Plonsky

[utfannforlife]

Has released Swimming coach Kim Brackin from her duties. So for all of the naysayers that say she hangs on to coaches too long, take note of this. This coach was fired for finishing 9th in the national meet and second in the conference last season. Dont tell me that Texas doesnt have certain expectations. This marks the 3rd change in the Dept in as many months, 2 of the coaches being fired. Also to anyone who says our womens program has "fallen" so much, I'd like to point out that we are currently tied for 7th in the Capitol one cup, the only prize that includes the end of the year finish of all of the womens and mens team sports. I believe we are also the only b12 program in the top 10.

 

[Texanne]

FYI. the Horns are 7th on the women's side and 25th on the men's.

aggy, on the other hand, is 27th on the women's side and tied for 57th on the men's.

 

[overseasbbfan1]

I agree, utfann. I think Plonsky is an amazing AD, and watching how she handled the Goestenkors resignation press conference only reaffirmed those sentiments. I have the utmost respect for how she conducts herself; she is eloquent, professional, and an excellent representative both for the University, and for women's athletics in particular.

And, as much as I like - and support - most of our coaches, I think this was absolutely the correct decision. There were clearly some serious problems with our women's swimming program, and performances, and it was equally apparent things were heading downhill fast. A tough call, and I certainly wish Brackin the best in her future endeavors, but the right one nonetheless.

 

[Moooooo]

I'll be curious to hear what Plonsky has to say at the next couple of press conferences.

As I've noted before, the soccer coach she hired from Tennessee has zero ties/connections to Texas (on the surface).

But, the hoops coach is hired BECAUSE she has ties to Texas?

Then, we'll see how she spins the criteria for why the next women's swimming coach is hired . . .

 

[overseasbbfan1]

I wonder who we'll be looking at for the open position. It seems doubtful any of the big, or established names would be looking to make a change, but if we could get someone like the Cal coach that would be huge. If not I was wondering about the Missouri coach, Greg Rhodenbaugh, he seems to have done pretty great things in the short time he's been there. At the 2010 NCAA meet, just before he took over, the Tigers didn't score a single point. His first year they finished in the middle of the pack, in 23rd, and at the recent meet they were 14th in the final teams standings. And they had three swimmers in A finals and another two in B finals, and one of their relays also made an A final. That's a big turnaround in a short period of time. His bio says he was a top assistant at AZ when they won a NC, and apparently he was HC for just a year at SMU in the late 80's (his alma mater so he's lived in Texas); the bio also says he was co-SWC coach of the year during his one season at SMU. I don't know anything else about him, or if he's even a possibility, but I have been impressed with his results at MU.

 

[mb227]

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[overseasbbfan1]

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[ViperHorn]

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[outlookdude]

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[Moooooo]

mb,

Houston and DFW are huge hotbeds for high school and club soccer. Check the rosters of UNC, Stanford, UCLA, and Notre Dame, and you'll see players from Texas.

 

[overseasbbfan1]

There have been a lot of great soccer players come out of Texas, and actually Petrucelli did a good of recruiting many of them. Unfortunately, that didn't translate into consistent results, which is - of course - why he's no longer the HC.

 

[Seattle4UT]

If anything I wish cp got a new face...annoying to look at!

 

[LakeErieHorn]

I am on the verge of changing my opinion of Plonsky. 3 in one year! UT pays big, and we should want to win big. She suddenly seems to get this. Better late than never.

 

[ViperHorn]

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[Branyon]

"IMHO, the goals for all Texas athletic endeavors should be (in order):

- Conference Chanpionship
- National Championship
- Individual Championship"

This a good start, except reverse the first and second if you are speaking of goals.

If we are competitive for the NC, we will be competitive for conference titles. Granted, in some sports like swimming and track a school can take the quantity over quality approach as ATM and Nebraska did in those sports, but that approach will not always win NCs (it did for ATM track because they had both).

The fact is that despite its standing in various directors' cup or other overall ratings, the Texas athletic department in this century is not producing NC final four competitors commensurate with its resources, and part of the responsibility lies with the ADs who do not demand nationally competitive teams.

I think Baylor has as many women's NCs since 2000 as does Texas. That should not be.

CP might be waking up because someone at ESPN and UT finally figured out that no one wants to pay to watch teams which are not competitive in conference, let alone nationally.

Who wants to watch a women's track team that finishes in fourth or fifth place in the Big 12 or a basketball team that finishes at .500 or worse in conference?