Is it the norm at most D1 schools for the coach to mostly ignore walk ons?

Yes, sadly, this was the case at my d1 school most of the time. But hell most of time time the coach ignored the non-super star, middle of the pack scholarship runners as well. Sometimes I think I would have had more fun running for a d2 or d3 school (but then I think of the amazing opportunities--to compete against the very best (often on my own team) and the amazing education I had.) or just focusing on academics. But good luck and do what you feel is best for you.

Yes. As a walk-on I was literally ignored completely by the head coach. The distance coach was much more professional.

Another DI Coach wrote:

... High schoolers need to do a better job researching potential coaches/teams before choosing to walk-on to high profile schools. Good undeveloped talent gets lost at major programs that keep big rosters all the time.

As a parent of a D1 scholarship athlete, this is an excellent suggestion. However, many D1 coaches know how to bu11shit HSers into believing anything they say, whether correct or not. HSers are very impressionable and those looking to run on a college team (scholarship and walk-on) want to look good to the coach.

We as parents, former athletes, coaches, and those in the know can really do a service by responsibly pointing out and naming any coach that plays BS game, whether they attended the school or just went on recruiting visit. That would be another piece of research that prospective athletes and can investigate.

Another great 'Walk on' example was Mike Donnelly at Providence making it to the US Olympic Trials in 2004 finishing a mere 4th in the 10k missing the Olympic Team by 0.12secs. Just work hard and commit yourself to your training and goals.

I walked-on to the top program in the country and the coach is great. He respects hard work. If you're willing to put in the big mileage and workouts week after week it won't matter what the coach thinks of you now. Just go out and out-work everyone.

I was a terrible runner for a good division 1 team. (Multiple teammates were national championship qualifiers while i was struggling to break 17 for 5k). Not only did my coach never ignore me, he argued with the athletic department who only wanted to give championship rings to the top 10. He said we all deserved the honor because we all ran every day. I got just as much attention as our 4:02 miler and our 30 minute 10k guys. So no, it's not all coaches.

bigtenrunner is right. It is now the normal for mosot walk ons to be ignored. A walk on would have to be a legit contender in a given event. If you a miler, you'd better be able to run close to 4:10.

I ran at U-Michigan as a preferred walk on in the 1970s. My main goal was to get an education but I did earn a varsity letter in cross country.

I officiate at all of the home track meets so I am in the loop about this and have observered that there are virtually no walk ons. I was told that walk ons are discouraged from joining the team. If you do, you do it for the pure love of the sport.

The odds are against you but never count yourself out so keep plugging away and enjoy the comradary.

Walk ons and recruited athletes are like sluts and prostitutes. Walk ons just give it up for free where as the coach has to pay for scholarshiped athletes hence he values their performance more. In reality since he has invested more in them he has an incentive to see them do well because he has to justify the money he has spent on them. Also it puts him in a weird position when he spends money on a kid who is getting his butt kicked by some kid who is there solely because he loves the sport. In reality scholarships often end up being rewards for running well in HS and have very little to do with performance in college. I always got a big kick out of beating the scholarshiped guys. So to answer your question yes it is common in D1 but it's not entirely their fault. Keep in mind that coaches have to perform as well and are evaluated by their bosses. It is to their advantage to have people they have spent a lot of money on perform well so they can show results from investments to their AD. Just take it in stride and do your best to beat the hookers then like all good sluts try to gain that much needed attention.

Was a volunteer asst at d1 level

I got the walk ons--head coach didn't want to deal with it unless I could develop them to potential scorer.

Come to practice work hard don't expect much

If you develop, then they will want you-potentially.

Had Olympic medal winners come out of program.

ranbarts2 wrote:

bigtenrunner is right. It is now the normal for mosot walk ons to be ignored. A walk on would have to be a legit contender in a given event. If you a miler, you'd better be able to run close to 4:10.

Oftentimes, this isn't enough. I walked on to a D1 team, ran 1:52 for 800, 2:24 for 1000, and 3:53 in the 1500 and still didn't receive attention.

Try being a non-distance walk-on with a distance head coach and see how you get treated.

I went to a major D1 contender (full scholarship) and here is the way it was...

The group of walk-ons was always made up of two types:

1. The guys who worked their asses off and considered themselves a part of the team.

2. The guys who always complained about being injured.

I am not implying that injuries are the athlete's fault, but if you are a walk-on and cannot stay healthy, you need to consider quitting the team. We had numerous guys who never laced them up, but spent considerable time and resources in the training room. No wonder some coaches do not like these guys.

Quit Now wrote:

I went to a major D1 contender (full scholarship) and here is the way it was...

The group of walk-ons was always made up of two types:

1. The guys who worked their asses off and considered themselves a part of the team.

2. The guys who always complained about being injured.

I am not implying that injuries are the athlete's fault, but if you are a walk-on and cannot stay healthy, you need to consider quitting the team. We had numerous guys who never laced them up, but spent considerable time and resources in the training room. No wonder some coaches do not like these guys.

This is a pretty good analysis of the walk-on/coach dynamic for many programs.

To the OP: Your coach sounds like a bit of a jerk based on your account. But then again, how hard are you working? If you have less talent than some scholarship guys on the team, then you to need step up big time and work your ass off if you want the coach to take you seriously. Get healthy and do everything you can to stay healthy. You might not have All-American potential, but you need to find a way to contribute. You've only got a small window of time to be a college athlete. In a couple years it'll be over and you don't want to live with the regret of knowing that you didn't give it your all. Unless your heart is not really in it, in which case you need to go ahead and quit and find something you are passionate about.

Some crazy runner guy wrote:

In reality since he has invested more in them he has an incentive to see them do well because he has to justify the money he has spent on them. Also it puts him in a weird position when he spends money on a kid who is getting his butt kicked by some kid who is there solely because he loves the sport.

I don't really care for the slut analogy, but I've seen this^ a lot at my program. I'm a walk on, and the coaches give their scholarship athletes tons of chances to prove themselves b/c they are financially invested in those athletes. So on the rare occasions that a walk-on gets put in their main event or in a good heat they better be ready, because that may be the only chance they get the whole season to showcase their abilities. That's just the nature of college athletics, and if you don't like it then run on your own or don't complain and run fast when you're given the opportunity.

While I can't say it's the norm, it certainly seems to be fairly common among d1 schools. I myself went d1 after a strong senior year in high school(4:16, 1:54). After a year and a half I grew tired of the bullshit and transferred to a top d2 school. One of the best decisions of my life, not only did my running improve, but I also enjoyed it much more. If you're not being recruited for d1 or you aren't a freakish talent who just started late or something, I'd highly recommend avoiding trying to make it at a top d1 program unless you really trust the coach. The quality of the coach matters much more than the perceived quality of a program.

Too often--Yes.

I went to a D1 school, not anywhere near top 40 and not a large roster. Just as I started to get my legs under me I got a minor injury. Coach had merely tolerated my presence up to that point. His attitude once injured was, "that's your problem".

I'm a junior college coach now, and realize that he didn't have the energy, willingness, desire, or knowledge to develop each athlete. If a coach is missing one of these that's his issue. But it definitely affects the outcomes of the entire program as well as each individual athlete.

No good advice to the OP about your particular situation, but I feel your pain. Either way keep putting in the work.

ranbarts2 - I went to school at a quality (but not powerhouse) D1 program in the late 70's. Ran 4:08 in the mile in HS so I was on scholarship. My coach did not ignore the walk-ons. Neither did I, or any other teammates who were on scholarship. (We had 4 scholarships total, if that). We needed the walk-ons. Plus, the school was very competitive academically, and the academic prowess of the walk-ons (who did not get a big thumb on the scale in admissions) helped our team and guys like me in focusing on school and in maturing. One of the reasons walk-ons get ignored today is Title IX. Male distance runners are a killer from a Title IX perspective - they are three-fers - and count in three sports, XC, indoor and outdoor. So unlike the baseball or soccer player, the school now has to fund and recruit two additional female athletes on one team or another for every male long distance they keep on a team. Even at a wealthy athletic school like Michigan, it has an impact. Look, I think it wrong to ignore walk-ons (I am forever reminded that Doug Padilla was a 9:17 high school two miler and many average high school runners can really develop), but the system compels coaches to be budgeteers and political animals with the administration just to keep their jobs and the program going. Walk-ons would be well advised as to understand the dynamics at play.

By the way, I regret not looking into Division III at a Williams or Amherst or Haverford. I academically was qualified, and really would have enjoyed the environment at DIII, and would have been able to focus on academics with far more intensity than I did. Loans and financial aid would have been a bit of a rough spot compared to the athletic scholarship route, but on an inflation adjusted basis college cost in the 70's 1/4 to 1/3 what it does today. It was doable. The point here is that athletes ought to be really mature in their decisions, and refrain from looking reflexively at big DI programs. And if at a big D1 program, well (just as ranbarts2 did), you will be at a big school with lots of resources. Take advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity to grab the most resources and education that you can drag out the places - that kind of thing will not likely be offered again.

if they do not think you have a chance to score points at the NCAA national meet or to develop to the point where you will, DI coaches will likely not care much what you do at all. There are excpetions that provide lip service....but mostly they want to score poitns at nationals and if you are not going to do that you are of little use to them.

I was a walk-on freshman at Penn State and Harry Groves didn't know my name until my sophomore year. He literally did not know my name for an entire year. So yes, to me, this seems perfectly normal.