how long until Shelby Houlihan is sponsored and back on a team

Back on a team will be trickier than a sponsor.

I think she'll be sponsored pretty soon. She has the whole media apparatus on her side framing her as a victim, a rebel, and resilience. She'll be fine there because the sheep will gobble it up.

Finding a team will be hard. I think the only team that might have her back is Bowerman. I actually think once she starts making teams and winning titles, the pro running community will finally sour towards her. Lots of passive aggression.

How about she doesn't join a team at all?

Rather, taking the private coach route a la Grant & Elise.

Believe Shelby has been living in the Phoenix area since last year while pursuing her Masters degree at alma mater ASU. Where Grant's coach Mike Scannell lives. Would need Grant & Mike's approval, but if they're on board, arrangement would be convenient & logical.

All else failing, Shelby just continues to coach herself based upon past training logs. Sure has worked so far. Daily motivation to get out the door and train apparently has not been a problem.

USATF grants, appearance fees and results bonuses should be flowing in soon.

If you think Mike would coach her, you obviously don’t have a clue how he goes about things. Neither he nor Grant want any association with her. He’s passed on several athletes with far less baggage. Male and female.

Additionally, Mike coaches a pretty successful high school program. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to bring that type of drama. Used to be a time people on this website would have a hissy fit if anybody associated with drug cheats had anything to do with high school programs. Times have changed and the Bros have made it clear their stance on this one

Hopefully it does not happen ever, she deserved to be banned for life from the sport

Coach Confield stop and leave her alone

Don't worry Nike will sponsor her again. They love their dopers.

Americans like their cheats.

I think she likely will pick someone up sometime soon, but as I go through potential companies, I can't tell who might. Nike.. maybe, but I don't see the upside for them, especially if Cranny is beating her later on.

Adidas might be seen as picking up scraps from their biggest competitor, so probably not. I don't think she fits the vibe of the current athletes for either New Balance, ON, Puma, Hoka, or Brooks - she's likely not running happy. Maybe if she wants to move to the roads and replace Sara Hall for them, maaaybe I would say ASICS, though they sponsor so few people I can't see it happening.

This might be a long shot but I'm just saying it to look like a genius if it happens. I think KIPRUN gets her. Doesn't have the baggage, barely has a foothold here since they are not American. New brand who wants to be seen as serious performance-wise so they will get someone who gets results even if they are not very personable.

How about Lululemon?

I think she will go back to Nike. She has a lot of connections with current Nike runners and coaches and very, very few of them every doubted her, let alone "threw her under the bus." If anything, they see her attitude as a sign that she was innocent the whole time.

She could have caved and been back in time for Paris (with the three year ban) but took the four years... that has a lot of people in Beaverton and Eugene supporting her.

I would guess Nike by the end of this year if she is able to make teams*. If not, then not.

* Personally, I think an 8:31 rust-buster shows she can make teams.

Nick Bare is a great sponsor for cheats.

She has never left Nike. All part of the propaganda.

Yes they are very thankful that she never started singing.

My prediction is she’ll either get sponsored by Puma or Kiprun

What makes you say that? Does he sponsor a whole group in Austin?

Rumor has it she's gonna be on Team Burrito.

I thought she had sponsorship from “the needle” as there is no way she is paying for it herself

I don’t think Kiprun will swoop in. They’re French, and the French vilify dopers (apart from Ghost1, if he’s French at all). That would certainly be bad publicity for their brand because you know, people catch on.