Vanderville Stays on at Oregon

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http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/ ... .0726.html

Track assistance comes from familiar faces

By Curtis Anderson 
The Register-Guard

Oregon track and field coach Vin Lananna has yet to take up permanent residence in his new office at the Casanova Center.

However, from a distance of slightly more than 2,000 miles away, the outgoing athletic director at Oberlin College in Ohio has begun the process of assembling a coaching staff.

Lananna announced the first pieces to the Duck puzzle Monday with the news that current UO assistants Dan Steele, Lance Deal, Bill Lawson and Mark Vanderville have all agreed to remain at Oregon.

"No decisions have been made on the other slots, but I feel like those four guys will fit into our model," Lananna said.

Lananna indicated that he and Rock Light are still in the discussion stage, and that Pat Tyson will likely return to Mead High School in Spokane after being offered a position of volunteer assistant with the UO distance program. In addition, Skip Pickens has decided to step down as director of operations.

"Our plan is to release all of the information sometime next week," said Lananna, who will be in Eugene by Aug. 1. "We want to take a look at what were the main factors which allowed the UO men's team to win Pac-10s, to evaluate and make sure we can move the women's team forward, and to make certain that the tradition of middle distance and distance running is restored and enhanced."

In terms of specific duties for returning coaches, Steele will oversee the sprinters, hurdlers and relays, Deal will remain as the throws coach and Vanderville will assist the pole vaulters in a voluntary capacity. Lawson's role is still to be determined.

"I'm really excited about the future of Oregon track," said Steele, who was named West Regional assistant coach of the year. "As far as I'm concerned, Vin is the best in the business, and to work for and learn from him will be a lot of fun."

Lananna, one of the nation's most respected distance coaches through his work at Dartmouth and Stanford, plans to coach all of the Oregon men's and women's middle distance and distance runners.

"I will get some help for that, but it's in the best interests of the Oregon runners if I call the shots," he said.

That didn't leave any room for Tyson, who stepped in at the last minute last spring and helped ease the transition for those Duck distance runners loyal to former head coach Martin Smith, and the arrival of freshman phenom Galen Rupp, who is coached by Alberto Salazar.

"Vin offered me the position of volunteer assistant, but I've done that thing and I have to eat ... so I called my principal at Mead and told him to plan on me coming back," Tyson said. "I don't know if I'll be in this game down the road, but obviously, it's good that I protected myself with another job."

There will be one new position added to the UO track program - assistant athletic director. Lananna, who will be an associate athletic director with the Ducks, said whoever is hired for that job will inform him on finances, compliance and alumni relations.

"That person will oversee everything that happens with the overall administration of the program," he said. "We also need a new director of operations to take care of meet management, officials and all of the things that go along with the day-to-day operation of the track teams."

Lananna still has to replace UO women's distance coach Marnie Mason.

"My leadership style is such that I'm always looking to have a diverse staff and we will do our best to identify candidates who are women and candidates who are of color," Lananna said. "We will work hard to be sure we can broaden our appeal and scope. That will absolutely be a priority."