APNewsBreak: Texas head track coach Mario Sategna is on leave of absence due to an ethics/misconduct probe

PoisonIvy wrote:

Anybody ever consider that he may just be exhausted from his normal coaching duties combined with his role this past summer with the Olympics?

And for you alarmists out there...ZIKA!

That's not the way things work in the D1 coaching world.

If he had a health issue, you'd think they'd say that to stop speculation. On the other hand, it says he asked for the leave and was granted it which makes it sound voluntary.

The only thing I can think of is an alcohol or drug addiction. They wouldn't want to say anything as it's medical in nature and the USC football coach sued when he was terminated for that type of stuff.

runnersg wrote:

It's important to note that he requested the leave so he was not put on leave by the university.

No, that's just *meant* to look important. It's not.

Universities and other employers often tell staff to take a leave by their own request...or be put on leave.

This smells like he did something baaaaad.

Pretty sure Bev has some info on him in her lawsuit.

Good lord. STFU people. Go back to forced purging, road racing, and distance gossip. Magpies and lemmings unite! Go out for your tempo runs. Get some strides in. Stretch please. You all have pooped down your leg too many times.

The only appropriate thing to do is to withhold judgment and speculation until there is any significant news. Sategna was an NCAA decathlon champion in the 1990s and his coaching resume could hardly be more stellar:

http://texassports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=534

There is an update. The AP has a story entitled:APNewsBreak: Texas track coach Sategna under conduct probe - http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6f719ad3179544fdb41136ca7d603906/apnewsbreak-texas-track-coach-sategna-under-conduct-probeA few key paragraphs.

the AP wrote:

Longhorns head track coach Mario Sategna, who took indefinite personal leave last month, is the subject of an ethics and misconduct probe, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

University of Texas System officials confirmed the investigation in a letter to the state attorney general. University officials are seeking permission to withhold Sategna's personnel file and other documents sought by the AP under the Texas Public Information Act.

Those records relate to an "ongoing compliance investigation involving personnel matters being conducted by the university's legal affairs office" and the athletic department, system officials wrote Oct. 7.

"The university initiated the investigation in response to allegations of misconduct. The issues under review pertain to ethical questions and the standard of conduct relating to a university employee."

The Austin American Statesman has the story: "Texas head track coach Mario Sategna has requested and been granted an “indefinite” leave of absence by the university, a school official told the American-Statesman on Monday.No other details were given. There is no timetable for his return."Te Austin American Statesman has more details: http://www.hookem.com/columns/texas-track-coach-sategna-leave-absence/Tonja Buford-Bailey and Ty Seven are co head coaches until Sategna returns. LRC Update on Oct. 14. The AP has a story out today entitled:APNewsBreak: Texas track coach Sategna under conduct probe - http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6f719ad3179544fdb41136ca7d603906/apnewsbreak-texas-track-coach-sategna-under-conduct-probeA few key paragraphs.

the AP wrote:

Longhorns head track coach Mario Sategna, who took indefinite personal leave last month, is the subject of an ethics and misconduct probe, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

University of Texas System officials confirmed the investigation in a letter to the state attorney general. University officials are seeking permission to withhold Sategna's personnel file and other documents sought by the AP under the Texas Public Information Act.

Those records relate to an "ongoing compliance investigation involving personnel matters being conducted by the university's legal affairs office" and the athletic department, system officials wrote Oct. 7.

"The university initiated the investigation in response to allegations of misconduct. The issues under review pertain to ethical questions and the standard of conduct relating to a university employee."

Pretty big news. I'm amazed that there is not more talk about it on this site. What would "standards of conduct" most likely refer to? Seems like it could be anything. With UT launching its own investigation, and no NCAA violations coming to light, could it be that these allegations were made internally?

When Vig was around, Texas was a top ten XC team and dominated the middle distances. This is a school that has all the resources in the world, and lots of in-state talent to pull from. No reason it can't return to a place of prominence again in the distance world. I would imagine that with Sategna at the wheel, the distance squads took a backseat to field events when it came to team resources.

Distance still has a lot of talent and scholarship money in it.

Their men and women have several of the top kids out of TX the last few years plus a few studs from California. Yet, they can't get it done.

Earlier poster mentioned their jumps coach was fired weeks before this investigation. So maybe there is some truth the jumps guy spilled the beans on his way out the door.

Ontosomething wrote:

Earlier poster mentioned their jumps coach was fired weeks before this investigation. So maybe there is some truth the jumps guy spilled the beans on his way out the door.

Likely what happened.

Or something like a GA or volunteer assistant

Ethics probe is probably not good.

Money or sexual relationship are only possibilities.

tracksharks wrote:

Money or sexual relationship are only possibilities.

Probably right, because these two are the only things that matter in any case.

Wait -Ty Sevin is now the interim head coach? I can't imagine Mario doing something to get removed, and Ty not having already done something worse.

/popcorngif

the reality wrote:

Distance still has a lot of talent and scholarship money in it.

Their men and women have several of the top kids out of TX the last few years plus a few studs from California. Yet, they can't get it done.

Because Sategna got rid of a good coach in John Hayes and brought in a terrible coach in brad herbster

Is Mario back? I've noticed that many of his female athletes that he was coaching transferred. I've also noticed that they didn't recruit well. I think Texas got one girl who throws the Javelin.

Mario's back. No answers.

http://texassports.com/news/2017/1/11/track-field-cross-country-track-field-head-coach-mario-sategna-returns-to-active-duty.aspx

Out for a stint in rehab?

out