Paul Spangler run off as Boston U distance coach

the first female distance runner from Bu is on the portal, let the games begin.

hungry jack wrote:

the first female distance runner from Bu is on the portal, let the games begin.

Wow, I thought reports of the team being upset were over-exaggerated. I guess not.

Sanders really shot himself in the foot.

Track Nut HS wrote:

Seems like a loss for BU distance

I remember when Paul Spangler was coach at VMI and did a great job conducting a high school invite for several years back in 2005-5. Dedicated and meticulous and athlete/coach friendly

And the fact that he coached Cory McGee - but as others have said director has right to hire and fire their assistants, so again tough loss for BU distance.

I also knew him from his VMI days and he seemed like a great guy and coach. Didn’t even know he went to BU.

hungry jack wrote:

the first female distance runner from Bu is on the portal, let the games begin.

Does anyone know if BU is going to open a search for the next coach or just promote their young assistant coach?

posterrier wrote:

hungry jack wrote:

the first female distance runner from Bu is on the portal, let the games begin.

Does anyone know if BU is going to open a search for the next coach or just promote their young assistant coach?

Does anyone know if Spangler's parking spot has been claimed, or if he's taking his stapler with him?

If Sanders in fact had this in the works since the fall, I am sure he has some people in mind already.

a second female athlete has entered then portal

I agree that the previous coach at BU developed runners better. He would consistently take good athletes and make them great.

Spangler burned out far more athletes than he developed. He was recruiting extremely well (likely spending a lot of scholarships) but those athletes generally struggled.

With more time he would have figured it out. Sanders is ruining the distance program. He was jealous and didn't like to be overshadowed.

Just seeing this today so I apparently missed the posts that gave any reference to why he was fired? One vague mention of COVID restriction violations? Can anyone post what's going on without it getting deleted?

Anyway, I've know Jody since WAY back and he was always a nice guy, turned into a solid coach, his athletes performed well and liked him. Therefore, I suspect he'll land a good job somewhere soon enough.

It is quite possible covid might be to blame. As a runner in the Patriot League we heard from our coach that BU was required to practice AND COMPETE in mask, all sports. First we through no way and then we read on ESPN that BU mandated this for all their sports. Then we thought there is no way they will be a factor at conference. At the meet all the runners pulled their mask down after the gun went off and ran with them down. Of course none of the other schools required mask other than at the awards. I can't imagine BU would pull their mask down without the coach giving them permission. I have not heard of any school requiring their XC team to compete in mask. If you've tried to do a workout in a mask, yea well, be prepared to pass out. Coach gets fired for using common sense and protecting this athletes from harm. SMH

Is it even possible to get covid running outside?!

BU basketball team has the masks pulled down to their chins when they are on the road. Saw many pictures. Will basketball coach get fired?

that depends on if the basketball coach has been warned on multiple occasions by the administration about breaking university and dept. protocols.

Maybe the basketball coach has been warned many times, and maybe the basketball coach knew back in the fall that they were not being renewed (by administration) and continued to disregard the covid rules.

Maybe the basketball coach looked to change the narrative by blaming someone other than himself.

Maybe?

Ask good questions before jumping to conclusions about a false narrative spread on letsrun, especially when it disparages a good person and coach.

I have been told the same thing about their mask mandates but do not see how cross country runners would be expected to keep a mask over their nose and mouth for a championship race when other teams are not doing the same. Especially when as mentioned above, other sports at the university do not follow the protocols in competition. I bet it was a great substitute for logical reasons to fire a successful coach, because you cannot write "out of spite" under reasons for termination.

Spangler is already off the website rosters... I am curious as to how NCAAs was handled with their athlete.. In my opinion, Spangler did a nice job transitioning Boston out from the sudden drop of the program when Coach Lehane's health started to decline. He has seamlessly helped their home meets thrive which is a huge $$ generator for their program. Not sure why Head Coaches are so threatened by assistants or associate head coaches that are competent. Seems like they just get fired rather than suffer a difference of opinion on issues which is a horrible trend in current times. Soon enough Coach Sanders is going to find a replacement that will fall in line with his other minions and do his bidding. Maybe he'll bring in Eric Ashe?

Terror in Terriorville wrote:

Spangler is already off the website rosters... I am curious as to how NCAAs was handled with their athlete.. In my opinion, Spangler did a nice job transitioning Boston out from the sudden drop of the program when Coach Lehane's health started to decline. He has seamlessly helped their home meets thrive which is a huge $$ generator for their program. Not sure why Head Coaches are so threatened by assistants or associate head coaches that are competent. Seems like they just get fired rather than suffer a difference of opinion on issues which is a horrible trend in current times. Soon enough Coach Sanders is going to find a replacement that will fall in line with his other minions and do his bidding. Maybe he'll bring in Eric Ashe?

Maybe Tim Ritchie from UMass Amherst? He is a BC grad. UMass Amherst has steadily gotten worse under him though.

Terror in Terriorville wrote:

Spangler is already off the website rosters... I am curious as to how NCAAs was handled with their athlete.. In my opinion, Spangler did a nice job transitioning Boston out from the sudden drop of the program when Coach Lehane's health started to decline. He has seamlessly helped their home meets thrive which is a huge $$ generator for their program. Not sure why Head Coaches are so threatened by assistants or associate head coaches that are competent. Seems like they just get fired rather than suffer a difference of opinion on issues which is a horrible trend in current times. Soon enough Coach Sanders is going to find a replacement that will fall in line with his other minions and do his bidding. Maybe he'll bring in Eric Ashe?

Damn Gabe wanted him out immediately. Classless reaction to something that appeared to just be an argument or disagreement.

If he and Spangler were this much not on the same page it was the right Decision for everyone.

Spangler obviously didn’t want to work for Gabe

Game clearly didn’t want Spangler on this staff

This kind of toxicity is terrible for a team. In the long run it’s probably the best decision for everyone.

fannnnnymaeeeewho wrote:

If he and Spangler were this much not on the same page it was the right Decision for everyone.

Spangler obviously didn’t want to work for Gabe

Game clearly didn’t want Spangler on this staff

This kind of toxicity is terrible for a team. In the long run it’s probably the best decision for everyone.

All Gabe had to do was be civil until the year was over, then hire a new coach. Instead he had a meltdown and canned him at the worst possible time. Now the team is furious and people are already on the transfer portal. The team is without a distance coach for the outdoor season. Recruiting suffers because there's no coach to recruit and also because recruits will hear of the mayhem.

Now Spangler is without income, and the better opportunities won't open until late summer. He has a family to feed. It's the middle of a pandemic, finances are hard for everyone. His kids might go hungry because of Gabe.

It might have been the right decision, but the timing and how Gabe handled it made it exponentially worse. Now nobody on the team has respect for Gabe. Less than 2 years into his time as director and everyone hates him, including alumni.