Metcalf steps down from coaching at University of Washington

Hayduke wrote:

Jujbb wrote:

Definitely a product of the NCAA D1 system. Many many others out there, but most are not in running-centric towns like Seattle where there are many eyes on the program.

The things you are saying are basically the description of D1 athletics--all sports. A college coaches job is 100% dependent on the abilities of 18-22 year olds. Is there an optimum weight for a distance runner? yes. Do coaches benefit of getting every inch out of a runner until the break and then replaced? yes. Do coaches benefit from having complete obedience and loyalty from their athletes? yes. The shame IS college athletics, not the coaches. This goes on everywhere, maybe some coaches are more charming and can get away with it, but go to any podium level team and you will find the same complaints.

I have no idea what UW's program was like with Metcalf but I'll say, no, I don't think if you go to any podium level team you'll find the same complaints. Honestly, there are some good successful coaches out there who actually don't need to abuse the kids for their own good. (Again, not saying anything about Metcalf... just disagreeing with this post which seems to be trying to say it's okay because all winning coaches do this.)

He didn't resign and that is obvious. He was fired with cause and that is obvious. This mess will smolder for a while.

Until someone posts some very specific acts from this coach it is hard for me to see what the issue is. Perhaps most people who have issue with him have never competed in any sport outside of running. I think back to all the sports I competed in compared to XC or Track and I think just runners have not been exposed to how coaches in most sports do their job. I brought up Nick Saben in an earlier post. Watch an Alabama football game and tell me that Metcalf would be better or worse than Saben.

PPS obviously sexual harassment is a no go.... but what did he do? lets really hear how he sexually harassed runners, and lets hear it all. I'm in no way wanting to support anyone who is doing something very wrong. But so far it's a lot of generic he did all this bad stuff.

You seem to know everything about Nick Saban except how to spell his name... what a moran

Vaporflyer wrote:

You seem to know everything about Nick Saban except how to spell his name... what a moran

Im spelling it the tradition French/Dutch/German way.... d-bag.

Notadawg wrote:

He didn't resign and that is obvious. He was fired with cause and that is obvious. This mess will smolder for a while.

The press release said "greed to a mutual separation" which implies that the AD wanted him gone. It's different than a firing for cause though. I don't agree that "fired with cause" is obvious. In fact, I think we can say it most definitely wasn't that as the press release allowed him to say it was a mutual separation.

People act like it's crazy he's gone in the middle of the season. We are at the end of the season. THis is littel different than a football team canning a coach before a meaningless bowl game.

I imagine it went like this:

AD: "Greg, here at UW we need to being doing better than 8th on the men's side, 9th on the women's at Pac 12s. I don't think this is going to work out.

Greg: "Ok you told me I was on the hot seat six months ago. I'll resign now if you pay me for 6 months.

What is left out is the AD saying, "I didn't hire you and I need to keep peopel on their toes and justify my salary like all ADS, so I'm going to fire a bunch of people and hope a few new hires do well so I can take credit and keep my own job.

I agree with you.

Our sport attracts the non athlete. The kid that wasn't athletic enough to survive in other sports. They don't know how REAL athletes are treated. Toughen up folks.

What? The team was 10-3 last year and went to the Fiesta Bowl!

It matters not what Nick Saban does or doesn't do ....that's not the issue. You don't need to abuse kids to have success... just because some do doesn't mean that is what has do be done. And just because some do, doesn't make it okay.

Add... are you really comparing how a coach handles SEC football players to how a coach handles female distance runners?

Double add... nice humble brag... 'I played other sports ... you know.. real athletic stuff... not just distance running so I know how coaches really are'... Dude, most of us played sports other than distance running - you aren't unique. (And if you don't think that's how your post sounded you are wrong.)

I'll repeat... you don't need to be a dick to your athletes to get them to respond and be successful. Some coaches are just good coaches.

Cheers!

Specialized wrote:

Hayduke wrote:

Where does it say we support this? We are saying in our experiences and the first word experiences of runners at Stanford, Oregon and Arkansas this was how it was done. I do not support this. But am clearly saying to throw this guy under the bus while it all around us is ignorant and shows a high level of denial.

if that was not how you meant it than I apologize. These things are emotionally charged for those of us that have been on the receiving end of the antics of these people. No doubt it is all around us, another coach was fired after being outed in the same state just a while back. There are attorneys who have made careers for themselves forcing universities to settle with athletes over abusive coaches.

Try reading. You were WAY off the mark.

Coach Cookie wrote:

Sounds like just another coach with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The good news is that these disgusting people are on a collision course with the times we're living in and soon will have to move on to jobs where this sort of behavior is valued and encouraged, like the military and drug dealing.

Clearly you would not last a Day in the military. Good thing lots of people are in possession of greater fortitude than you. They are made of better stuff.

Sure, let’s treat distance runners just like members of the military. ?

Maybe it’s fine to be a jerk coach when the team is going well ... but when it’s not, then it makes the arsehole antics tougher to justify.

Sorry, UCLA is first in line for distance graveyard honors....

Go away wrote:

Coach Cookie wrote:

Sounds like just another coach with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The good news is that these disgusting people are on a collision course with the times we're living in and soon will have to move on to jobs where this sort of behavior is valued and encouraged, like the military and drug dealing.

Clearly you would not last a Day in the military. Good thing lots of people are in possession of greater fortitude than you. They are made of better stuff.

I'm a veteran, son... when/where did you serve?

SJW libard pussies wrote:

A lot of pussies commenting on this. To win at the D1 power 5 you can’t be mentally weak and soft.

Coach said some mean things to you? Aw sad, go cry. I don’t give a sh!t if a coach is a dick to me as long as I’m winning. Toughen up, buttercup.

Wow man you must really hard core, can you tell us more? Everyone is a tough guy until these things happen to their kids/themselves/spouse. Perspective and empathy, try it sometime.

Go away wrote:

Clearly you would not last a Day in the military. Good thing lots of people are in possession of greater fortitude than you. They are made of better stuff.

It’s fortitude to allow some clown to set the parameters of your life and control you with abusive authority? Or is it fortitude to stand up in these situations and say “no, you aren’t going to treat me this way. I am a human being and I have self-worth. What you are doing is not okay with me.”

Sounds like you’re a sheep mate, but keep telling us all that you’re a tough guy ;)

I'm a former Division I head coach from the early 2000's and am completely grateful I moved on unscathed or caught up in today's athlete-coach climate. I feel for these coaches having to deal with the instant social media fall-out, where anything you say or do can be misinterpreted by the student-athlete and become a big issue overnight.

Once more, with feeling:

This is why I come to letsrun.com!