Vin Lananna hired as director of T&F/XC at University of Virginia

This is a great hire for UVA. And think about it. Think about all the crap that Vin has had to deal with at USATF and even at Oregon. Trying to get everything done and constantly being criticized. Maybe he just wanted to get away from all the crap, and just end his career doing what he loved doing - coaching. He can focus on just his teams and athletes and not deal with the morons at USATF and let someone else deal with the World Championship in 2021.

+1

Some very big state Universities have even considered becoming private schools due to lack of funding.

I would guess there is more to this than meets the eye, or behind the curtain as they say.

Yes he did a great job with the program but will despised by the old guard for the destruction of Hayward Field.

His efforts practically bankrupted the entire budget or lack of surrounding his extra curricular not coaching events.

If you dig a little deeper he was quoted as being done with coaching, a new phase of life, moving on, can do more for the sport out of coaching etc. etc.

Let's discuss the miss management of funds for the track rebuild and World Champs hosting.

Results of the investigation DOJ/FBI corruption probe, maybe Oregon knows something we don't. Clearly something fishy here as he would have been a lifer at UofO for all he has done. Note his pay was over $400K from UofO, the Track Town gig got him another $300K.

He filed a formal grievance against USATF, burned the bridges maybe?

How many coaches go back into it in their mid 60's?

Ruckersville and north...oh god what a dump

Culpepper too holy moly

Speed traps everywhere, corrupt cops

Indeed, Vin is truly a great coach with proven success at multiple universities. UVA is lucky to get him!

Agree that some behind the scenes dealing went into this hire. Vin does have some strong allies. Makes me if there is Nike money involved, either for salary or program funding.

It will also be interesting to see what is next for Michael Reilly. Vin doesn’t do much without him, but it’s hard to imagine Eugene as a hosting site for the Trials and World Champs without either of those guys involved.

What happened to the old coach? Said he retired from coaching but he wasn’t that old was he?

Nxrfdd wrote:

It is my belief that if the USATF board hadn’t demanded that he eliminate all conflicts, causing him to step down from TrackTown USA, Oregon21, and Nike, he would have remained in Eugene. After he severed all those ties, the USATF board still refused to reinstate him to the USATF presidency, to which he had been elected by acclamation.

Good point!

I wonder how much losing the Powells played into Vin's decision.

You didn't mention that he was first successful at C.W. Post, where he coached Ron Stonitsch, who won the DII X-C title in 1969.

Montesquieu wrote:

You didn't mention that he was first successful at C.W. Post, where he coached Ron Stonitsch, who won the DII X-C title in 1969.

Nope, Roy Chernock coached Stonitsch.

You could post that 1+1=2 here and you'd get someone to say, no, 1+1 is not equal to 2. After Vin left Stanford, he was AD at Oberlin for two years, then he was in a variety of positions at Oregon, shifting to Tracktown and USATF along the way, and now Virginia. As for the USATF coup, who knows the reason? Likely he didn't play ball with their particular corrupt ways, and instead used his own ways of getting World Indoor to Oregon.

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

zxcvcv wrote:

He is expert at taking top programs and bringing them a consistent reign of success and doing so rapidly. Is he at this stage in life going to make a long-term commitment and be hands-on when he has other interests and has changed jobs frequently since Stanford?

He hasn't changed that frequently. Wasn't he at Oregon around a decade? It's not his fault USATF's board decided to stage a coo which for some reason is not against the rules or is against rules that can't be enforced.

How will he fill out the staff? Keep anyone?

Wow! UVA kids just had their ship turned around.

kmaclam wrote:

My very first thought when I saw this thread was....... Is it April 1st?!? Absolutely stunned.

Actually, because this thread was started at 3:47 and not 3:45, you’re supposed to back date the start to the first day of the previous quarter, so technically it is April 1.

Jacksonville wrote:

Montesquieu wrote:

You didn't mention that he was first successful at C.W. Post, where he coached Ron Stonitsch, who won the DII X-C title in 1969.

Nope, Roy Chernock coached Stonitsch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Stonitsch

You're right: thanks for the correction. I was around then--no wonder I can't keep the dates straight. Chernock died last year.

I'm just surprised he's taking this on at this point. Maybe they gave him the deed to Monticello.

Can't dis guy hold on to a job?. He just criss-crosses the country like some kind of hobo.

Tracktown wrote:

Agree that some behind the scenes dealing went into this hire. Vin does have some strong allies. Makes me if there is Nike money involved, either for salary or program funding.

It will also be interesting to see what is next for Michael Reilly. Vin doesn’t do much without him, but it’s hard to imagine Eugene as a hosting site for the Trials and World Champs without either of those guys involved.

UVa track has their own benefactor. I an sure they would take Nike money too, but you don"t need extra Nike money as any sort of explanation.

He has a chose; go down with the ship or jump....he jumped!