How about Robert Gary for the mens cross country job that is opening up. He coached Ohio State cross program to a great 2nd place at the Big 10 meet with probably half the resources the competition has. The Head track coach at OSU is a crazed pimp!
How about Robert Gary for the mens cross country job that is opening up. He coached Ohio State cross program to a great 2nd place at the Big 10 meet with probably half the resources the competition has. The Head track coach at OSU is a crazed pimp!
Watch out for Sully
I know Sully is a great runner, but he has zero experience. Gary has at least recruited and handled budgeting, rosters, etc. Also, I think most people can agree that Gary is a little more personable than Sully.
Sully is still running full time and would rather try for a medal than take on coaching job full time at this time. There isnt a head xc opening at illinois. There is a head track opening. That means the head track coach will hire his assistants. ie: xc and sprint or field event. Unless of course the head track coach is a distance guy, which most likely leaves Gary out of the equation because of his experience compared to other coaches that have either been head track coaches or have even more experience. What is Gary 27-28?
Steepler wrote:
I know Sully is a great runner, but he has zero experience. Gary has at least recruited and handled budgeting, rosters, etc. Also, I think most people can agree that Gary is a little more personable than Sully.
Uhhh....hasn't he been helping coach Warhurst out for the past few years as a volunteer coach? I know he was instrumental in the recruiting process the past 2 years, and is now volunteering with the Illini.
If there is one thing Sully knows it is how to win at the Big 10 and NCAA level (and beyond). With his wife now coaching the women, Illinois would be crazy to not utilize him in some capacity.
I don't know if the head position would be right for him as he still has a lot of running ahead of him, but an assitant position should not be out of the question.
I agree Sully makes more sense in an assistant position at Illinois with his immediate ties. Neither will get the head job, they would just have to hope to get picked up as an assistant. I know Sully, and have yet to hear him say anything about wanting to coach at this time in his career. He has too many other commitments with his running to take on the role right now. It is a lot more work than just showing up at practice. I have heard they have another volunteer that has been working with the team for three years is very interested in the job.
Illinois would be lucky if Gary would even say yes. He just whooped up on the rest of the Big 10 with I guarntee half as much scholarship money. And you're comparing him to someone who helps out at a totally established distance powerhouse (a bit underachieving I might add). I hear Sully is helping out the mid-distance runners in the fall- that is a little different than setting up training, race schedules, recruiting calls and visits, meetings with AD's, travel arrangements, budget concerns. I have no doubt that Sully would kick Gary's butt in any race, but Gary has experience coaching and has proven he can take a program that is in shambles (OSU 5 years ago) and get it going great. Illini is in that same situation right now; they are awful.
It has been stated by Sully that he wont even be around U of I during the middle part of the college track season because he is going back to Ann Arbor to train around Warhurst. Sully may be a part time assistant, if anything to only have guys to run with in Champaigns boring terrain, but he will not accept a full time coaching gig. You can quote me on that.
Neither Sully or Gary will be the distance coach at U of I. Not because they are not capable or qualified...it is even more simple...neither want the job!!
the discussion about sully and gary is useless - neither will be the "Head Coach" so until that person is named, trying to guess who will be hired as the xc/distance person is a waste of time. question is, who are the distance guys out there who could be considered for the overall "head" job? maybe Stinzi, maybe Drenth, maybe Fuller......??
I wouldn't be so sure about Gary. His own running is winding down and i know for a fact that he makes about 2/3 what the next distance coach makes in the Big 10. They threw the women into his lap at the last minute and I'm sure he is frustrated with the constant fighting with the head track coach there. Problem is, I know he's fiercly loyal to OSU and the guys he recruited a couple years ago.
So when will a decision most likely be made?
I guess Schumacher got coach of the year yesterday. I have to agree that Gary should have won it- a lot more with a whole lot less.
I got to agree with that. I bet those coaches don't like the fact that Gary rolled up on everyone with such little scholarship. So here's the 1,000,000 coaching question: Is it better to be an unappreciated coach in a major confidence or the head coach of a top team in a smaller conference?
it is better to be the captain of your own dingy than the 2nd mate on a big ship.......a coach from a big-time school who is now the head of a smaller division 1 school told me this last year at mt. sac....