National Championship Coach Fired - Arcadia Coach Jim O'Brien Fired From Track Team

Just realized that comment I made didn't make sense. Meant to say something along the lines of "Dana Hills is a great school and Butler is an incredible coach."

its true. i'm an athlete on the team. O'brien tried to reconcile... but the head track coach simply refused to work with him anymore and chose to fire him. when o'brien turned to the athletic director for help, he said that he had to along with whatever the head track coach says.

O'brien has always helped anyone who wants his help. He has gotten several job offers already but he does not want to turn his back on the athletes he has right now. Thats why he created a course of cross country during the spring.

i say .... wrote:

dude, there's no nc in ncaa DI-A college football nor high school xc.

It's called Nike Cross Nationals --- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_Cross_Nationals

NXN wrote:

It's called Nike Cross Nationals --- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_Cross_Nationals

Never heard of it.

Things to remember.

Its high school - no one really cares.

The boss gets to choose who he wants to work with.

Its track and field.

Few really care, and oh yes, its high school X country and track.

Even less really care.

I get this Jim O'Brien guy, but for these teachers its often about the stipend for coaching - even if they love it, and for the AD its about harmony. Because its T&F.

If he takes the coin, he should march in sync. Or start his club outside school and follow his pashion.

I would think that after J.O'B wins his second national title that he has earned a little respect. The question is was he demanding it in terms of more power and influence over the track team, Arcadia Invitational etc. Anytime there is a power struggle someone has to come out the loser. We may never know.

There is probably no greater concentration of High School power house running programs than there are in CIF SS. Arcadia, Loyola, Dana, Trabuco, Saugus, Great Oak, Palos Verdes. Flintridge Prep All these programs have great coaches that have to rebuild every year, but manage to get the most out of their athletes and stay t the top. That just doesn't happen with bad coaches.

Is the head track coach also the football coach?

Because that would explain everything in high school sports. XC coach could be Jesus and he still wouldn't have any say in this.

Nutter, do you really think it is about the stipend?Granted high school coaches in California make more, but you are an absolute idiot if you think people put in the time and effort for the small stipend. With all the work put in, it is barely minimum wage.

nutterforme wrote:

Things to remember.

Its high school - no one really cares.

The boss gets to choose who he wants to work with.

Its track and field.

Few really care, and oh yes, its high school X country and track.

Even less really care.

I get this Jim O'Brien guy, but for these teachers its often about the stipend for coaching - even if they love it, and for the AD its about harmony. Because its T&F.

If he takes the coin, he should march in sync. Or start his club outside school and follow his pashion.

O'Brien splits his stipend up and gives it to all his assistant coaches. The only money he makes is through his teaching position.

Whatdoiknow wrote:

I would think that after J.O'B wins his second national title that he has earned a little respect. The question is was he demanding it in terms of more power and influence over the track team, Arcadia Invitational etc. Anytime there is a power struggle someone has to come out the loser. We may never know.

There is probably no greater concentration of High School power house running programs than there are in CIF SS. Arcadia, Loyola, Dana, Trabuco, Saugus, Great Oak, Palos Verdes. Flintridge Prep All these programs have great coaches that have to rebuild every year, but manage to get the most out of their athletes and stay t the top. That just doesn't happen with bad coaches.

How in the world did Flintridge Prep make this list in your mind??

Does the firing have anything to do with the squirrel?

[quote]With all the work put in, it is barely minimum wage.[quote]

I don't believe I've met a HS XC or track coach in California, let alone an assistant, who makes anywhere close to minimum wage. Last time I calculated, I was making about 50 cents an hour, not counting anything done while athletes weren't present.

Allot of people must care, look at all of us talking about this! I have a feeling this track coach's ego is more important to him than his athletes are. I also having a feeling that the Xc parents will get involved and that will probably be the end to this track/football coach.

My very first thought, indeed: what about the squirrel? has he been fired, also?

coach d wrote:

Dana is not my team, but Tim Butler is a friend of mine (and a lot of other people).

My sense, though, is that there's more than a little jealousy involved at Arcadia. Of course, maybe he doesn't like squirrels.

This thread is bogus. No national champ for any high school sports exists in the US.

1) O'Brien gave the squirrel to a native american family in New Mexico when he was at USATF Junior Olympics (week after NXN). The family, mainly the children, were very appreciative.

2) The track coach is not the football coach.

I would have to disagree, nike has created something awesome for our sport that maybe no other high school sport has a national championship!!!!!!

Flintridge Prep?? wrote:

Whatdoiknow wrote:

I would think that after J.O'B wins his second national title that he has earned a little respect. The question is was he demanding it in terms of more power and influence over the track team, Arcadia Invitational etc. Anytime there is a power struggle someone has to come out the loser. We may never know.

There is probably no greater concentration of High School power house running programs than there are in CIF SS. Arcadia, Loyola, Dana, Trabuco, Saugus, Great Oak, Palos Verdes. Flintridge Prep All these programs have great coaches that have to rebuild every year, but manage to get the most out of their athletes and stay t the top. That just doesn't happen with bad coaches.

How in the world did Flintridge Prep make this list in your mind??

Seriously! Flintridge Prep is no where near the level all those other schools you named are silly.

The only possible explanations:

1) It's somebody from Flintridge Prep trying to boost their rep.

and/or

2) Flintridge Prep usually does fairly well each year at CIF-SS Finals in Division 5 (this would be disregarding the fact that being good in division 5 doesn't mean anything compared to the D1/D2 powerhouses.