ALEX GIBBY FIRED - confirmed by Michigan 6/16/14

Maybe she left on her own accord to get a better job.....I thought Gibby did a good job too. And Juli did do a good job. Got the xc team to nationals and had a 1500m runner take 2nd which is hard to do at an academy.

The guys on the team loved Gibby and he got screwed. He recruited alot of great runners in the past couple years. I would love to know what they are thinking. Totally surprised for a school and program like Michigan.

Don't expect to not get screwed over being in the coaching profession. If it only happens once to you your lucky. Best of luck to Gibby...he had had a lot of success.

The only runners that michigan had at ncaas were distance runners. Then the distance coach gets fired? explain to me that one.

And he was Coach of the Year in their Region????

2nd at big 10s also. This really baffles me, especially considering how much his runners liked him

+1 to all points here.

Ben Dover wrote:

Don't expect to not get screwed over being in the coaching profession. If it only happens once to you your lucky. Best of luck to Gibby...he had had a lot of success.

Who makes the decision to fire a coach? Can the head track coach make the decision or is it the AD?

I don't necessarily think he is getting screwed over.IF he was a Coordinator in FB and the HC turned over and then in turn switched coordinators no one would bat an eye...The HC has probably had some expectations placed on him wants a guy in the XC/Distance job he picked. Not really that dramatic of a situation IF it wasn't XC and track.As alluded to in other post this will be Gibby's 3rd stop in his coaching career really not that drastic of turnover. He has had success and good stability at his 3 stops he will get another gig...

Er... wrote:

+1 to all points here.

Ben Dover wrote:

Don't expect to not get screwed over being in the coaching profession. If it only happens once to you your lucky. Best of luck to Gibby...he had had a lot of success.

I haven't remained real close to the team, but what little contact I have maintained confirms what has already been mentioned - the guys on the team liked him. He obviously had some success.

I have no inside information, but I'm hoping the firing was over basic philosophical differences with the head coach and that Gibby held to his values.

I'm not sure was to make of Coach Clayton, yet. It was clear after indoors that he wanted to clear the roster of any athlete that wasn't 100% committed or talented enough to eventually score at Big Tens. I can't say I'm on board with his methods, but am willing to give him some time to turn things around.

Anytime a new head coach is hired, existing assistant coaches should be actively looking for other opportunities. Gibby had to know this was a likely outcome regardless of how much success he had with the distance kids.

Why bye bye ? wrote:

In michigan sasd wrote:

Juli did a great job with the air force men.

If she did such a good job, why did she get canned?

Julie Henner did not get canned at Air Force. She is leaving to coach at Nike in Portland.

Im guessing the previous poster was right saying they had simple differences and the head coach just canned him. What positions are open for distance coaching that gibby could take?

Jerry Clayton came from Auburn. Legitimately look at every team in the SEC. The largest TRACK team has what, 40 people? Michigan has almost that many in just distance runners, and I'm sure administration and Jerry Clayton wanted to make significant changes. While Alex is quite stubborn, he is a very proud coach and truly respects his athletes. He was told to cut their distance team in half, something that he sacrificed his job for because he didn't think it was fair to himself or the athletes. Best of luck to you Alex.

Air Force Academy or after a Director is hired, U of TN.

SEC Coaches wrote:

Jerry Clayton came from Auburn. Legitimately look at every team in the SEC. The largest TRACK team has what, 40 people? Michigan has almost that many in just distance runners, and I'm sure administration and Jerry Clayton wanted to make significant changes. While Alex is quite stubborn, he is a very proud coach and truly respects his athletes. He was told to cut their distance team in half, something that he sacrificed his job for because he didn't think it was fair to himself or the athletes. Best of luck to you Alex.

This makes sense. Could Gibby make UT a powehouse again?

If SEC coaches is correct and the reason that Gibby was let go was because he refused to reduce his roster, it will be interesting to see how many of the runners look to transfer. Clayton may not have much support from his distance squad if this is the actual situation. They do have some talent developing (Ferlic, Pappas, Flanagan, Glimes, Mora...)---I will be curious to see what their cross country roster looks like next year.

bobinvirginia wrote:

If SEC coaches is correct and the reason that Gibby was let go was because he refused to reduce his roster, it will be interesting to see how many of the runners look to transfer. Clayton may not have much support from his distance squad if this is the actual situation. They do have some talent developing (Ferlic, Pappas, Flanagan, Glimes, Mora...)---I will be curious to see what their cross country roster looks like next year.

This is a good point. How much loyalty to u of m and clayton will the very good distance runners have when their coach gets fired and their friends cut? Not much I would assume.

I left coaching a few years ago, but will say this.

Jerry Clayton will get the job done.

The Men's team will not be huge, but the guys on the team will score points at the conference and national meet.

Jerry does not care where the points come from, but if you are on scholarship (More then books) he expects you to score points at the conference level at least.

A 10.5 guy and 14:00 guy are great, but do not help you at major conference meets. He will not put money into those type runners.

Michigan has a lot of in-state kids too that are on little to no scholarship. Michigan is very expensive in-state, but many of those athletes are very old and may not be able to transfer out. If SEC Coaches is correct, I have gained tremendous respect for Gibby. However, I feel bad for those kids that may be cut, and hope that they weigh their options thoroughly before making their choices.