Upload a Photo Upload a Video Add a News article Write a Blog Add a Comment
Blog Feed News Feed Video Feed All Feeds

Folders

Featured (1691)
News (0)
Roads (1)
All (1826)
 

 

Who Will Oregon Hire To Replace The Powells?

Published by
DyeStat.com   Jun 24th 2018, 9:48pm
Comments

Oregon has big shoes to fill for distance jobs

Could someone on this list have all the qualities the Ducks are looking for?

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The move last week by Andy and Maurica Powell to the University of Washington has left a gaping hole in the distance program at the University of Oregon.

Speculation has obviously run rampant for the past few days about who might replace the Powells and take two of the country’s plumb distance coaching jobs.

It is likely that it will take two coaches. Maurica Powell headed a women’s program that contributed mightily to the NCAA’s first triple crown in 2017 – with national titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track in the same school year.

If the roster stays pat, an incoming coach would have a stable that includes NCAA 1,500-meter champion Jessica Hull, a healthy Katie Rainsberger, Lilli Burdon, Carmela Cardema Baez, Kate Murphy and Judy Pendergast.

The men’s roster is loaded with guys who were high school stars. Tanner Anderson, Reed Brown, Cooper Teare, Matthew Maton, Mick Stanovsek and James West are all eligible to come back, with Josh Hoey and Brodey Hasty two of the nation’s most prized recruits.

The coaches in line for these jobs will have to more than training chops. They will need to be good cultural fits for the university, good brand fits for Nike, and there will be considerable pressure to compete for and win national championships in cross country as well as track. As high-powered as these positions are, they will also answer to Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Robert Johnson.

Here are 10 candidates who are likely on the short list. All of them are worthy of an interview.

Michael Smith, Northern Arizona: If you are seeking a college distance coach, you might as well start at the top. Smith has been part of back-to-back NCAA cross country titles at Northern Arizona and become a leading expert on using altitude as a tool to create strong distance runners. He would lose 7,000 feet in elevation in Eugene, but the prestige, extra money and recruiting advantages could offer enough enticement.

Joe Franklin, New Mexico: Franklin has built a powerhouse in Albuquerque, leading the Lobos to two NCAA cross country titles in three years. His teams are built from athletes all over the world, and the current nucleus includes NCAA cross champion Ednah Kurgat, Charlotte Prouse, Weini Kelati and Alondra Negron Texidor.

Helen Lehman-Winters, San Francisco: The Dons have enjoyed unprecedented success under Lehman-Winters, who had a breakthrough season last fall on the cross country trails. USF won the NCAA West region and, led by Charlotte Taylor, placed second at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Ryan Vanhoy, Mississippi: It’s been a good run of years for Ole Miss. Vanhoy’s athletes, including Craig Engels, have re-written the school record book in the mid-distance events. Ole Miss sent two teams to NCAA’s last year in cross country as well.

Ian Dobson, Team Run Eugene: He has Oregon roots, having starred at Klamath Falls in high school before going to Stanford, where he ran for Vin Lananna. In Eugene, Dobson has worked successfully with post-collegians and been an active member of TrackTown’s running community.

Priscilla Bayley, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo: She has three years at Harvard and four more at Cal Poly SLO under her belt and has made the Mustangs one of the best programs in the Big West Conference.

Laurie Henes, North Carolina State: A longtime fixture at North Carolina State, and a former NCAA champion there, Henes has been on the coaching staff for the Wolfpack since 1992. If she can be lured West, perhaps she would bring her daughter, Elly, with her.

Corey Ihmels, Boise State: He has a proven track record and has taken female stars Emma Bates and Allie Ostrander to NCAA titles. He has been a good fit in Boise, but hasn’t taken a team to NCAA Cross Country nationals since 2014.

Bill Aris, Fayetteville-Manlius High: Why not swing for the fences? Aris’ record at the high school level is extraordinary and he is without a doubt one of the best motivators in the country. But he’s probably not interested in moving away from family and he may not enjoy being an assistant.

Chris Fox, Syracuse: His Orange broke through in a big way with an NCAA cross country title in 2015 and his throughtful approach helped guide Justyn Knight to being a program-defining talent.



Hashtags#dyestat
 

More news

History for DyeStat.com
YearVideosNewsPhotosBlogs
2024 1089 347 13738  
2023 5382 1361 77508  
2022 4892 1212 58684  
Show 25 more
Hashtags#dyestat
 
 
+PLUS highlights
+PLUS coverage
Live Events
Get +PLUS!