The Oregon men’s and women’s track and field teams will consolidate under Martin Smith’s direction starting next year, Athletic Director Bill Moos announced at a press
conference Tuesday.
Smith, currently the men’s head coach, will assume the title of Director of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country starting with the 2003-04 season. Women’s track and field head coach Tom Heinonen announced his retirement in the fall, effective after the spring season.
“It was my challenge (after Heinonen’s announcement) to make the decision as to whether we would hire another women’s head coach or merge the programs,” Moos said. “After a lot of consideration, study and research, we did decide to do what the majority of the Pac-10 schools have done before us, which is to merge the programs under one director.”
UCLA is the only Pac-10 program remaining with separated programs. The Bruin women have finished second in the last two NCAA Championship meets.
Moos insisted Oregon’s move was not a cost-cutting one. He said the teams have a combined budget of around $1.7 million, and that the budget will remain close to that size after the merger.
However, there may be cuts made in the area of coaching. Smith will only be allowed to keep six coaches and four volunteer coaches when the teams merge next year.
“What I’m going to do now is take a step back, and look at a number of different models and different strategic plans of how we would utilize our personnel and our coaching staff,” Smith said.
Moos said he plans to hire a coach specifically for the women’s distance runners and the women’s cross country team. Currently, Heinonen specializes in coaching the women’s distance runners.
Current Oregon athletes say they are excited and apprehensive about the possible future coaching changes.
“It’s going to leave a huge hole in the program for sure,” sophomore javelin thrower Roslyn Lundeen said. “I think we’re probably going to go through a year or two years where we really have to rebuild what we’ve got. We’ve got a strong contingent this year and should have a good season. But yeah, I’d be shaky coming in as a freshman not knowing on what grounds I stood or who would be there to coach me.”
But Heinonen himself doesn’t seem worried about the transition. He labeled Smith as a tireless worker and a driven coach.
“Nobody likes change, but it’s time, and it’s got to be done now,” Heinonen said. “The way Martin (coaches), it’s a high-quality, high-intensity program. Those guys are relentless.”
Smith has already established himself as a master recruiter in his five years at the helm of the men’s program. His recruiting class in 2001 was considered one of the best in the nation.