Best D1 Coaches

As a highly recruited runner don't you have your choices narrowed down to select short list by now? What schools are you still looking at? We'll give you an evaluation of those choices.

not pete watson

Karen Harvey. Whenever her runners underperform, it's their fault, not hers. Therefore, I would assume that whenever her runners don't perform well into the future, it's also their fault, not hers.

I can think of a certain fellow in Boulder that Jenny Simpson and Emma Coburn might recommend.

But another one you might not think about is Mark Conover at Cal Poly.

monkey in the middle wrote:

Karen Harvey. Whenever her runners underperform, it's their fault, not hers. Therefore, I would assume that whenever her runners don't perform well into the future, it's also their fault, not hers.

These are the best coaches. When they underperform at nationals, they're headcases. When they underperform five straight years at nationals, they've had five straight years of headcases by freak coincidence.

Any thoughts on the coaches at Michigan, UConn, Syracuse, West Virginia, Iowa State, Georgetown, or Louisville?

i visited cuse.. great coaches but i didn't fit in with the city environment

Murk Elliott at LSU has wisdom and tact surpassed only by the Brothers Johnson.

Check out Virginia Tech. Coach gets a lot of in state or regional talent (not the top national recruits) and turns them into All Americans.

Michigan, Mike McGuire, can't be be beat for great development of middle distance runners and a first rate education.

high school senior wrote:

Any thoughts on the coaches at Michigan, UConn, Syracuse, West Virginia, Iowa State, Georgetown, or Louisville?

Anything but Lousville, second last in the conference not a single girl in the top 100

raw thang wrote:

Murk Elliott at LSU has wisdom and tact surpassed only by the Brothers Johnson.

Is that you, Yoshi?

Coogan

I ran for the men's team so I can give you some idea about the women's cross country team. They are awesome (not a combined program so they have completely different coaching staffs). They just finished 8th at the NCAA Championships and from everything I hear and have observed they love the coach. The team was the absolute shits a few years ago before the current coach took over. Seems pretty amazing to be 8th at the national meet in four years or whatever its been. I know she also has a few athletes who are running pro or trying to at least so they must not feel burnt out. I would also consider the coach has had great success with not just cross country but has some of the best mid-distance girls in the NCAA. Most of the men wish she could coach them so that should tell you something considering she's a woman coach. Plus UConn is also a great school academically but if you are looking for a city environment better look elsewhere.

high school senior wrote:

Any thoughts on the coaches at Michigan, UConn, Syracuse, West Virginia, Iowa State, Georgetown, or Louisville?

too many d1 coaches are d1 coaches only because they were born with great athletic ability.

shame on so many athletic directors for passing over great COACHES, only to hire mediocre coaches who were great RUNNERS.

great coaching is a great skill. being among the fastest runners is, to a large extent, nothing but luck.

there are lots of high-echelon coaches out there whose body of coaching work is garbage, considering that they hold an elite job.

so, budding prospect, find a coach who has developed successful teams over time, and whose members continue a positive connection to running long after graduation.

Ron Combs is one of the best coaches in the country. Chech him out!

This is true. When Ron Combs speaks to you its as if you are looking Jesus in the face and him saying "you are my greatest creation" its simply magical and there is no other experience like it in this fine world.

Dartmouth Mark Coogan Boston College Randy Thomas

Bruce Lehane of Boston University. Years of experience to have a great insight on potential situations that could hinder a running career.