06-29-2019, 04:02 PM
Vin Lanana coached the distance programs from 1992-2003. The men's team was 0 for 54 years (event started in 1938) prior to Lanana's 12 year tenure. All 4 of LSJU's national championships for men were won during his time; none since.
The women's team was 0-11 prior to Vin; won 2 during his tenure, and 3 more in the next 4 years with athletes mostly recruited and originally trained by Vin. They have not won again since 2007.
I think an argument can be made that the "rich history" of Stanford distance running that Stanford Matt refers to was a small sample, that was more of a function of a unicorn coaching hire than a confluence of other factors presumed to be inherent or persistent in the Stanford ethos.
I would of course be delighted if the new coaching staff were able to return the programs to the lofty status of Lanana days, but in this case I think those are unfair and unlikely expectations. I think Miltenberg's accomplishments, as cited by BobK, were more than respectable, and there is genuine risk that we may see a step back in the programs going forward. Just my 2 cents.
The women's team was 0-11 prior to Vin; won 2 during his tenure, and 3 more in the next 4 years with athletes mostly recruited and originally trained by Vin. They have not won again since 2007.
I think an argument can be made that the "rich history" of Stanford distance running that Stanford Matt refers to was a small sample, that was more of a function of a unicorn coaching hire than a confluence of other factors presumed to be inherent or persistent in the Stanford ethos.
I would of course be delighted if the new coaching staff were able to return the programs to the lofty status of Lanana days, but in this case I think those are unfair and unlikely expectations. I think Miltenberg's accomplishments, as cited by BobK, were more than respectable, and there is genuine risk that we may see a step back in the programs going forward. Just my 2 cents.