JJ Clark out at Tennessee

So what the thread--now five pages in--is saying, is that some people would like a change in the coaching at UT, but that no one knows when, or whether, that shall occur.

Just rants, in other words. Got it.

He was struggling with exercise induced asthma.

Gettin Paper wrote:

Aight wrote:

I have no dog in this fight, but all the guys mentioned are better than UT's number one guy in xc. Odonnell is a 8:04, 4:04 (indoor guy), Lord is an all-region/SEC xc guy and a 14:04 guy, and Sonnenfeldt is 2x All-Region/Acc guy. All better than anyone Tennessee has had as their number one in the past 5 years.

Remind me again what Maclean ran at SECs?

The problems at Tennessee are not just about how well the distance program is performing although it is far from competitive as a whole compared to its past and not taking many points in conference and even fewer at nationals and that includes the women JJ coached just 4-5 years ago.

Look at the Florida Relay results this weekend. Pathetic. Tennessee hardly "competitive" at all and completely not in many events such as women's sprints.

To those saying this is just ranting and there are no actions actually taken place you obviously are not party to the inner discussions. UT is not going to pull a Boise and just can JJ in mid-season like they did Derek Dooley in footbal but a change is upcoming in June.

Now these guys you are mentioning that are running better, did JJ help them improve this year or is it the new distance coach he brought in? It seems that he didn't like consistently being beaten by a small school, realized said coach's potential at the small school, offered and convinced him to take the job, and now the superior distance coach is having an impact on the runners after a few months of them adapting to the new points in the training philosophy. Just my 3 cents.

DING, DING, DING! We have a winner!

bump.

This is something the alum just start every year around this time...

It's the truth. I've heard that a new assistant coach from a smaller school was coaching the freshman that ran so well all winter and then all of the sudden Clark decided to start coaching him after he produced a good result (presumably to keep his ego intact). In my opinion, they need to hire a men's coach and let JJ go back to coaching the girls.

Vols ranked in the top 20

Boy don't ole JJ's comments in the release ring of a man who knows unless a miracle happens in the next 6 weeks, his fate is sealed. Ranking means nothing especially if at SEC's team does a face plant yet again and advances virtually no one to nationals. I am betting on the later and still hear he is already a goner barring a top 3 SEC finish or a top 10 national finish.

You literally know nothing

It is my opinion that...Neither JJ nor his HOTHEADED JOKE of an assistant distance coach have demonstrated they possess the ability/knowledge to COACH. That is why JJ has recently returned from recruiting in Africa. He doesn't know how to coach, motivate or even communicate effectively, SO, apparently, he believes, if he acquires a few folks who don't really need/want coaching (although the one he already has isn't doing too well, ran 14:44 @ Penn yesterday), he will keep his nice TN paycheck and continue coaching his "professional athletes"(although many of them have already canned him because he isn't doing too well coaching them either). Do you think the AD knows that JJ'S professional runners ride the team bus, take up a seat or two EACH,(while TN runners ride squished together), stay in UT paid for rooms, then run unattached? He's been made aware; I DO KNOW! Did he pay attention or even care? That I don't know. If you don't believe how bad the coaching is, go to a few practices. Watch the extremely poor coaching as it's imagined, then (maybe) executed. No goals set, no cohesion between this practice and any other, no times being whittled away, no rhyme or reason, Willy Nilly Coaching at its best! If you know anything about coaching or running, you'll easily recognize the incredibly sad situation being imposed on TN's Track and Field athletes. I have current ties to this Ridiculous JOKE of a TEAM and CANNOT BELIEVE the atrocities that are being rewarded and allowed to continue. I, too, could continue, but 1.) I, unlike some, know when it's time to stop and 2.) Don't want to begin my weekend thinking any longer about such a pathetic pitiful program!!!!! GOD BLESS ANY RUNNER WHO GOES TO TENNESSEE! IF YOU'RE A TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE AND YOU SEE A UT KNOXVILLE COACH WALKING IN YOUR DIRECTION; RUN! RUN!! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!! CREATE A NEW PR RUNNING...IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION! Maybe you'll attract the attention of a REAL COACH from a university that cares about it's program and people!

What do you guys think of Russ Johnson and John Frazier. Two coaches for the Vols that are getting it done... what happens to them if things change?

Russ is an assistant and Frazier is doing a good job. Hopefully they do not sink on the ship as well if the entire coaching staff gets axed clean slate

He couldn't even do well at the JJ Clark Relays (held annually in Philadelphia) this year!!

Nick Kaiser split 149 for a new pr and their steeple guy set a huge pr and is running MUCH faster than he ever did under Watts. This thread is more of a "still butt hurt cause Watts is gone" than lets make JJ look bad. The post about the new assistant proves that y'all are mad with everyone who isn't Watts at UTk.

Isn't hotheaded at all but is a really nice guy with an even temper who was well known for taking also-rans in high school and turning them into NAIA champs. He's a great coach.

R u kidding? wrote:

Nick Kaiser split 149 for a new pr and their steeple guy set a huge pr and is running MUCH faster than he ever did under Watts. This thread is more of a "still butt hurt cause Watts is gone" than lets make JJ look bad. The post about the new assistant proves that y'all are mad with everyone who isn't Watts at UTk.

AGREED!!!!

And it has nothing to do with the fact that he's two whole years older??