https://utrockets.com/news/2019/7/31/wom...track.aspx

Anyone else wonder about the rest of the story? I love UT and especially UT track but have to wonder the circumstances that lead a P5 head coach here. Having said that, I am cautiously thrilled with this hire!

From what I hear, she was only head cross country and assistant track at the P5 schools. First opportunity to be a Director. She was assistant track and head cross country at North Carolina but they fired the director and hired director from Stanford that brought in his whole Stanford staff. I think she wanted to be a director and P5 jobs are dominated by men.

It's possible that those positions at UNC, Iowa State, and UConn were not full-time.

(07-31-2019 03:27 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  It's possible that those positions at UNC, Iowa State, and UConn were not full-time.

ISU and UNC apprear to be, in the 100k range. Looks like she joined a losing cause in UNC, that coach sacked in June. Maybe a Campbell recommendation? I wouldn't hold my breath this is a long term hire unless O'Brien went all in on salary and responsibilities and spousal (presuming) position.

Her ISU teams did well on the previous coach's recruits then steadily fell off. Getting this from another message board. Regardless, seems a step-up hire for a Toledo. Hoping it pans out for the new Coach and UToledo.

Hire in article

UNC New Coach

My read into it would be the guy who hired her got canned (on good terms) and she needed a place to land. UTs x-country has all the potential that UConn's did, maybe even starting from a higher place maybe here is just a good landing spot?

She preaches "relaxed-focus" something used in running, academics and.... yoga (football coach). Coach's teams have shown great academics so the hire seems a no-brainer.

Next year will tell the tale, if she stays or looks to move up. She ran for Minn so keeping her could be a challenge.

Maybe she likes cold weather. From Canada and went to school at Minnesota. Might have family close by.

If you look at her twitter account she's all for the empowerment of women, and more men are taking the head coaching jobs in women's sports since salaries have risen considerably over the past 20 years. Women's track has about 17% female head coaches.

Maybe more to the point, women are beginning to see opportunity in coaching and leading men's sports and athletic departments as a whole. Whatever Coach's reasoning, hope it's solid, beneficial and long term. The program needs stability.