Bucknam new Arkansas coach

Wow.

Did not see that coming. Seems like a terrible decision. As a former Hog, I am definitely disappointed. I didn't even know they had a track team...

He'll do an amazing job. Give him some recruiting time. You'll see.

As a former MVC runner, I know Bucknam to be a good coach, but can he fill John McDonnell's shoes? Time will tell I guess.

ronner wrote:

... but can he fill John McDonnell's shoes?

Can anyone?

If Bucky has had that much success at UNI- without a fully funded program- then what makes you think he cant have additional success at a school with better facilities, more money, more tradition etc.

This is an outstanding hire for Arkansas. There are only a few people in the country that are truly high profile that would satisfy the alums and athletes and all of them would be stupid to go to Arkansas and replace McDonnell. Arkansas wasn't getting a Pat Henry, Lannana or Bob Braman type guy. Those guys already have situations as good as Arkansas with less pressure. So Arkansas needed to find the next great coach. It is understandable that Arkansas alums and current athletes will be concerned but they'd be no matter who was hired. Watch Buckman with his athletes and you see why he is successful. They believe in him and have the same confidence and swagger that Arkansas athletes have with McDonnell. I hope the Hogs give Buckman a chance. They'd be stupid not to.

great post by razorback pizza. i also ran in the MVC for 4 years and competed against bucky led UNI squads....always well balanced teams, well coached athletes and very professional. in addition, anyone who has been to cedar falls will tell you, "it's a shithole." bucky was fully funded with 12 scholarships, but getting anyone to come to cold ass northern iowa to train is not an easy task. he's a great recruiter and had an above average staff. it will be interesting to see if he brings them along for the ride. doug and travis definitely deserve it.

Terrible news for the razorbacks. This guy cannot coach cross country for his life. Arkansas has won 34 consecutive conference XC titles and this October they are going to get Rolled! Bucknam better hope that the whole team doesn't come into the track office asking for the release and that he can get all his guys to transfer to Arkansas. Maybe this guy can handle the middle distance studs at Arkansas but coaching the distance greats like James Strang and Sean Forrest is going to be a completely new task.

Well, that shows you how ignorant you may be. "I didn't even know UNI had a track program"!!??? Come on, the whole universe of track and cross country does not revolve around just Arkansas (even though they are right at the top). Chris Bucknam is a go-getter, good communicater, knows his training, well-organized. Just because someone coaches at a "mid-major" conference and not one of the "BCS" conferences does not mean that they are not a good track and cross country coach and director.

Since when is Sean Forrest a distance great? James is better but I wouldn't consider any of them greats. Now Sandy on the other hand, he's a freakin' legend. With the likes of Jason Rexing!

Coach Bucknam can handle the Arkansas "greats" like Strang and Forrest. Again, where do people get off that you can only be good if you are at Arkansas. If these guys can't get fired up after communicating and working with Coach Bucknam then they are some major prima-donnas.

When the Arkansas would have their annual beer mile Sandy would watch from the field and when they started on their last beer. He'd eat all their cans, then eat/drink his 4 and run a 3:59 barefoot. It was so fast that Alistair puking on the back strech didn't even notice him start.

While at high school in West Plains, MO he would do all his runs in the creeks. However, he did all his workouts 2 hours north in the MIGHTY Missouri River. The 1812 earthquake ain't got nothing on SANDY!

1500 second place in Dorian Ulrey and the indoor 800 champ in Tyler Mulder (a senior next year)

Sandy, once ran so fast during a workout in the RIVER that he parted the waters because as soon as they touched his legs they turned to steam!

I'm sure he's not the "big name" type guy, or homegrown guy that some former hogs may want but this seems to me to be a very good hire.

To have the success that he's had at UNI has been pretty impressive. I think he'll do a great job with the miler types that Arkansas has been known for having tremendous success with and I'm sure he'll do fine with the longer distance guys as well.

If he can get kids to come to UNI then he should be able to bring in solid recruits with the history of the Arkansas program, as well as facilities, as a selling point. Should be exciting to see what else happens with coaches, recruits, and the kickoff of the "new" program this fall.

Any word on if Dorian or Mulder will go with?

What have you UNI boys heard?

Czillag ran 13:26 people. Their 4xMile beat a loaded Stanford squad at Drake.

I'll bet UA just saved a lot of money