I appreciate the vote of confidence in the work I did in my 15 years at UNCW. It was not easy but we managed to find some success along the way, despite the many obstacles, the biggest being a severe lack of scholarships. I nearly always had less than 1 scholarship in both sides of the distance program and still managed to coach 5 men to sub 1:50 in the 800m, and three of them were walk ons to the program. But I am not here to defend my credentials. Frankly, I really don’t care what anyone thinks they know about how I did. I know how I did and my athletes know how I did. That’s all that matters to me. I am only on here today because a former athlete of ours who is now a coach brought it to my attention that someone was on here posting as me. Now that I am out of coaching, I rarely even follow this site anymore so I appreciate him reaching out to check.
I am here today to set the record straight. First, I have not posted any of the BS in this thread, about the Uncw program or about my good friend Donald Thomas. Anyone that thinks that was me clearly doesn’t know me. I worked with Donald for 15 years and would never say anything negative about him, his coaching, or his credentials. As someone said, yes, Donald always had my back, while we were assistants together and while he served on my staff when I was head coach the final 3 years.
It is a shame what the Uncw program has become, but I assure you it has nothing to do with who was head coach. Donald is a very loyal Seahawk and solid coach, so whether or not he is considered for the next head coach, he will work his ass off for those athletes on that team. And despite now living across the country and being out of coaching now, I will always have his back and he knows it.
Layne Schwier
910-352-4835