Alan Webb hired at UA-Little Rock

Glad to see he got his break . I think he will be a great coach , much better than a truck mechanic.

What happened to the truck repair business?

Tires and stuff wrote:

What happened to the truck repair business?

I'm guessing he's not going to do that anymore. People do sometimes change jobs.

WEBB

IS

BACK BABY!!!!!

I'm really interested in his truck business too. What happened?

Welcome to Arky Mr Webb

Curiouscat wrote:

I'm really interested in his truck business too. What happened?

It is/was a franchise. He could sell it or hire a manager to run it.

WHY SHOULD HE GET A BREAK?

Curiouscat wrote:

I'm really interested in his truck business too. What happened?

He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "I have nothing left to accomplish in the field of truck repair. I conquered track, triathlon and now truck repair so it is time to move on to a new challenge and that is coaching distance runners. Thank you."

Does he have coaching experience? WhT kind of graduate assistant program he work for?

Says over the distance program. That doesn’t sound like a graduate assistant but a paid position. His wife will have to trade the training in Oregon for Little Rock Arkansas.

bleu wrote:

Says over the distance program. That doesn’t sound like a graduate assistant but a paid position. His wife will have to trade the training in Oregon for Little Rock Arkansas.

The position is a full time, Division 1 position. He is the head cross country coach. I believe he's volunteered a few years at Portland State, so he does have experience. The program is now fully funded and with Alan Webb on staff, hopefully they can bring in some distance talent.

What does this mean for the trucking business? Who knows. Arkansas may be more central to trucking routes, so maybe they have an interest in moving the business? Probably not a great move to do so, but I would guess they're going to sell the franchise or Mrs. Webb will start running it all.

I think Alan Webb will be a good coach. First of all, a lot of kids will want to run for Alan Webb if they know who he is. Based on some interviews I've listened to, he seems like a super great, passionate guy. Most importantly, he knows that he won't be asking his athletes to do the same training that he was able to do during his pro career, that sort of self-awareness will be a wonderful asset to him and the team.

Duniway with it. wrote:

Curiouscat wrote:

I'm really interested in his truck business too. What happened?

It is/was a franchise. He could sell it or hire a manager to run it.

Does he still run the truck business?

While I think this is a great hire for Little Rock, Webb will certainly face his challenges.

The men were last at the Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships, with their 4/5/6 runners placing 62nd, 63rd and 64th (out of 65).

Within the State there is a lack of talent for distance (two guys sub 16 in XC) and most of that top talent goes to the U of A or out of state. Little Rock isn’t exactly a great location or school either.

But good luck him, hope he does well!

Tires and stuff wrote:

What happened to the truck repair business?

Maybe I should find as new profession as well as I have to admit I too am more interested in his truck repair business. I have seen pretty much all there is to see in running so nothing is novel to me in our great sport anymore but the idea of the truck repairs weirdly fascinated me. Like how does that world work?

As for Webb's coaching, here are my two thoughts of unsolicited advice.

1) The key to any coaching job is recruitment of athletes. A talent can run well for any coach. Webb ran fast for Razcko, Salazar, vig, etc. Centro ran well for Powell, Salazar and now Schumacher. So recruit your ass off (his name certainly will help at the lower level schools).

2) Your role model should Alberto Salazar. Not in the sense of using crazy supplements/doctors that probably made you feel uncomfortable as athlete. But in teh sense that Salazar as a coach learned a lot about what not to do as a coach from his own career. Salazar burned it REALLY hot early in his career and had a short career much like Alan.

So let's hope Webb is like Salazar and learned a lot from the mistakes he made in his own career.

But it's great that he's still got a love for the sport after all of the highs and lows he had in it and I wish him the best of luck.

and I hope he has realistic expectations for his runners. None of this, "Well, I ran a 12:30 5k as a 18 YO, why can't you?"

+1 what Rojo said about coaching.

I'm also wondering about their truck repair business. Didn't they just open it 2-3 years ago?

http://www.eliteonsitepdx.com/Home/tabid/949/Default.aspx

With driverless trucks on the horizon, this might be a good time to exist the truck repair industry.

General Tso wrote:

With driverless trucks on the horizon, this might be a good time to exist the truck repair industry.

Wow, didn't realize driverless trucks never need repair or maintenance. Learn something new on letsrun every day!