Q: How did you begin your coaching career?
A: I went to school at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, which is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette now. I was older when I went to school there, and the head coach Bob Cole told me that I was a good distance runner and that the young guys could go with me. I made up the workout, which whatever it was I did, they did, and we all ran pretty good. That gave me the idea that I'd like to coach because I saw some of the guys improve a lot.
Q: When you got the job at the University of Arkansas did you have any idea that you would be as successful as you have been?
A: Oh no. In the early 80s we were pretty good. We finished second and third a lot, and I felt that I'd be one of those guys who would never win the big one. Then all of a sudden in 1984 we won the indoor championship first and in the fall we won cross country. After we kicked down the door it became a lot easier. When I look back on it, I realize that I put a lot of pressure on athletes when I shouldn't have. So I learned to lay back a little bit and take them to the big dance and let them compete.
Q: What is it that sets your program apart from everyone else?
A: It's hard to put your finger on it because I'm just doing what comes natural to me. Some people might differ, but I think I have a good relationship with my athletes. I'm tough on them, but away from the track I'm their best friend. When it comes to practice, they're professionals and I'm a professional, and that's the way we act. Away from the track they have to be special, they can't be like everyone else. You have to live the part. It doesn't matter how hard you work if you don't live the proper lifestyle away from the track.
Q: Do athletes come into your program not wanting to be part of a group that might let you down by not being successful? Is that a motivating factor for them?
A: Since you mentioned that, this happened back in 1985 when I had a young man from Ireland named David Taylor. In cross country, as a senior, when he finished his race at the cross country championships he fell to his knees and put his head in his hands and I think he said a prayer. After that he raised up and put his hand in the air and said 'I've never been on a team that lost a conference championship at the University of Arkansas.' That's a long time ago
and we haven't lost it since. That kind of tradition has been handed down, not so much by me, but from one bunch of athletes to another. This is what's expected and we set our goals high.
Q: When you look back at all your success, what comes to mind first?
A: I would say the guys that got me started. I always look to Niall O'Shaughnessy, an Irish miler that I brought over here in 1973. Randy Melancon, a kid from Lafayette, Louisiana, and Mike Conley. Those are the trailblazers that set Arkansas apart. Not only are they great athletes, but they're great people. Mike Conley, you couldn't have met a better guy, and the same goes for the others. They started it all. It wasn't easy to get guys to come to Arkansas back in those days. Those guys were so impressive that other kids who came in said 'wow, those guys are pretty classy.' With all the success that Mike Conley had, he never changed. Not even a little bit. He's the same laid back, casual type of guy.
Q: With all the success you've had, what keeps you motivated?
A: When you're a number one team you have a target on your back, and that keeps me going because you know that everybody is coming after you. The other thing is to have some people come out for the team who are doing excellent, who are walk-ons. I love to see those type of kids. An example is Daniel Lincoln, who was a walk-on. To go on and see him win four national championships, I get a tremendous thrill out of seeing those kids improve and see the smiles on their faces with the gratification that they get out of it. And, of course, every kid likes a national championship ring, and most of our guys who come here get one. Being around these kids you get caught up in it. You have to change with the times, but you can't forget what got you there. Hard work done intelligently is the key.
Thanks to USA Track & Field for this interview.
