ALEX GIBBY FIRED - confirmed by Michigan 6/16/14

bluefan wrote:

What's amazing is that UofM already has one of the best collegiate distance/mid-distance coaches in the country in Mike McGuire. I don't understand how they can't incentivize him to take over the men's coaching duties as well? I know he has never coached men, but he obviously can coach everything from the 800 to the 10k.

Just as point of reference, McGuire coached the men distance runners at the University of Kansas back in the late 80's.

Come on people. This isn't hard. People may not understand it at LetsRun.com but the sport is called track and field. The new director of the program came from Auburn and likely is a sprint/field guy. ON the men's side, there are very few scholarships to go around. He doesn't want to do distance. That might be smart. He can pull a "Nathan Taylor" try to score with a few studs in the distances/mid-d (it's better ot have mid-d guys as they can run the relays indoors), but mainly let hte rest of the league wear themselves out in the distances (Wisco, Indiana, etc) and clean up elsewhere.

I'm not sure where this is coming from. Maybe the posts were deleted? I've just read the whole thread and didn't realy read a single negative post about Gibby.

The guy is a GREAT coach who cares about his athletes. That's why he was pissed at me for talking to Ferlic at NCAAs. He didn't tell them he was out as he didn't want to mess the guy up before NCAAs. Admirable.

Why is he being classy? Because it's the right thing to do and maybe the AD at Michigan will rave about him to another AD.

My brother said it best, "If you aren't the director at a school, watch out as you can be fired at any moment for nothing related to performance."

Gibby will be fine. Good coaches, who are motivated, don't go without jobs.

I was wondering how long it would take for the Watson to Mighigan rumors to start. As a Wolverine hater, I would be all for this.

qes wrote:

is it true that Gibby and Pete Watson are trading jobs and watson is heading to Ann Arbor

Er... wrote:

Don't understand this one at all. When you read the press release you get a strong sense of a guy building a solid Big10 program and the believable reports are that his athletes respected and trusted him. Why let him go? Looks bad on M.

It seems to be Gibby took a stand. JC is tasked with rebuilding the entire mens team. Not just maintain the distance team. To do this, he needs more scholarship $$$ for sprinters, mid distance, deca, throws.

I don't think there are sides to choose here. JC is making a tough decision that has to be made. Gibby has his principles and commitment to his athletes, and decided he could not support this move. Both guys are good coaches and good guys. But as B1G Outdoors proved, you cant do well at team meets with no one running the 4x1, 4x4, being competitive at mid distance, and no one in the deca. After throws and distance UM Men were third at the meet this year

6 full rides and 14 points at big ten outdoors doesnt get it done.

Why not let the distance team score your points? He had quite a bit talent upcoming and the top recruits were redshirted for track. Their distance team had a very bright future which could of scored points but not now. Word on the street is that distance program will start to decline.

OOL wrote:

Why not let the distance team score your points? He had quite a bit talent upcoming and the top recruits were redshirted for track. Their distance team had a very bright future which could of scored points but not now. Word on the street is that distance program will start to decline.

Points are points... it doesn't matter what event area you get them from, as long as you get them.

Would be interesting to figure out how much scholarship they have wrapped up in sprints/hurdles which got them a zero return on investment at outdoor big10.

Any word if any of the runners are going to transfer?

bbb wrote:

6 full rides and 14 points at big ten outdoors doesnt get it done.

IT IS THIS.

WITH 12.6, THAT ISN;T GOING TO WORK AND THEY DON'T GRADUATE ANY AID SO THERE WILL BE OVER 7 IN THE AREA NEXT YEAR.

GIBBY IS THE MAN WITH CROSS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY TEAMS.

NEVER HAD A TRACK GUY DO ANYTHING OF NOTE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE (Mason may very well be his best accomplishment!)

A FEW OF THE YOUNGER RUNNERS ARE LONG DISTANCE AND IF THEY DON'T GET A GOOD LONG DISTANCE COACH, I SEE A FEW OF THEM TRANSFERING.

Nate Brannen coaching down the road.

so who will be the next coach in michigan?

Those that posted Ron might come back are dreaming. If Gibby had some type of falling out, Ron's was worse and I don't see Brandon apologizing. Kevin Sullivan would be a good choice.

Gotcha. This makes sense. It sucks, but it makes sense.

letsthrow wrote:

It seems to be Gibby took a stand. JC is tasked with rebuilding the entire mens team. Not just maintain the distance team. To do this, he needs more scholarship $$$ for sprinters, mid distance, deca, throws.

I don't think there are sides to choose here. JC is making a tough decision that has to be made. Gibby has his principles and commitment to his athletes, and decided he could not support this move. Both guys are good coaches and good guys. But as B1G Outdoors proved, you cant do well at team meets with no one running the 4x1, 4x4, being competitive at mid distance, and no one in the deca. After throws and distance UM Men were third at the meet this year

Michigan's going to get someone who can coach middle distance and up with proven results at a very high level. They need results, winning a meaningless cross regional where the main players already get into nationals anyways on points and walk through to be ready for nationals, plus dismal points on the track, plus getting second in a weak year, plus investing without solid return equals you lose your job no matter how nice a guy you are or are not. 6-7 scholies into literally 3 events is disasterous for any program unless you are rolling in NCAA trophies year in and year out ala Oke St. When you invest like that and only get an off all American here and there and can't bring solid conference points in track, while the other parts of the program are doing the same thing with a sixth of that investment is very detrimental to your job prospects. That's reality, and they've been pretty generous anyways, keeping a coach from the old regime when they brought a new head coach in. It's a tough world out there ... if you don't have solid real results.

Joe Lynn will only take the job if Jerry Baltes turns it down first

Michigan's going to get someone who can coach middle distance and up with proven results at a very high level. They need results, winning a meaningless cross regional where the main players already get into nationals anyways on points and walk through to be ready for nationals, plus dismal points on the track, plus getting second in a weak year, plus investing without solid return equals you lose your job no matter how nice a guy you are or are not. 6-7 scholies into literally 3 events is disasterous for any program unless you are rolling in NCAA trophies year in and year out ala Oke St. When you invest like that and only get an off all American here and there and can't bring solid conference points in track, while the other parts of the program are doing the same thing with a sixth of that investment is very detrimental to your job prospects. That's reality, and they've been pretty generous anyways, keeping a coach from the old regime when they brought a new head coach in. It's a tough world out there ... if you don't have solid real results.

anyways is not a word.

real talk with his double post has this completely right

On the other issue, and yes I am a Ron shill, I am a big believer in him, Brandon may be gone before you know it, Football is King and they have mismanaged that for a while now.

Hoops may save him. But with Maryland coming in and they still get guys, that may not be the diamond they need.

Indiana is almost always decent, THE Ohio State is in every year. Folks alos should know what pays the bils.

What program at UM is playing way above the rim?

XC ? By the way they(UM) had to run hard, it is a soft Region and Wiscy is always an auto.