Cruz Culpepper to Ole Miss

There seems to be a pattern of anointing a limited number of as the best middle distance or distance coaches. I'm not suggesting that Vanhoy or Wetmore, for example, are not good coaches. Just that there are way more coaches, some without much national level rep, that are quite good. Here's one example: Annette Acuff at Binghamton U. Emily Mackay finished 7th in the 5K in 15:42. She's also coached Erik Van Ingen and Jesse Garn, both sub 4 minute milers. Like many schools in lesser conferences, like America East, Binghamton just can't attract top level recruits, although in fairness Mackay did have decent h.s. marks, and began at Oregon State before transferring.

Acuff is one example. We could go around the country and identify other good coaches that are not in the group of "big names."

Very, very true. Just because you get the top recruits and they stay good does not mean you are a great coach. The best kids go to the same schools every year because those programs tend to have the best salespeople or social media recruiting so naturally those programs stay near the top.

letsfun wrote:

Very, very true. Just because you get the top recruits and they stay good does not mean you are a great coach. The best kids go to the same schools every year because those programs tend to have the best salespeople or social media recruiting so naturally those programs stay near the top.

Good points, but there are other considerations. The bigger programs tend to have better facilities, better support services. And beyond the social media chatter talented runners tend to go where the team (XC or TF) has had success. And geography plays a big part. Some kids want to stay close to home. Others want to venture out more. For the very top recruits considerations like weather, altitude, top flight training companions are also in the mix. By all accounts Mike Smith at Northern Arizona is a very good coach. But the prospect of training at altitude in Flagstaff with a growing distance culture makes NA a very attractive destination. I have to give props to Smith for helping to grow that program's reputation.

Washington is a good school. Bad decision to leave. Betting he ends up at Colorado before he is done.

Bye Den wrote:

Washington is a good school. Bad decision to leave. Betting he ends up at Colorado before he is done.

Their program definitely has not been what it was expected to be since Powells went there. I disagree with you, I think it was a good decision for him to leave.

Washington is a way better school. Academics should come first for 99.99% of student athletes so you are incorrect. It is not an opinion. It is a fact.

Bye Den wrote:

Washington is a way better school. Academics should come first for 99.99% of student athletes so you are incorrect. It is not an opinion. It is a fact.

You are right, however these are student-ATHLETES. Academics should come first, but obviously we see that isn't the case for some of these decisions they make because of how many people transfer around. If they focused solely on academics, then there would be no transfers of any athletes. So it is not a fact, it's an opinion considering you said they should come first not do.

It is a fact that it is a bad decision to leave a better school. Just because others also make bad decisions doesn't make it an opinion.

Who wants to live in Mississippi?

Why are academics first? Seriously as long as you get your degree what does it matter. A whole point of college is to graduate get a degree in the field you want so you can get a good job doesn't matter where the school is.

Is he a M@GA guy? Also, isn’t the vaccination rate terrible down there?

Bye Den wrote:

Washington is a good school. Bad decision to leave. Betting he ends up at Colorado before he is done.

Could be there are just too many tents/homeless encampments blocking the sidewalks at Washington during the pandemic? It’s sad to see with no easy solutions but just as a practical matter Imagine trying to do EZ runs at 6min pace through all that. In boulder we just cleaned up with ServPro bro (sad) and our situation is nothing compared to Denver

birdbeard wrote:

Has there been a more successful 1500 coach than Wetmore? Jenny Simpson, Dani Jones, Sage Hurta, Degenero, etc.

Long term development a bit iffy, but the Lannana / Powell meatgrinder was pretty good for a while there.

With a mid-D focus and sophomoric atmosphere, Ole Miss seems a good spot for Culpepper.

birdbeard wrote:

SIlver24 wrote:

Thoughts? Big pickup for Ole Miss

lol wut

so confused by that. do they have a well known coach?

Yes, you have a legit mid D program when you finish second behind Oregon in the DMR.

Bye Den wrote:

Washington is a good school. Bad decision to leave. Betting he ends up at Colorado before he is done.

Wetmore won't kiss his butt so if he boomerangs back to the home state it's to CSU!

hobbyjogger18 wrote:

Bye Den wrote:

Washington is a way better school. Academics should come first for 99.99% of student athletes so you are incorrect. It is not an opinion. It is a fact.

You are right, however these are student-ATHLETES. Academics should come first, but obviously we see that isn't the case for some of these decisions they make because of how many people transfer around. If they focused solely on academics, then there would be no transfers of any athletes. So it is not a fact, it's an opinion considering you said they should come first not do.

His parents aren't exactly card-carrying MENSA members.

birdbeard wrote:

Hejendo76 wrote:

Vanhoy is a really well established distance coach. He should thrive. Thought Oregon would be his best move as a west coast kid but Ole Miss is a very good choice as well. Also no way he was going to CU. Maybe if he wanted to run 5/10ks he would’ve gone

Has there been a more successful 1500 coach than Wetmore? Jenny Simpson, Dani Jones, Sage Hurta, Degenero, etc.

Jumbo Elliott.

boomer ok wrote:

birdbeard wrote:

Has there been a more successful 1500 coach than Wetmore? Jenny Simpson, Dani Jones, Sage Hurta, Degenero, etc.

Jumbo Elliott.

Percy Cerutty

birdbeard wrote:

SIlver24 wrote:

Thoughts? Big pickup for Ole Miss

lol wut

so confused by that. do they have a well known coach?

This post is so emblematic of letsrun. Vanhoy is one of the best coaches in the country - has been since he coached Eric Jenkins to a 13:18 at Northeastern. And this clown has zero clue who he is and criticizes the transfer