Metcalf steps down from coaching at University of Washington

Not very admirable wrote:

1. If these soft athletes were truly admirable they wouldn't have to take action under anonymity.

2. If admirable do you think these athletes will include GETTING COACH FIRED on their resume?

Of course not. I would not hire any of these athletes.

1. Someone wrote: The real world isn't going to be all that kind to you, Sumner Goodwin, Jamie Coughlin, Aaron Schlossman. I hope torpedoing careers isn't the only defense you have against huwt feewings.

That's not anonymity, buddy. Do you know the definition of anonymity? Didn't think so. In any case, the law protects people's from needing to identify themselves for a reason. Because the majority of society places value on certain mores, values, rights. You are bound to these mores, values and rights whether you like it or not. You can CHOOSE to ignore them but you may suffer the consequences. Don't blame the victim.

2. Yes, I would hire them in the workplace. Whether you would choose to welcome them into your fold is immaterial really. I doubt they would want to be coached by you anyway.

I ran with Metcalf at UW and he was a good guy that the other runners looked up to. That said, our coach at the time, Mike Johnson, was a complete jerk in my opinion. He was needlessly aggressive and belittling when I was there and seemed to have a lot of the same turnover issues Metcalf has. I definitely remember going over to hang out with the girls team and they were eating popcorn with soy sauce for dinner... It just wasn't a good environment and since that was the model of behavior for Greg, it's not surprising people are alleging he coached in a similar manner.

And for all the tough guys on the board, it isn't about whether you can handle the aggressive nature of some of these coaches, it's whether or not you want to tolerate it. These kids aren't "snowflakes", they are standing up to a jerk and if their statements were unwarranted, Metcalf wouldn't have been fired. These kids get to spend 4-5 years running in college and most won't run professionally. They deserve to be coached by someone who treats them with some measure of respect. If they can't get that at UW, they are going to go somewhere where they can (free market baby). I have never heard a kid describe a race where they said, "I was falling off the pace, but then Coach called me a p#@*sy and I sped back up to the pack!" Trust me, there are better ways to motivate performance than tearing down kids and no one has a right to be collecting a D1 paycheck as a coach if they can't deliver results and act like a decent human being. Bad behavior has consequences and if you can't act right, and you aren't getting it done recruiting or performance wise, you are done. End of story. Hopefully he'll land somewhere where the pressure to perform won't necessitate acting like an a#s.

Are you a child? You're basing your feelings off of the nostalgia from undergrad and dealing w/ a young GM? How old are you?

I found out that a kid I went to middle school got charged with killing his wife and child a few years ago. Refused to believe it because we had great times at the arcade when we were 13.

Makes you wonder how long would gagliano last in this era of coaching. Nonetheless an administrations decision is theirs alone based off of information given. Kids these days are a little bolder to go forth with allegations than in years past when you just suck it up and get over it. Our society of telling kids to share their emotions and etc etc etc has birth this generation of tattle tells. He was given a warning in 2014, and from there should have come up with clever ways to accomplish what he was doing without crossing the line(they’re ways) but he eventually went back to his old ways and thus lost his job. He will be fine this industry likes to keep circulating the old farts and not let fresh blood in so he will get a job.

It sounds like a few of the men on the team decided that it was in everyone's best interest for them to speak for the entire program. Unfortunately in situations like this, even if 80% of the team is happy with their situation, the 20% will make it their mission to ruin the guy's career. These guys, because they cannot handle being told what they don't want to hear (usually the truth), go running to the administration.

Problem with male distance runners:

1. They ALWAYS think they know more than the coaches.

2. They have thin skin.

3. They have a sense of entitlement.

4. They usually are jealous of the women's team receiving more accolades and more attention from the coach.

5. Think they have a moral obligation to "stick-up" for the women's team when they see skinny girls (not every skinny girl is sick).

I was a decathlete. Couldn't stand the male distance runners. Weak. Whinny. Fragile. KNow-it-alls. Scan this board and it is one giant study in the above observations.

Jabari joggers wrote:

Makes you wonder how long would gagliano last in this era of coaching. Nonetheless an administrations decision is theirs alone based off of information given. Kids these days are a little bolder to go forth with allegations than in years past when you just suck it up and get over it. Our society of telling kids to share their emotions and etc etc etc has birth this generation of tattle tells. He was given a warning in 2014, and from there should have come up with clever ways to accomplish what he was doing without crossing the line(they’re ways) but he eventually went back to his old ways and thus lost his job. He will be fine this industry likes to keep circulating the old farts and not let fresh blood in so he will get a job.

The Nazis accomplished mass genocide due to your generation's herd mentality. "Kids these days" learned from your generation's mistakes. They are bolder, impassioned and empathetic. You demonstrate wisdom is not necessarily a product of one's physical age and life experience.

Love how you relate this to the Nazis. Sounds like a bit of a stretch.

YOU epitomize what's wrong with white male privilege. Yes, I'm willing to bet you are are an angry white male. Does it bother you when people speak up against old guard values? Does it threaten the privilege that you have grown to rely on in order to get ahead in life? No, people do not need to look the other way anymore. You are not special. You are one of the crowd. You need to check yourself because you no longer have free reign to behave as you wish without fear of the consequences.

Male decathlete nails it. Male distance runners tend to be the worst.

While it is very important to bring up real cases of abuse, I’m pretty sure there is a lot of exaggeration and half truths in what these “guys” have accused Metcalf of doing. That is the issue here. No one wants student-athletes to stay silent if there is real abuse. There is a problem for sure when a student-athlete gets their feelings hurt so they attack the coach.

When some of you compare it to what happens in your work place then I can assure you it is not at all the same. I’m the name of professionalism, coaches should just post a workout, use no passion or emotion and let the kids do it - or not. Much safer way to keep your job.

Gagliano is a great example of a tremendous coach that would NEVER make it today. He was absolutely loved by his athletes but that was 20-40 years ago. He wouldn’t make it on a college campus for 1 month in 2018. He had more passion and love for those kids but would be fried today. The distance runner male of 2018 is definitely a different species and not in a good way. And once again, no one is asking anyone to allow coaches to physical harm or truly mentally abuse an athlete. What happened at UW was hardly that.

Nice try. Clearly a male distance runner that I just touched a nerve. Immediate response when backed into a corner...lash out! Sorry you feel guilty for being a male and white. I do not apologize for being either. I have no issue with rising up against any oppression. I have an issue with people who want t cry "victim" and take it upon their self to speak on everyone else's behalf. Thanks for the humorous name calling. Chances are, you are one of the boys that cried to your Mommy. Again, just one more example of why male distance runners are the stain on the underwear of our dying sport.

Another former NCAA DIvision I athlete = sparticus (aka a sick, perverted LRC poster with delusions of grandeur). You have a mental illness and need treatment.

And, BTW, "the stain on the underwear" of "your sport" is actually a badge of honor. Unfortunate that you can't see that, but you are a dying breed and that, sir, is a very good thing for the sport of distance running.

...and yet you keep proving my point. Speaking in extremes. Claiming to know everything, about everything. Desperate attack on a stranger that calls you out for being weak. I never said "my sport". Mental illness? Because I refuse to apologize for being white and male? Your knee-jerk reaction to lash out in such unreasonable extremes only continues to speak to the original point I was making. Do us all a favor (and by "us", I mean other white males that still have a set), and just go back to whacking off in the men's locker room stall after practice to the girls on the team you will never land. How's that "friend-zone" thing working out for you? I am sure all the people in your life are so thrilled with the fact you need to "stick up for them". Go get help, son.

I voted for Trump and I think coaches should conduct themselves with professionalism and treat everyone in a stern by RESPECTFUL way, but also stern. Did I mention stern?

You are one angry, sick dude. The game is up. You can't bully people into conformity anymore. That is YOUR trigger.

Having a spine and values does not equate to weakness. Perhaps in your next life you'll learn this important lesson. You're too angry over your loss of white male privilege to see it now. That is okay, God is forgiving even though your damaged athletes may not be.

Someone get this kid some Kleenex and a teddy bear!

Judging from the continued, and telling, responses from "Me Thinks", it is beyond clear that you are one of the Washington men and a quick scan of your IP would surely add credence to that theory.

I am not your former coach. I am not a coach at all. I am legitimately someone that has nothing to do with UW program. I am a former 7000+ point decathlete (not great. not bad).

I am just following this drama as it is unfolding. I see what I see. To me, it is a few weak male distance runners that want to try and destroy a man's career (and, if possible, his life). You feel like he wronged you in some way. We get it. From the sounds of the second article, you also now have an entire group of people that are upset with you for speaking on their behalf without their knowledge or approval.

I have been saying all along, this is not uncommon on this board and with male distance runners. You have been lashing out at me unreasonably which clearly indicates that you are one of the two guys that's names were mentioned earlier on this thread. I would also venture a guess that you are also multiple other usernames on this thread posting from your phone, then your laptop and then random computers on campus so as to "hide".

You are not as smart as you think, kid.

[/quote]

You are one angry, sick dude. The game is up. You can't bully people into conformity anymore. That is YOUR trigger.

Having a spine and values does not equate to weakness. Perhaps in your next life you'll learn this important lesson. You're too angry over your loss of white male privilege to see it now. That is okay, God is forgiving even though your damaged athletes may not be.[/quote]

Someone get this kid some Kleenex and a teddy bear![/quote]

I agree. He young dude seems a bit unhinged.

A couple quotes:

“Coach Metcalf is 100 percent one of the highlights of my running life, and I’ve been running since basically I was born,” said Schmitt, now a high school coach in California. “He remains one of my biggest running influences and coaching influences and mentors in my life.”

This is from Jake Schmitt, All American distance runner and All Around good guy!

‘Mills said there were strong emotions both for and against Metcalf, and some athletes — many female, she said — who were upset that a group of male athletes had gone to administrations on their behalf without their knowledge.’

Even the girls were pissed that these dudes would try to ‘protect’ them.

There are always two sides to every story. Those that think Greg as an evil, abusive, manipulative coach truly believe it but that’s just one perspective. I know how much passion and care Greg has for his athletes and former athletes. How many of his former athletes did he hire onto his staff? How many of you has he helped over the last 20 years? I’m sure he made mistakes but overall, Metcalf is a good dude.

Former Sub 14:00 wrote:

So, he was a jerk and did inappropriate things (per your admittance). He even does that now. So he has been consistent with it for some time. You are mad about snitches? Cronyism at its finest. Loyal to a fault. I coach in D1 as well and you are OUT if you do any of this. What about any other job? You think an office worker would last a second? You sound like an absolute idiot. Literally a fool. You call these guys wimps but you have your head so far up Greg's a**hole you can probably see out the other side.

Coming forward about the things these "men" complained about isn't snitching - it's being a p*ssy. These gentlemen reinforced the stereotype of the soft PNW males.

Don't talk to an LRC legend that way, "Face Farter".