Illinois Men's Track Coach WAYNE ANGEL "Resigns" effective immediately

Thank the good Lord! Angel was terrible. The only success that he ever had was off of Wieneke era recruits. He took the program straight to the Big Ten basement. I hope that AD Guenther makes the right hire this time. Illini Men's T & F has too rich a legacy to have fallen this low.

I would stack Bob Richards, Willie Williams, Charlton Ehizuelen, Herb McKenley, Craig Virgin, Marko Koers, & others unnamed against about anyone else's.

Go Illini!

Craig Virgin?

True

http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-xctrack/spec-rel/111209aaf.html

Wow. Every U of I T&F fan just got their wish.

Orange & Blue Birdy... wrote:

Bob Richards, Willie Williams, Charlton Ehizuelen, Herb McKenley

WHO??????

Robert Gary, currently in his 4th year as head coach at Ohio State, will return to his home state to be the head coach of the men's program. He was offered the distance job 6 years ago for Illini. Does a good job with in-state recruiting and illinois is as good as Ohio for talent!

Clearly not a student of T & F. Bob Richards was the gold medalist at the '52 & '56 Olympics in the Pole Vault. Bronze in '48. The first athlete ever to be on a Wheaties box.

Willie Williams broke Jesse Owens WR in the 100 yard dash in the early 1950's. Owens record stood for about 20 years.

Charlton Ehizuelen won four NCAA titles in the jumps in the 1970's. Teamates with Craid Virgin. A native of Nigeria, his home country boycotted the '76 & '80's. Jumped 27 ft 1 & 1/4 inch in 1975 indoor Big Ten's.

Herb McKenly, won four NCAA titles at 200 & 400 meters in '46 & '47. Gold medalist at 1600 realy in 1952. Silver medalist at 100 m in '52 & 400 m in '52.

Long story short, we are thrilled Wayne Angel is done!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! We were all waiting for this... came sooner than I hoped.

Wow. Google much? Some are excusable, but Bob Richards? One of the all-time greats (and a great motivational speaker as well!).

As a recent grad of the program, that man was a cancer and one of the worst individuals I've ever come across.

Let's just hope a quality coach is brought in.

Wayne angel was a joke from the moment he arrived. He had no business getting the job to start with. I wonder what rules he broke to get fired this time of year?

Not a student of obscure and ancient history. Thanks for elucidating. Not sure that averaging a whopping two great athletes per decade, with all of one in the past two decades, really makes for such a storied program.

Orange & Blue Birdy... wrote:

Clearly not a student of T & F. Bob Richards was the gold medalist at the '52 & '56 Olympics in the Pole Vault. Bronze in '48. The first athlete ever to be on a Wheaties box.

Willie Williams broke Jesse Owens WR in the 100 yard dash in the early 1950's. Owens record stood for about 20 years.

Charlton Ehizuelen won four NCAA titles in the jumps in the 1970's. Teamates with Craid Virgin. A native of Nigeria, his home country boycotted the '76 & '80's. Jumped 27 ft 1 & 1/4 inch in 1975 indoor Big Ten's.

Herb McKenly, won four NCAA titles at 200 & 400 meters in '46 & '47. Gold medalist at 1600 realy in 1952. Silver medalist at 100 m in '52 & 400 m in '52.

Long story short, we are thrilled Wayne Angel is done!

"It was with a heavy heart that I notified Athletics Director Ron Guenther of my intention to pursue other career opportunities and interests."

Read: "I finally f'ed up so bad that I had to leave in November."

Anyone know? Considering all the stuff from the past that didn't result in his termination...

Do you think after the season they will name Mike Turk the full time coach?

Turk would be a disaster as well. Guy can barely walk and chew gum.

Gary wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole if he had half a brain. The guy is an OSU alum and is already a head coach and has track and cross both guying pretty well.

I don't see either assistant moving up as neither has done much in their own areas to warrant a promotion.

I doubt they'll combine the programs even with their distance coach probably able to handle both genders.

I know Virgin has wanted this position forever, but no experience to head position is a tough leap (though I believe Angel made the same).

I would look for an up and coming young sprint or field event coach (sorry letsrun, not a distance coach) to be named head.

And make no mistake about it, unless Angel won the Illinois State lottery, no track coach "retires" in November.

hiring turk would be a disaster

The writing was on the wall for a while. I just wish he was never hired in the first place. Pilkington would still be there for one (though I am a fan of McRaven). Also, a lot of turmoil over the last few years would have been avoided.

Pilkington was great. McRaven, not so much but still miles above Angel's sorry ass.

We want the truth!