Or maybe Mike Smith might want to talk to Oklahoma State coach Dave Smith about the possibility that German Fernandez was pushed too hard too soon, and if that explains why German’s greatest success and lifetime 5K PR came as an 18-year-old college freshman.
Mike Smith already has 4 NCAA championships on his resume. I’m sure he’ll be able to sleep at night peacefully if NAU falls short this year without Colin but Colin goes on to have a long successful career. Along those lines, it wouldn’t surprise me if in a couple years Smith opts out of his contract and starts his own pro group with his program’s alumni, a la Schumacher and Chris Fox. He’s already been coaching Rupp. I could easily see him starting a pro group with Young, Sahlman, et al.