Is Georgetown's New Coach Michael Smith Really This Incredible?

Yes, this is without a doubt spot on. Good luck, Mike.

What is also amazing is that the GU cross country and track team website not only doesn't yet list him as a coach, but doesn't even have a news article stating Miltenberg left for Stanford and Smith was named coach.

Nice job Georgetown sports information department!

Typical--sports info at Gtwn is a joke!

It reads like a girl who was in love with a guy that's moving away wrote it. Such-fan-girl bullsh*t. The fact that anybody would actually publish that thing is ridiculous.

mike smith is a goddamn legend. he is one of the very few guys i have a total man-crush on.

Not only that, the author states that she is a Senior Editor at Running Times. Not listed here:

http://www.runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=17085

This is some bullshit.

seems like a great XC guy. hopefully he can maintain the team,s real strength in the mid distances.

It's funny, asking if this is accurate. Any of us who have gotten to spend time with Smith know this is true. He is a big deal in Flagstaff.

Kudos to Henner and also Miltenberg for choosing his successor.

Why did he separate from McMillan? Could he not function in a "team concept" or is it more about Coach Greg?

Excuse me while I vomit after reading that.

Unfortunately, "coaching" at collegiate level also demands your time and energy go towards recruiting, meet management, paperwork, travel plans, entry, fundraising, budgeting, alumni relations, etc. I am sure Georgetown has as much support as anyone, but these jobs make it tough.

Also, from best place to train to urban setting.

If true, this is a really bizarre hire.

The defending national champions hire a coach with zero? (at least zero recent) collegiate coaching experience to be their HEAD coach!?!?

Imagine if Nick Saban left Alabama and they hired me (or you, for that matter) to be their head coach.

I know that Mike is by all accounts a great guy with a dynamic personality, but he'd be more well suited to an assistant role at this point.

This just shows what a joke the collegiate track coaching "profession" is.

Yeah but he has an AWESOME fart machine. Great for those long, tedious bus rides and rural camping trips.

hoya h8r wrote:

If true, this is a really bizarre hire.

The defending national champions hire a coach with zero? (at least zero recent) collegiate coaching experience to be their HEAD coach!?!?

Imagine if Nick Saban left Alabama and they hired me (or you, for that matter) to be their head coach.

I know that Mike is by all accounts a great guy with a dynamic personality, but he'd be more well suited to an assistant role at this point.

This just shows what a joke the collegiate track coaching "profession" is.

In Flagstaff it's known that he's been offered college jobs in the past (not sure if they were asst or head or what) and always turned them down (to stay in Flagstaff with us, Smith you traitor!! jk)

I think that "college coaching experience" is a valid point hoyah8r but for some gifted people it's way overrated. I don't even like Georgetown and I can already tell you it's a brilliant hire.

hoya h8r wrote:

If true, this is a really bizarre hire.

The defending national champions hire a coach with zero? (at least zero recent) collegiate coaching experience to be their HEAD coach!?!?

Imagine if Nick Saban left Alabama and they hired me (or you, for that matter) to be their head coach.

I know that Mike is by all accounts a great guy with a dynamic personality, but he'd be more well suited to an assistant role at this point.

This just shows what a joke the collegiate track coaching "profession" is.

He coached under Jack Daniels here in Flagstaff with the Altius then Run flagstaff programs. When Jack left, Mike took over and has been running the program.

I'd say that is good experience (and probably a good person to have as a reference), and something the AD at Georgetown took into consideration.

Arkansas hired a guy who finished 1-7 in his last year in the Big 10 and it really paid off Saturday against UL Monroe.

Gtown ain't Bama. UTEP 1981 XC is Bama.

EESSSEE EEEEE SEEEE

Not that incredible? Try asking Manny and Olga.

What happened to Coach Gully? Did they rethink their original decision?