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

just courios... wrote:

so who will be the next coach in michigan?

I think that Rondell Ruff, who is currently coaching mid-distance at Army, deserves serious consideration for the position, or a mid-distance coaching position. He is a Michigan alum, having been a member of their All-American DMR and their 4x800, and is also a local guy having grown up in Detroit so he can really relate to the kids in the area. He's run 1:49 and 3:45 and I've heard great things about his work ethic and training, so he knows what it takes to run at an elite level. He has a mix of coaching experience as he previously coached sprints/hurdles at West Point, and is now coaching the mid-distance guys where he has coached up a sub-1:50 runner, who was also an NCAA qualifier and 3x conference champ. He has the mid-distance mindset that Michigan might be looking for. He may not be looking outside of West Point though.

Michigan will likely be looking at some great coaching options. I think Coach Ruff is someone who deserves consideration. Brannen, McGuire, Watson, Mort and a bunch of others were mentioned when Laplante retired. Assume they would like to make the hire sometime soon.

The next Michigan distance coach will be Rodney Rothoff. The guru of the speed rope! You heard it here first.

So what does that do for their distance program and will they be able to attract distance runners if they are focusing on mid distance.

Should have hired Mort, right off the bat

Would have been a great hire and was a great recruiter

how do you know they won't hire Mort Trialswatcher?

Where is Mort now?

For that matter, where is Rothoff?

Michigan made Mike Holman (currently at Marion University) an offer for the position. I don't think he will give up his head coaching position for it

Stay with a team that did nothing at the 2013 NAIA National meet or go to Big Ten program ?

I think he will become a Michigan man !

Nonsense.

he's got a good resume

http://www.muknights.com/roster/10/16/4291.php

gvsulaker wrote:

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

Why would Baltes Leave and TOP D2 Program?? where he is winning to go to Michigan to be an Assistant???

There's been no official release from Air Force about Juli, where did you here this?

No disrespect meant. Just that I highly doubt an offer was made the same week the dismissal was made public.

Mike McGuire coached me and a slew of 800 men in 1990. We all preferred Dan heikkinen

The great Dan Heikkenen! The epitome of volunteer coach for Warhurst in the early 90's. I've seen lots of stories floated about Heik on this board in the past. When I started with the team, he was a pretty mysterious guy to me- a faster master by far, with some monster leg veins. Then I found some old T&F News from the 80's and found out what a beast he really was.

Loved to watch him try to navigate those gull-winged Bricklin sports cars over the huge speed bumps in the track parking lot. Made me laugh every time.

Another huge Heik fan here. Ran with him the whole summer in the late 1980's---he encouraged me to train with the team once school started and the varsity runners returned to AA even though I would NEVER touch the varsity level (this was long before Title IX). Him and Ron were great to me. The team (including multi-national champion Scherer and future olympian Barquist) were also great to the walk-ons. Great, great time of my life. Interesting that in the late 1980's, many of us thought that McGuire was going to take over for Ron eventually. He's definitely established a great thing with the women's team. Any new word on the search for Gibby's replacement?

Interviews being wrapped up this week. They have the coached picked just have to work out the exit plan better than the Les Miles debacle

Title nine was in effect 10 years earlier than your timeline.

True enough, but the way problems with Title IX are avoided today are far different than what Ron did at Michigan in the '80s when practices would begin in the fall with 30-40 guys. Ron knew how to coach champions and build up walk-ons willing to do the work.