I read the infamous Will Cokeley post: My initial reaction was frustration and violent thoughts of how I was going to handle this. Then I had to remember how Christ would handle the situation and aI calmed down. I then said, "If nobody responds, then that would eat at him worse". But now that I gave it the 24 hour of thought I have this question:
1)Which coaches are not fit for Fargo?
a)Dennis Charbonneau
b)Tom Peterman
c)Russ Hermreck
d)Mike Church
e)Travis Keil
f)Zach Poague
g)Scott Reik
h)Clint Slyter
i)Adam Venegas
j)Brett Fiene
k)Brandon Jobe
Don't worry about offending any of us... You have already done that... So feel free to keep on the onslaught.
About Max Askren, Ben Askren, etc. On the mat, most of us probably would not last 20 seconds with them. But that matters NONE when it comes to coaching. I believe most of those guys listed are better coaches then guys you mention b/c we don't just coach the elite. We coach all levels of kids which I would bet most of those guys you mentioned don't do.
Now, you said that the best coaches should coach the best kids. No offense, but your youngest son did not fair well at Fargo. How would you have felt if he would of had less coaching than a placer. That's not how it works. As coaches, we coach all kids in front of us. Not just the upper level that make us look good. Some coaches have made a living off just coaching the best kids and ignoring the rest. I would like to see them get a room full of beginners and build them up. They can't.
Will, you are on about every USAWKS board that I can think of off the top of my head. This means that you are supposed to be working with the National Team Coaching Staff and Coordinators. That being said, it is 100% inappropriate for you to get on here and bash the people you are working with. You are a successful business man. Would that work in the business world. Getting on a public forum and bashing those you work with? There is a time and place for this and it's not on here! So, if you want to get on here and tear people apart, resign from all positions in USAWKS and then feel free to be a normal everyday Joe that talks smack. If your not willing to do that... find the proper time and place to have this discussion...Not on here.
This coaching staff was working on how to get better for next year before we left Fargo this year!!! We have had daily discussions and ideas about it. Do you think we were happy with 1 Freestyle AA in Cadet, 1 in Junior and 1 in Womens? NO!
You have made this a personal agenda, when that is not your job. You have a great son in Ryne. You were not happy with the outcome of his Junior Career. That's fine, but that does not mean you get on here and bash those who you work with. You need to work hard on separating personal life and business when it comes to USAWKS.
On a side note: Mike Medina is your sons coach. His brother Gonz Medina sells all of the gear to team Kansas. Gonz does a great job and gives us good pricing from what I hear. Do we really want to cut our business down 90% with Bluechip? I guess you can take that up with them.
I will end with this. You are the director of Southern Plains. I have heard nothing but negative feedback about Southern Plains camp for the past 2 years. This from coaches and athletes alike. You don't see any of us coaches on here bashing you for organization, coaches, training plans etc. Nope, not on a Public Forum.... Something to think about.
P.S. I really want to meet Reverend Randy! Seems like a good dude!
Any coach who doesn't think it matters who is in the corner. Any coach who doesn't want to spend the time, prematch, with the wrestler. Any coach who wouldn't step aside if a wrestler wanted a different coach in their corner. Any coach who would tell a wrestler he was going to be in his corner for every match but then doesn't show up without telling the wrestler he wasn't going to be there. Any coach who doesn't think sleeping in an air conditioned room wouldn't give your body better recovery for the next day's battles. Any coach who doesn't care as much as the wrestler does about the outcome of the match. Any coach who was offended by my post.
And seriously, do you really think no responses would have eaten at me? Nothing will eat at me more than three empty trips home from Fargo, one win away from the podium. I have two more boys and I want to improve their chances. Either you are on board or you can get left behind.
Illinois is the model for success right now. Who on your list is our Sean Bormet? I am just asking...
FYI Scott wasn't there this year but he is fit for Fargo.
Also, I said "not a fit for Fargo" which is different than "fit for Fargo". Fit for Fargo would imply that they were not capable or not prepared. Not a fit just means that their style or approach doesn't work at this tournament.
You left Grater off your list... probably the best fit since he has Won there and knows what it takes.
As far as SP goes. I send out email, solicit feedback from parents and wrestlers, talk to everyone I know to improve it. Jobe and Grater are on that staff. Neither one of them have fired back any negative feedback. One of your athletes has coached there the last two years and I hear nothing from him. Instead of taking a cheap, blind shot tell me what you know. I am all ears.
I am not easily offended and I am NOT going to agree with your philosophy. OVERTIME wrestling is the key to Illinois success. Russ loves Sean Bormet and they coach the elite seperately from the others. Summer wrestling is not school wrestling. Those who worked the hardest deserve the best coaching.
As far as Reese is concerned, when he puts in the time and effort that his brother has then he will see the results. When he does better then he will deserve better. I am more than fine with my suggestion being applied to him. I am not a socialist! You earn what you get. FAIR is where you buy cotton candy.
You started this post and you asked for feedback, I am giving it to you. I just don't sugar coat it, never have an never will. You can run for my position and take over SP Camp, Middle School Duals, Schoolboy Duals, and show me up. I am sure you are far better equipped both personally and professionally than I am. If you run I will withdraw because I wouldn't want to suffer the humiliation of the landslide of votes you will surely garner with your superior skills, philosophies and attitude.
Gonz and the gear. Again, I am not a socialist. Gonz can earn his money through being a good business man. If the stuff is great then the kids can buy it with their money. USAWKS subsidizes Fargo and I don't agree with buying $20,000 worth of gear when $6500 would be sufficient. "The kids like it and that is why some of them sign up for Fargo." You don't have a problem with that???
You know that many of this staff talks crap behind my back and this summer some crossed the line and did it in front of my boys. Man up and say it to my face. Don't lie to me as I will not lie to you. I believe in transparency. If you can't post it on this forum then don't be a c.s. and say it behind closed doors in a meeting. The staff isn't the only group capable of working on better ways to do things but it has become a bit too "good ole boyish" from my perspective as no one else is worthy of being on the staff or contributing to the improvements.
Church, your job isn't to tell me what my job is. Feel free to openly criticize any and everything I have done that you don't agree with. You can do on this forum, on tv, on the radio, in the USA Today, I will read it and figure out how to fix it or quit. The forum is a great place for airing things out, you just used it as such a mechanism but you blasted me for doing so. I post because I care, bottom line. We need more people with passion and who are willing to care as much as I do.
Please let me know if you intend to run for FS/GR Director so I can spend my campaign budget on something else. At least I promptly return phone calls and emails and I don't lie.
