Alan Culpepper to UTEP as Assistant Coach

Speaking of which, does anyone know what Tim Culpepper is up to these days?

This is a genius move by UTEP. AC will do great things there!

What a rock-bottom place to live. He get divorced?

UTEP is a CUSA school that a lot of coaches who are working their way up would love to have.

But it is interesting how multiple former elites have started their coaching careers in middle of the road G5 conferences to start their coaching careers lately (first Webb now Culpepper).

Not a bad thing but I think this is a change from years past.

If this were a female he'd be getting ripped for lack of experience

The OP wrote:

If this were a female he'd be getting ripped for lack of experience

And before you say it's because he was a pro that doesn't change anything. He has no experience.

The OP wrote:

The OP wrote:

If this were a female he'd be getting ripped for lack of experience

And before you say it's because he was a pro that doesn't change anything. He has no experience.

You are questioning Culpeppers's experience for assistant xc and assistant distance?

When I was in college the only qualification you needed for assistant xc and assistant distance coach was a driver's license and bring able to clear a background check. Knowing how to use a stopwatch was a considered a bonus.

What is his current profession? Does he have an actual career he is giving up on to be an assistant coach? He isn't old enough to be retiring unless he made some big bucks somewhere, right?

Brain wrote:

The OP wrote:

And before you say it's because he was a pro that doesn't change anything. He has no experience.

You are questioning Culpeppers's experience for assistant xc and assistant distance?

When I was in college the only qualification you needed for assistant xc and assistant distance coach was a driver's license and bring able to clear a background check. Knowing how to use a stopwatch was a considered a bonus.

You must have went to college a long time ago then.

Also wondering, Alan and Shayne divorced?

Tough time for son Cruz transferring and I believe they have a couple more kids?

Sliding Scale wrote:

UTEP is a CUSA school that a lot of coaches who are working their way up would love to have.

But it is interesting how multiple former elites have started their coaching careers in middle of the road G5 conferences to start their coaching careers lately (first Webb now Culpepper).

Not a bad thing but I think this is a change from years past.

It's a better spot than UALR, where Webb is coaching. Culpeper went to HS in EP, he's no stranger there. The program has lost its relevance since Kitchens retired. They get about half the number of national qualifiers annually that they did in the '90s, at best. Ereng is still the head xc and distance coach, Culpeper will apparently serve as his acolyte, driving the van and maybe coaching up the walk-ons. Probably a mid 5-figure salary to start. Interesting that Wetmore couldn't find room for him as a volunteer assistant where he lives and he wasn't interested in starting out D2 at Mines or Metro.

Did they divorce or is this like Centro in Manhattan where he “allegedly” wasn’t around much at all but there for the celeb pull

It’s still a tough place to live.

I don’t understand this hire. It’s utep? What’s the point of having two paid distance coaches at a C-USA school that only brings in Kenyans? Hopefully this shows up in the results!

Interesting side note: this could be Culpepper's entry into D1 Coaching to then take over for Wetmore as I heard he is at the end of his term shortly. Obviously Ritz is the front-runner to take over Colorado but he just had an exceptional showing at the USA Trails with the OAC that his stock has sky-rocketed. I could even see Ritz taking over if Jerry is let go or NOP moves off Julian.

CinqueMinute wrote:

Interesting side note: this could be Culpepper's entry into D1 Coaching to then take over for Wetmore as I heard he is at the end of his term shortly. Obviously Ritz is the front-runner to take over Colorado but he just had an exceptional showing at the USA Trails with the OAC that his stock has sky-rocketed. I could even see Ritz taking over if Jerry is let go or NOP moves off Julian.

Wouldn't Wetmore's wife take over?

Evan Jogger wrote:

It's a better spot than UALR, where Webb is coaching.

Is it really though? No doubt, UTEP has a better history, but it is also a history that makes it much harder to bring in talented Americans. They have a well known reputation as an exclusively foreign XC program.

On top of that Little Rock is nicer (been to both) and Webb is actually running an XC program, not a second distance coach.

Brain wrote:

The OP wrote:

And before you say it's because he was a pro that doesn't change anything. He has no experience.

You are questioning Culpeppers's experience for assistant xc and assistant distance?

When I was in college the only qualification you needed for assistant xc and assistant distance coach was a driver's license and bring able to clear a background check. Knowing how to use a stopwatch was a considered a bonus.

If Alan where a female (especially a minority too) he’d be in the running for the head job or director of the program. That’s how things have change.