The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/246097
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS to go out and not only get the best athletes we can get, but we have to also invite in walk-ons and developmental athletes, because they can contribute. What we can offer, I think those individuals will be very interested in Michigan." The Wolverine: Since you took the First-year Michigan men's track and job in July, how has the recruitment field coach Jerry Clayton came to Ann process gone? Is it difficult to recruit to Arbor with more than 30 years of coach- a cold-weather team in track? ing experience under his belt. Clayton: "I will say that so He spent the last 15 seasons far, with where we're at in the as an assistant coach and process, I have been shocked then associate head coach at at the reaction and how Auburn. much interest we have had in A Rushville, Ill. native, Claythe recruiting process. When I ton was a three-time Alllooked at the general student American long jumper at Ilbody and where they're comlinois, and spent nine seasons ing from to go to school here, (1980-89) as a Fighting Illini a lot of them were coming assistant coach. from very good track states. CLAYTON The Wolverine: What We went that direction, and would you say the strengths of this the response has been great. team are right now? "I knew there was a name recogniClayton: "There is no question that tion with Michigan, but it's even greater the strength is in the distance area, than what I anticipated. Closure is in and that has always been Michigan's February, so we still have to sign some strength. That is something people of them, but if a kid visits an instituidentify with this institution. If you look tion, the chances of him committing are back at the successful teams, especially much better." in the 1980s, when I first came into The Wolverine: How would you asthe conference, Michigan was known sess where the program is right now? for having good middle distance and Clayton: "We're still evaluating. If you long distances, but they also had great look at the last four years, things weren't sprinters and jumpers and hurdlers. I re- as positive as you'd like them to be. We member those years, where they were have a ways to go. But with the people an across-the-board type of program. we have, we're going to coach them up "I feel like that is a philosophy we and do the best we can this year. The can do here. It's tough with the limited next thing is getting in the new recruitscholarships in men's track and field. But ing class and transforming them." that is the same for everyone. We have — Andy Reid Sitting Down With New Men's Track And Field Coach Jerry Clayton