Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Congratulation to my friend and colleague Gary Winckler who is retiring as the Head Women’s Track Coach at University of Illinois. Gary will continue to coach his post collegiate athletes and devote more time to work designing and making western saddles.Congratulation to Phil Lundin, another friend and great coach, who is leaving University of Minnesota to take over the Head Track and Field Coac


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Why is Lundin going to St. Olaf?

Winnesota - 09 May 2008 03:43 PM

Why is Lundin going to St. Olaf?

...which begs the followup question “Why not?”

Because they suck and the U of M is way better....

Winnesota - 09 May 2008 08:51 PM

Because they suck and the U of M is way better....

Your response above is exactly why the answer to your question is certain either to escape or disappoint you…

Not really, I just would like to know why.

Phil isnt getting any younger, may be tired of the nationwide travel, and tired of the nationwide recruiting, probably tired of sucking up to 18 yr olds to get them to come, 18 yr olds not being what they used to be…

From DIII in the first place. St O’s doesnt require a change of address.  Views it as coaching without alot of the crap.  Has had plenty of time in the glory as a national coach of the year, all-americans, etc… Of a mindset and maturity that doesnt need D I to feed his ego.  Much less Chief Operating Officer work than at U-MN and more one on one / mentoring.  There are a few out there that value that over the chase to beat the SEC, PAC & Big 12. Its as much if not more fun getting a 52. kid down to 48.5 than a sub 50 down to say 47.
NCAA’s is NCAA’s and the top step on the podium is the top.  And taking a program to a higher level knows no divisions…

You’d be shocked at the level of the “greats” that will tell you there’s alot to be said for coaching DIII.  Lot less pressure, lots to enjoy and not much difference in pay if you hit the right DIII school.

Again I say to you, Why not?
But if this is easier to answer, Why should he stay? or Why shouldnt he leave?

Reading your “because they suck..” comment leads me to doubt that you “just want to know why” Bottom line: Only he knows why.  But I’ll bet its somewhere in the above just as I’ll bet you are somewhat less than Phil’s years old???

I can understand why he would want to from those reasons.  I guess initially I thought why the heck would he go from top competition to d3.  Dont get me wrong, I would love to compete for him and I would still like to hear his reason

Ask him.  My experiences with him tell me he’s a straight shooter.

If you want to compete for him, go to St O’s.  Bet you wont regret it.
Perhaps you are the next A. Rock?

It will be fun watching how the St O’s program changes in the coming years…

From U of MN site:
“...I am grateful for the support and opportunities the University of Minnesota has provided to me as a student and coach,” said Lundin. “It is tough leaving my colleagues and athletes, but this is a good move for me at this point in my life.”

as an alumni, I have to say I’m excited about this.  I met Lundin a couple times when I was running, and he always seemed like a good guy, easy to talk to, and enjoying coaching his athletes. 

As far as his motivation, I believe he’s been thinking about a move like this for a while.  He’s getting older, doesn’t really need to prove anything anymore, and I can see how the more relaxed lifestyle he’ll have would be appealing.  St Olaf actually has a gorgeous indoor facility (light years better than the U’s), is on a beautiful campus, and will offer him a new challenge.  He’ll get to coach CC, and he’s got roots in D3 having run at Augsburg long ago.  He’ll get to teach some classes, still attend some big meets (I ran at Drake and the Kansas relays), without having the ridiculous schedule I’m sure he’s endured the last 13 years. 

As for the level of competition, they had jumpers go 6.69 and 13.51 this year, which compare pretty favorably to your PRs if I’m not mistaken.

edit - as for the program changing over the next few years, I’m interested to see how much (if any) recruiting he’ll do.  Granted, I don’t expect anything on the level of what he’s been doing, but Bill Thornton, my coach, has pretty much refused to recruit at all over the last 30 years.  The story goes, he told a kid visiting (who ended up going sub 30 in the 10K and was being recruited by Lundin at the U) something along the lines of
-"I’m not going to kiss your ass now, because I’m for damn sure not going to kiss it for the next for years.”

Lundin will have a lot to sell to HS kids - a good education, great facilities, and the opportunity to be coached by a 4X Big-Ten coach of the year.  Even minimal amounts of recruiting could bring about some high-quality teams.

I dont know if you can call Olaf’s indoor track light years better, I think they are both insanely awesome and pretty much the same…

St. Olaf does have a great jumps coach right now in Hugo Munoz, if I’m not mistaken.

madisonflash - 11 May 2008 01:13 PM

Bill Thornton, my coach, has pretty much refused to recruit at all over the last 30 years.  The story goes, he told a kid visiting (who ended up going sub 30 in the 10K and was being recruited by Lundin at the U) something along the lines of
-"I’m not going to kiss your ass now, because I’m for damn sure not going to kiss it for the next for years.”

If working for an AD & a President who will let you tell a kid that, isnt enough reason to take a job, I dont know what is?

In all seriousness, the many reason the poster sites are exactly why St O’s is an excellent option.

maybe my memory’s failing a bit then, I haven’t seen it since 2002.  When I ran there, it felt older, and less impressive than I had expected.  Light years was probably a bit harsh though, you’re right.

If you mean the U of M, it was redone in 06

that would do it then.