As far as throws jobs go, without a doubt, and maybe beyond. With 0$ in scholarship the titans would have competed well in the big ten this year...2 60+m hammer guys, 2 54+m discus guys, and an 18m shot putter. Not to mention the 16m shot put girl, who sat out this year. Albeit D3 has very different compliance rules, Coach Ebel will learn quickly and make PSU competitive in all the throws with haste!
Just a coach wrote:
College coaching is not for the faint of heart and no one does it for the money.
It probably takes between 2-5 years if you are lucky after college to get a paid position, after spending those years as a volunteer working just as much as the paid coaches. Then your first year coaching you will probably make between 20-30k a year if you get more than a part time job which is more like 15-16k.
On top of that you are not just coaching. You are a travel agent, a guidance counselor, accountant, recruiter, coach, and much more. It takes a toll physically and mentally on all coaches and is usually more like an 80 hour a week job even if you are a volunteer or only being paid part time.
Coaching college track and field makes teaching high school and coaching look like a wonder job. But we do it because we like make difference in the college kids lives and building the best athletes. These students do not have their parents with them, they are learning to become adults, and usually the first person they call when they have a problem is their coach.
I've also done both HS and college coaching. This guy is right. Aside from the x's and o's (actually a small percentage of a coach's entire job) the similarities between the two contexts are few and far between.
As one who has coached at all three levels (DIII, DII, and DI), I will tell you that the hours worked grew exponentially...as did the salary (part-time to full-time)...however...
I left the DI position, b/c 80 hr weeks and all of the traveling/recruiting/meets, as well as being the strength coach, nutritionist, accountant, travel agent, etc. took a toll on my relationship. I had to make a career/life decision. I chose to walk away on top and be a dad to my own kids while they were young, as opposed to being gone constantly and missing them grow up. Not to mention, I couldn't afford to buy a house in the area I grew up in because my salary was "capped" at the tier III level (along with swimming and tennis coaches - the explanation is we only "spend" the dept. money).
Now, I make decent money working 45hrs, have two homes and the kids have grown older. I have recently gotten calls to possibly go back to being a college coach at both DII and DI (never burn a bridge). The only issue now is that the salary I would need to support my family is nowhere in line with the college offers of $50-70K. This may seem like decent money to many, but for going back to the 60+ hours weeks (I would have a staff this time) plus travel, I truly think that it is not the best decision for my family. And I dream of coaching again at that level every day since leaving...I haven't missed a beat with what's going on.
The college AD's will have a plethora of "willing" younger coaches who will "settle" for a head job for $35-50K...plus the perk of the company car/insurance, camps potential, discounted swag, etc.
Heck, when I left the DI school I was making $50K 14 yrs ago...the coach who took over is now making $90K (however, the avg. 1800 sq. ft. home costs $500K and property taxes avg. $15K).
I don't know...to each his own...but who knows what the next offer will bring...for now I will stick with coaching HS and local runners, as well as my own kids sports teams...all for much more money and time off.
Face it..all of us reading and hoping for the dream college XC/track job are involved in the WRONG sport to get properly compensated...I watched an asst. Lacrosse coach get the car, camp $$, NIKE contract ($7500), and $25K more than me in salary ($75K/yr) and they hadn't had a winning season in 6 years and only played during the spring!!!!
Go figure...
a Midwest Coach wrote:
This is clearly Gausen guy again. Obviously he wants so badly to be known. Everyone knows other coaches are on here. So he keeps plugging himself so that people have heard his name and assume he is good. Stop promoting yourself. It is too obvious because nobody even knows who you are.
Funny exchange wrote:Why does he need to promote himself, it is not like a future boss of his is on here reading posts and thinks, "Hmmmm I should hire him!" You guys need to relax and stop coach bashing because no one wants to hire you!
a Midwest coach: I put it on my coaching career that I am not Gauson since I've defended him on this board. Also I have never spoken 1 word to him. You say you've been in the midwest for 10 years and you don't know who he is. That may be your problem there, you're not in the game. I'm constantly on the lookout for up and coming coaches around the country. I've seen how hard this guy works. Don't be upset because you've been in the midwest for 10 years and no one is bringing your name up.
the guy psu looks to have a stellar resume - but fyi they already are competitive - they had a 21m shot putter this season
and a killer young women's jav crew - 2 all americans - 1 easily being the most talented returner in the ncaa despite the fact that the stanford girl beat her - she has world class talent
Hahaha. I am "in the game" and my name comes up all the time. I just don't feel like using my real name. But I am highly successful and I do not know who he is. He is clearly not that impressive.
Nowhere near wrote:
a Midwest Coach wrote:This is clearly Gausen guy again. Obviously he wants so badly to be known. Everyone knows other coaches are on here. So he keeps plugging himself so that people have heard his name and assume he is good. Stop promoting yourself. It is too obvious because nobody even knows who you are.
a Midwest coach: I put it on my coaching career that I am not Gauson since I've defended him on this board. Also I have never spoken 1 word to him. You say you've been in the midwest for 10 years and you don't know who he is. That may be your problem there, you're not in the game. I'm constantly on the lookout for up and coming coaches around the country. I've seen how hard this guy works. Don't be upset because you've been in the midwest for 10 years and no one is bringing your name up.
Right now a Mid-Major track team is a dream come true for most coaches. You can still get NCAA qualifying athletes, but you do not have to be worried about being fired if you can not with the team NCAA title every year. Just makes things a little more fun..
So who ya got goin to UNF??
Up and Coming young coaches who have never coached their own team of distance runners shouldn't be hired to be the head cross-country (and distance) coach at a Big Ten university. It cheapens and trivializes our whole profession, as do the unqualified female hires (Cal, Purdue, etc...) we see every year.
Gauson may be a very good coach but since he has never actually coached his own team of distance runners yet we really don't know. Maybe if he spent a few years coaching as the head xc(distance) coach at a school smaller than a Big Ten university, we could see this as a logical hire.
Illinois should hire a more qualified coach with an actual record instead of hiring, once again, a coach with zero experience coaching his own team! Hiring Kennedy last year (a coach with no actual experience other than assisting Santos at Iona) was odd - another hire like this two years in a row proves once again why Illinois is 2nd or 3rd tier in the Big Ten.
That is why I said in all the throws...they had the talent but got very few points out of the hammer and discus over the past 5 years. How many other Big 10 schools are in states that throw Jav in high school...maybe Nebraska? Therefore they better dominate that event. Kovacs and Eaton pushed each other and competed well under 3 different throws coaches, most of the credit for their success goes to TJ at Washington though, not Banse. Although from what I saw, from afar, he did a very solid job this year considering the situation. All I am saying, is that Coach Ebel should have been given an opportunity like this years ago (and may very well have turned down such jobs). But his hire cements PSU as competitive for years to come, and will make the Big Ten that much better than every other conference in the throws...although the PAC 12 can make a strong case, but I'm biased! :-)
Stitch and Itch wrote:
Up and Coming young coaches who have never coached their own team of distance runners shouldn't be hired to be the head cross-country (and distance) coach at a Big Ten university. It cheapens and trivializes our whole profession, as do the unqualified female hires (Cal, Purdue, etc...) we see every year.
Gauson may be a very good coach but since he has never actually coached his own team of distance runners yet we really don't know. Maybe if he spent a few years coaching as the head xc(distance) coach at a school smaller than a Big Ten university, we could see this as a logical hire.
Illinois should hire a more qualified coach with an actual record instead of hiring, once again, a coach with zero experience coaching his own team! Hiring Kennedy last year (a coach with no actual experience other than assisting Santos at Iona) was odd - another hire like this two years in a row proves once again why Illinois is 2nd or 3rd tier in the Big Ten.
There is just one problem with some of this logic...
Look at the coaching staffs at many of the schools smaller than a Big 10 school. Many of the coaches there have been there for decades and they aren't going anywhere soon. Without them leaving there is no way possible for young coaches to get the opportunities you are suggesting.
On campus interviews started last week on Friday for Director of TF/CC candidates. Look for a press release by the 1st of the month (according to the associate AD)
its been spread around that the old head coach Walker wants a say in the new hire. Should make it interesting.
Anyone have any further information about the Portland State job? Seems like there are very specific criteria, wondering if this is just a required posting before hiring the person they already plan on hiring.
The hire at Illinois has been narrowed down to two very qualified candidates. Both are coaches at Missouri Valley Schools and have already been in Chambana for visits.
Sparks and Bovee??
I too have been coaching for over 20 years and think it is refreshing to see some younger coaches NOT clawing their way to the stereotypical bigger/better jobs and instead working on their craft, establishing relationships with their SA's, and being more well-rounded with their family lives (spouses and kids).
This is coming outta left field... entirely different than what we've seen so far on the forum... where are u getting this information?
To ALL THE IDIOTS tearing Gauson down-
You are right, Darren Gauson is not ready to be a head coach at a Big Ten school...however, he is a great coach and recruiter. I have seen the work he puts in and some of the talent he brings into Butler is outstanding for that program. Seriously, if you havent seen some of that take a look yourself...they have a tremendous Distance/Middle Distance group for such a small school.
Give the man a break! Get off his back! Dont be jealous of the publicity he is getting due to this...go back to your NAIA school you ran for/ coach and give the man some credit.
No one is tearing down Gauson, we're just questioning who he is and why are some promoting him for jobs he's not qualified for.