if he was so greeat, why didn't you go there?

You're a classy Mr. Obvious wrote:

You must not know the guy in the slightest. To claim he's a problem drinker is outlandish! If you don't believe me ask any of his close friends (ie any of his ex wisco teammates, coaches in the ncaa, dave smith, etc). Nice attempt on trying to make a good guy look bad. Facts and truth? Funny. You're classy.

How foolish to think that his closest companions would go around slamming him to weirdos like us who troll letsrun.

Another employee "resigned" today, Leberdie, the DOFO..........which brings the total in the athletic department up to at least 4 that have "resigned" in the last few days....... with Van Horn next....This frees up over a half a million dollars in salary (Warhurst, Kaiser, Carr, Leberdie, Van Horn)

Get Real wrote:

BLFan-if he was so greeat, why didn't you go there?

You're a classy Mr. Obvious wrote:

You must not know the guy in the slightest. To claim he's a problem drinker is outlandish! If you don't believe me ask any of his close friends (ie any of his ex wisco teammates, coaches in the ncaa, dave smith, etc). Nice attempt on trying to make a good guy look bad. Facts and truth? Funny. You're classy.

How foolish to think that his closest companions would go around slamming him to weirdos like us who troll letsrun.

Who else would you ask? Someone who doesn't know him? Having known Mr. Lockhart for two plus years I don't know of anyone that doesn't like the guy. He's simply likable! There's no wonder he signs recruits.

Really Real wrote:

Who else would you ask? Someone who doesn't know him? Having known Mr. Lockhart for two plus years I don't know of anyone that doesn't like the guy. He's simply likable! There's no wonder he signs recruits.

Being likeable doesn't make someone a good coach. The recruiting is only half the battle.

uh no wrote:

Really Real wrote:

Who else would you ask? Someone who doesn't know him? Having known Mr. Lockhart for two plus years I don't know of anyone that doesn't like the guy. He's simply likable! There's no wonder he signs recruits.

Being likeable doesn't make someone a good coach. The recruiting is only half the battle.

I agree. I never said he's a good coach, that will have to be proven once he has his own program. He has worked with the best and I personally believe he'll be extremely good. But it doesn't hurt to be a good person in his line of work.

Once he has his own program? Where to you people come from on here? What ever happened to paying your dues? WOrking your way up? Proving you can coach/recruit and then earning new jobs?So many of you 15:00 guys get on here and talk about how "so-and-so" should get these bigtime jobs because: they were good runners, they came from great programs as athletes, they are good guys. It is no wonder that we are screwed as a sport.The Michigan job for instance...People bashing Jerry Baltes as an example because he coaches in Division II. He has built a great program at the level at which he coaches. He has actually EARNED a shot at a great Division I job. Fortunately, the people making real decisions are not the losers on Letsrun. Half of you guys are bitter because you cannot land a job in this field. None of you are willing to do what it takes by working your way up. The natural progression in every other sport a 8-10 year process. But you losers think that simply because someone was a good runner, that they deserve some free pass?Would that happen in football or basketball? Hell no. Why should our sport be any different? Are we that horrible of a sport that just ANYBODY can coach? Or should we start treating our own sport like the bigger sports treat things and maybe we will get some respect.

Really Real wrote:

Who else would you ask? Someone who doesn't know him? Having known Mr. Lockhart for two plus years I don't know of anyone that doesn't like the guy. He's simply likable! There's no wonder he signs recruits.

Being likeable doesn't make someone a good coach. The recruiting is only half the battle.[/quote]

I agree. I never said he's a good coach, that will have to be proven once he has his own program. He has worked with the best and I personally believe he'll be extremely good. But it doesn't hurt to be a good person in his line of work.[/quote]

Would be shocked if this isn't Mort at the ned of the day. Been way more focused on women's programs, but this has to be dram job and Fred can control him)!

What other serious candidates (let's keep list to people that have actually coached since this is a Big 10 position and has top 10 in country distance talent there!

Mort got fired from an average uk team as an assistant............does he deserve a d1 head coaching job? no

More like Webber couldn't stand that Mort actually knew something about coaching and couldn't be swayed by the no aerobic work theory trying to be pushed on him. Webber wanted to take control of Mort's training and when the team threatened to leave he decided to make life hell for Mort.

mort? sike wrote:

Mort got fired from an average uk team as an assistant............does he deserve a d1 head coaching job? no

apparently U of M is looking at going off the board and they are looking at interviewing some people with no connection to the program. Apparently some guy out of Windsor Canada is getting a look