They were a top 15 team in the NCAA in cross when they cared
They just came 11th in the SEC. At vandy you can be in the picture in XC you will never do that in track
Althea was always going to leave pretty soon after getting that job when she took it so if she gets the Louisville gig it won't be a shock.
Distance might be boring but being irrelevant is significantly more boring
If schools who focus on distance is boring, schools who don't even run an xc team are worse.
How many power 5 schools don't even bother to line up an xc team at regionals? At least these other "distance only" programs line up for track races. If you're a school like Arizona, USC, or LSU it is PATHETIC to not even field an xc team. PATHETIC.
Agreed. These schools honestly need to invest more into going to the all-comers meet known as the NCAA regional XC championships. Surely these teams can sacrifice at least some track success to participate in an XC meet with no qualifying standards
he is pushed out: HC (sprints) is threatened by Curcio’s success.
Another moron AD knows nothing about XC/TF and supports minority HC.
A) HC is a jumps coach
B) Maybe he felt Curcio wasn’t providing the level of success he was expecting considering the benefits of their location, i.e. tremendous trails, altitude, etc., and wants to go a different direction where they can actually capitalize on these advantages in the distance area.
Interesting that you chose to point out the HC being a minority as if to say he should not have the job….
McLean is completely qualified to be the director. So the minority talk is ignorant. It's fair to debate whether Curcio or McLean should have been director, but both were/are qualified. McLean is better with the administration, fundraising, and well liked by athletes. But Curcio is a more successful coach from a wins/loss standpoint, and well liked. They have both given their all for App. I wish the two could get along and take advantage of each others strengths, rather than work against each other. It's disappointing to see this happening when both are great people. I respect McLean, but I question this move when Curcio is so close to his desired retirement year. It shows a lack of respect to someone Curcio who has done a lot to support McLean from his days as an athlete and young coach. Just disappointed.
Also, totally unfair to say Curcio is under performing with 25% of the scholarship budget, but scoring over 50% of the points, top 2 in mens XC every year, and 17 titles of his own in xc. Certainly App has advantages, but still he is the most successful coach on their staff historically and currently. No dis to McLean, but Curcio is their most successful coach.
Gunnison has experienced a housing crunch like almost nowhere else in the country due to its isolation.
I don’t think you can find a house within an hour of the school for less than 700k. Be tough to find a coach that can afford to live there much longer. Does the university help with housing at all?
Gunnison has experienced a housing crunch like almost nowhere else in the country due to its isolation.
I don’t think you can find a house within an hour of the school for less than 700k. Be tough to find a coach that can afford to live there much longer. Does the university help with housing at all?
Doesn't help that the distance coach only comes into the office for workout days
Aren't they building an insane new outdoor facility? I'm assuming they have the money to at least put someone up in a decent apartment until they find something.
I asked this in a thread earlier, but does anyone have any advice on how to break into the college coaching scene? Looking to make the move from high school to college eventually, but i'm not sure how to establish connections/break in.
There's thousands of threads on this. There's also posts about it in this thread. Should be able to find some good ones using the search function.
If you're moving from high school, leave ASAP. Most hiring parties don't really make a second thought about high school experience. In short, find a volunteer or grad assistant job where you'll learn recruiting and start networking.
Not true. I was a head HS coach for 9 years. Very successful with a state xc title and several team trophies and all-state runners. Then I was hired at a small NAIA school to start a program. If you are a good HS coach with experience you can get a college coaching job. Too many people on here have a narrow track mind and think the only coaching jobs and teams are NCAA D1 and at power schools.
Wasn’t really a distance based program prior to getting cut back in 2018 so probably not worth applying for.
This is a crazy statement. I think you would need to ask the AD what they plan to do with the program. Distance would be the way to go with a new program. I am sure at a smaller school numbers are important and a large coaching staff won't be happening right off.
There's thousands of threads on this. There's also posts about it in this thread. Should be able to find some good ones using the search function.
If you're moving from high school, leave ASAP. Most hiring parties don't really make a second thought about high school experience. In short, find a volunteer or grad assistant job where you'll learn recruiting and start networking.
Not true. I was a head HS coach for 9 years. Very successful with a state xc title and several team trophies and all-state runners. Then I was hired at a small NAIA school to start a program. If you are a good HS coach with experience you can get a college coaching job. Too many people on here have a narrow track mind and think the only coaching jobs and teams are NCAA D1 and at power schools.
You're right. You can absolutely do this. That's why I said 'most hiring parties' and not 'all hiring parties'. Would you agree most hiring parties aren't NAIA schools?
Wasn’t really a distance based program prior to getting cut back in 2018 so probably not worth applying for.
This is a crazy statement. I think you would need to ask the AD what they plan to do with the program. Distance would be the way to go with a new program. I am sure at a smaller school numbers are important and a large coaching staff won't be happening right off.
They definitely should go with distance. Idk why any small school would invest in any other event group. Them not investing in distance is probably why they were cut back in 2018
This is a crazy statement. I think you would need to ask the AD what they plan to do with the program. Distance would be the way to go with a new program. I am sure at a smaller school numbers are important and a large coaching staff won't be happening right off.
They definitely should go with distance. Idk why any small school would invest in any other event group. Them not investing in distance is probably why they were cut back in 2018
The funding was focused into football and other sports that were successful at the time, if I’m not mistaken.
“I wish the two could get along and take advantage of each others strengths, rather than work against each other. It's disappointing to see this happening when both are great people. I respect McLean, but I question this move when Curcio is so close to his desired retirement year. It shows a lack of respect to someone Curcio who has done a lot to support McLean from his days as an athlete and young coach. Just disappointed.”
I have to throw my support behind McLean on this one!! You pointed out the only reason needed to let someone go in the first sentence. His job stopped when his support stopped…pretty simple. Why should or WOULD any head coach wait until someone who is working against them retires? 🤔 That makes (let’s collectively pause) zero sense!! McLean got the HC gig in 2018…Curcio had more than enough time to settle into position. This obviously did not occur. Heck according to Open Payrolls, he was getting paid 10k less than McLean while McLean more than not is receiving millions in headaches and pains from HC responsibilities. So it sounds like you should be disappointed that years of wisdom didn’t convince Curcio to respect the game of life that he didn’t get the top job and support McLean to the end. Why? Because it would have demonstrated CONTINUED support. Although the inside insight was helpful, it was disappointing to read your passive aggressive comment!
"How can a team just not even go to a championship like that?"
In track, you have Regional qualifying standards. (not in XC) What is the purpose of a Division 1 guy running a 35:00 10K at the "Regional XC Championship" ??
Exactly. You don't have to qualify for regionals. It's a championship that everybody in the NCAA has access to. Why wouldn't you run a championship in a sport that your school sponsors? Don't sponsor it then. These schools can more than afford to take 5 athletes to run an xc race, they already do that to reach the minimum level of competitions each season. Why not sub the regional championship over something else? It's not that difficult to do.
If anybody put any effort into recruiting that NCAA sport that they choose to sponsor they would find several walk ons capable of faster than 35:00. It's PATHETIC. These storied programs talking about winning mentalities on the track, but can't even start five guys to represent their school. At least those top XC programs still have distance athletes compete in track. Most "distance only" programs compete in meaningful competition on the track still.
Imagine a team of several 400 hurdlers, 10k runners, and javelin throwers who choose not to show up for their indoor conference championship meet.
Anyway, I'm not posting about this anymore because I don't want to derail the point of this thread. Sorry. End of rant.
The XC Regional “Championship” is not a championship, it’s an all-comers meet. A qualifier for NCAA’s, so if your team isn’t good enough to go to NCAAs then why run it? …maybe better off to refocus and have a couple extra weeks to prepare for the track season and/or a couple more weeks to get up your game for the next XC season.
Not true. I was a head HS coach for 9 years. Very successful with a state xc title and several team trophies and all-state runners. Then I was hired at a small NAIA school to start a program. If you are a good HS coach with experience you can get a college coaching job. Too many people on here have a narrow track mind and think the only coaching jobs and teams are NCAA D1 and at power schools.
You're right. You can absolutely do this. That's why I said 'most hiring parties' and not 'all hiring parties'. Would you agree most hiring parties aren't NAIA schools?
BUT...it doesn't pay. If you've been in the job market for 9 years are you really going to take this $45k/year job?
Yes there are lots of jobs that people can get with only HS experience, but most have essentially part-time-level salary.