Sunday, January 10, 2016

Who would you like me to interview?

Please list the athlete, coach or any other person associated with either cross country and/or track and field in the comment section below. If you have their email address, please send it to me at albertjcaruana@gmail.com.

Please use email above if you would like me to interview an athlete or coach. Thank you.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Coach Pompei, St. Francis High School XC coach. I would like to know how he turned around his program in only 4 years to win 2 of the last 3 CCS titles, and to take his team to state 3 out of 4 years.

Albert Caruana said...

I am on it.

Anonymous said...


Alejandra Barrientos (The SLV star from 1999 & 2000. Is she still running? She seemed to be the runner that started the great tradition of the distance girls in the SCCAL)

Anonymous said...

There's no secret. Talent came through.

I would like to hear what Albert's top 10 favorite Coach interviews are.

Albert Caruana said...

I have done a lot of interviews with more on the way. You can find them at this link:
http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/search/label/Coach%20Interviews

Anonymous said...

But some are better than others. What are some of the greats? What's your top 10 Albert?

Albert Caruana said...

I would have to go back and see but a favorite recent one of mine is the one I did with the Liberty coach (Eric Morford). If you haven't read it yet, you should.
http://www.crosscountryexpress.com/2015/11/catching-up-with-liberty-hs-coach-eric.html

Anonymous said...

I read the Eric Morford interview--a great one. Humble and enthusiastic. Nice.

Anonymous said...

I love these young, energetic coaches (no offense Albert). It would be great to hear from coach Pompei and then possibly Kenrick Sealy who sent both of his Homestead teams to state this year.

Anonymous said...

CHUCK

Anonymous said...

I too would like to hear from the Homestead. They weren't very good for a long time and it really looks like his club and his involvement and recruiting at local junior highs has really paid off the last few years. I hope you ask some real questions though.

Here's some examples for Saint Francis:
1. Is there a real rivalry between SF and Bell or is this just trash talk?
2. How do you feel about having a split program with boys and girls being separate.
3. How do you get so many good freshman to go to your school?

Here's some examples for Homestead:
1. How has your club system help your high school team?
2. Why do you have your top runners jog 28 min for 3 mile races in league meets?

Sal said...

@7:11 just how do you recruit to a public school? Convince someone to move to Cupertino? Your SF questions 1 and 2 are good (although I think the SI rivalry is better); both Homestead questions are obnoxious.

Anonymous said...

If we are picking young coaches, I would like to hear from Jorge Chen of Menlo. He has produced a lot of quality track and XC kids in a very small D4 school.

Anonymous said...

First, yes public schools have transfers, parents fake addresses, etc. There's much more of this in public schools than you might think. We have three high profile cases in the last 3 years (Campolindo, SLV, Piedmont Hills / Vacaville). People that complain about the privates are no better.

As for homestead those are legit questions. The club team and involvement at the youth level has dramatically increased homestead's talent level. In past years they might end up at Mtn View. Not now. And as for the not running the league meets what's the problem there? They don't? In fact that 18 min girl could jog a 22-23 and not break a sweat but the jog 28-30 min? Why?

Anonymous said...

Now I have heard it all - recruiting at public school. How much do I have to pay for that? The BS about WCAL teams recruiting is bad enough but public schools? Nobody, I mean nobody, goes to a school they would not otherwise go to because of the XC program! Period! There is no money in XC and nobody gets a scholarship to a private school or has an admission advantage at a public school because of a good 5k time. Now, let's hear how these great coaches develop their kids without all the jealous BS.

Anonymous said...

The top coaches are great, but to say transfers for athletic reasons aren't going on because there's no money in XC is nieve. I'd think whoever trained the Santa Cruz girls has a pretty nice sales pitch when it come to earning college money. There are 2 top girls running at SCCAL schools who as recently as last year were running in Santa Clara Valley schools. Another who was in the valley in 6th grade. These girls didn't just accidentally end up at these schools. The schools don't recruit, but the clubs sure do direct the kids where to go, and there's a playbook to circumvent the rules. Besides, nobody polices it, and you'll have been State champ for a full year B4 anyone notices anyway. You can call it jealousy if you like.

george said...

Long time Burlingame School coach
Steve "Obbie" O'Brien

Anonymous said...

@10:56
I can think of many state champs from SCCAL - Anna Maxwell, Nikki Hiltz, Vanessa Fraser and Cate Ratliff this year. All have been going to Santa Cruz county schools since they were small children. It's a great place to live with amazing places to run and strong running culture. Don't be surprised if you see a couple more state champs come from the area, but it's not because they were lured there by some coach with a "pretty nice sales pitch." You do sound jealous.

Anonymous said...

How about Scott Chisam at Harker? He has what looks like a varied and interesting career, from athlete to coach, and has seen a lot over, what 50 years, of running?

Anonymous said...

I have always praised the exploits of the SCCAL. if you know so much about the SCCAL then tell me where both state podium team's #5 girls were running just last spring? How about we interview them, and find out about the culture that got them over the hill? Some one said no kids are transferring for athletic reasons. I think it's amazing that Homestead is a group that was called out.

Albert Caruana said...

I love how when a team is successful, they must be recruiting. I must be naive in thinking that successful teams work harder and smarter.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with you, Albert. I don't know about Aptos, but Santa Cruz's fifth runner moved there from Copenhagen at the end of last summer. Envoys were sent to Copenhagen to recruit her.

I'm not saying that no recruiting ever happens anywhere, but people do move for reasons other than HS running.

Anonymous said...

Like their parents break up and a family friend just happens to live in the same district as the state 4x4 champs. Please. You guys and your coincidences. Your "we just work harder" and "you're just jealous". reeks of Barry Bonds. Copenhagen, Willow Glen, whatever. I'm just glad she didn't have to move somewhere with a weak distance program.

Anonymous said...

So it's unanimous. Let's interview the Golden Anchor and get the inside scoop! What an incredible landing spot for someone who'd already run such great times as a freshman. I'd think a transfer from one strong program of a top girl to another might draw more attention on a site like this. It obviously impacted how the team did at state.

Anonymous said...

I'm confused. Do we all have the same definition of "recruiting?" To me, recruiting means a coach goes out to find kids to bring to his/her program, makes an unsolicited connection with the kid or family, and then lures them to the program with a promise (scholarship, spot on team, admission to school). I think this is not allowed under the current rules, and some of the allegations above, if true, would be recruiting under that definition. Recruiting is not: a kid wanting to go to a particular school for whatever reason - friends, academics, good coach, good running program, etc.; that kid contacting the coach and asking questions about the program; and then ending up at that school for any reason, including a good reaction too and from the coach. The kids should have a choice and if that means they go to a private school, or petition to go to a public school outside their regular district, you may not like it but it is definitely NOT recruiting. It is a kid and their family trying to make the best decision for them and their future. Why would anyone want to deny a kid that opportunity?

Anonymous said...

Sounds to me like you have a good understanding of what recruiting is, 1:09. Unfortunately, there are people who want to attribute any success (other than their own) to deceit and wrongdoing. I thought this was a thread about coaches deserving of an interview? I would also nominate Jorge Chen of Menlo. He's done pretty incredible things with his program.

Anonymous said...

I didn't make the rules, but I'd deny them the ooportunity because right now I'm pretty sure kids aren't allowed to transfer for athletic reasons. If you do, I believe you sit for a year. I think the spirit of the rules are in place to keep some kind of competitive equality, but we all know the spirit of the rules be damned when it comes to what people believe is in the best interest of their kids. Just eliminate the rules and let everyone have their super teams. Would it really surprise anyone if some of these girls were driving over the hill everyday to experience all this culture? This should be a bigger story. Did you know if you pulled out the Golden Transfer that Santa Cruz falls to 5th place and SLV makes the state podium? Interview Collins about this.

Anonymous said...

As I look at the coaches being nominated (interesting that most of us want to hear from coaches over kids, me included), I can't help but marvel at the coaching talent in NorCal. I think the next 4 years will get us much closer to the SS, and if the CIF could figure out the proper size limits for the divisions, I think we could overtake the south in quality runners/teams. It is a great time to be a distance runner in the north.

Anonymous said...

Cynthia Green of Las Lomas. Has one of the largest teams in CA. The kids adore her. She has created great runners with just an average group of kids and has taken kids that have never run before HS and gotten them to state. Everyone wants to be on that team. Most supportive team of others in the league. Says quite a bit about their leadership.

Anonymous said...

Jorge Chen, Menlo School. How does he develop so much talent at a relatively small school?

Anonymous said...

I was going to send my boy to Bellarmine, but I think I'm going to move to Santa Cruz and use the $70K for a new kitchen!

Really dude, what is your problem? You constantly troll this site looking for a chance to rant about recruiting. Who pissed in your Cheerios? Really what kid got pulled away from your sorry program and ruined your chances for coaching the Olympics?
Yes, we know you're a coach because parents and athletes don't care this much.

Seally works his ass off at Homestead. Go to the all-comer meets any weekend and the guy will be on the track pacing runners in multiple races. If I had a coach like that, I'd run my ass off for him and I'd tell all my friends to join too. I would certainly tire of your negative vibe and join the butterfly appreciation club instead.
The problem with your program is YOU. I promise you that. You need to look within.

Grow a pair, and post your name or go away!

Anonymous said...

I would like to hear from Kenrick Sealy as well. He sent both teams to state this year and develops a lot of good young talent.

Anonymous said...

@9:59 not sure who you are taking to task. There are a lot of comments about recruiting on this post and others. They all seem to favor the theory that private schools go out and find kids that had no idea that the school existed otherwise, and public schools lure families to move to their city or get them to sign up for club teams that only funnel kids into the school program.

Anonymous said...

that was directed at 7:11pm 7:55pm and the same bitter soul that that have infected this blog for at least the past year. That's as long as I've been on the site.

You are wrong about this.... "They all seem to favor the theory that private schools go out and find kids that had no idea that the school existed otherwise."

They don't all favor this theory. It's mostly one guy that has a thorn in paw about this.
A great deal of other folks telling him that families are not going to move or spend $18K/yr for a HS running program.

Football maybe. While watching the D1 State football championship last month. Mission Viejo vs Bellarmine, the commentator mentioned that the Schooler brothers of MV, who are the cornerstones of the them were at their 4th school in 4 years.

"Brenden Schooler was at Tesoro as a freshman, Dana Hills as a sophomore, Trabuco Hills as a junior, now Mission Viejo as a senior. Colin Schooler was at Dana Hills as freshman, Trabuco Hills as sophomore, and now Mission Viejo as a junior."

Here's the article.
http://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/bush-79610-garbers-mar.html

Talk to me when we have those kinds of issues up here. And don't bring up the PH girl. The case is closed on that.

Albert Caruana said...

I think people would be shocked at the sheer amount of transfers that the southern section commissioner has to deal with each school year. Also, transfers are not typically cross country and track & field athletes. Can you imagine how many basketball and football players transfer each year in California?

Anonymous said...

The SLV crew loves to hate on the fact Santa Cruz got a new student from Germany but let's not forget that they had a high profile transfer that had to sit out a year. Aptos has district transfers whose local school is not Aptos. Homestead does too. Campolindo had an athletic motivated transfer win 2 state championships. And let's not be so quick to dismiss the cheating at Piedmont Hills. This kind of stuff isn't new. A few decades ago Los Gatos was on suspension for their coach outright sending letters asking athletes to move into the district. If this goes on for our sport no one cares about can you imagine what goes on for basketball, football and volleyball? I don't think people blatantly outright recruit or cheat. I think for the most part these are driven individuals that care about our sport. The rules are often gray anyways. Not to mention if coaches are not involved parents will go elsewhere. There's always a soccer club or volleyball team that will bash our sport and take their money. Sometimes I guess you just have to get your hands dirty. But let's stop throwing mud when you are guilty yourself.

Anonymous said...

Willow Glen, Switzerland, and now Germany too. I guess having a current college coach on as a personal consultant will draw girls in from all over. Yes we know you're a parent of one of these kids because of how sensitive you are to anyone insinuating there are any violations occurring. Grow a pair and state your real name. There's probably 30 of us total who even comment here. You just want to stick to the "who pissed in your Cherios?" defense, like Lance and the US Postal team. How ironic that 5:14 mentioned that little suspension from way back. Especially when you consider most of the girls in question are associated with this same individual. The former Peidmont Hills coach even has history here too. That's not slinging mud. That's aknowledging that the same old players are probably up to the same old tricks. I don't remember letters, but I do remember club kids racing in H.S. races in club uniforms B4 they were even in H.S. Let's just aknowledge that certain people will bend the rules as much as possible. Coaches who "truly care", the private schools do it, and beating teams from the Souther Section has become the new rallying cries for parents at programs like Campo and P.H. to do whatever they can get away with.

Albert Caruana said...

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

Gregory Brock said...

Re anonymous at 5:14pm. Ironic, that you tell someone to grow a pair and then you don't post your name. John Rembao is not a current college coach and to date not a single athlete has transferred to Santa Cruz High School because of him. Anaya Ward's parents moved from Willow Glen to Santa Cruz and they Chose to come to Santa Cruz High School. I had to look her up on Athletic.net when I heard about the transfer late last summer so had nothing to do with the transfer. Maya Desmonds parents moved to Santa Cruz from Copenhagen and got jobs in this area and also decided on Santa Cruz. Again, I had no knowledge of this until late in the summer before school started. People posting on these message boards should get the facts before making inflamatory statements. If people want to know the real story behind these situations, just go to the source and find out. I am at a lot of cross country and track meets and am more then willing to give you the facts as I see them. No such thing as bad publlicity? Greg Brock

Sal said...

Greg, many people on this blog confuse kid or family choice with recruiting. This is willful ignorance caused by spite or jealousy. While I am tired of all the allegations, it is refreshing to hear them leveled at public schools in as much misinformed intensity as it has been at private schools. I think the whole movement has finally jumped the shark. While unscrupulous coaches have cheated in the past and will try to again, we need to make sure that each accusation is reviewed on its own merits and not grouped into the category that all successful programs cheat because they attracted a great freshman or transfer. Thanks for correcting the record at SC.

Anonymous said...

I don't consider asking questions about these extremely fortuitous circumstances which are turning a few teams in the SCCAL into AAU All Star teams as inflammatory statements.

Anonymous said...

Questions - totally okay
Accusations - totally irresponsible
7:49 was not asking questions. He was throwing turds.

Anonymous said...

Questions are different from accusations. To the extent that a coach would answer here, let's pose those questions (in that form) and then let them answer, as did Greg Brock. Be respectful, make your point, and accept the answer, especially when nothing underhanded can be proven. If we don't like what we hear, we will all collectively forward our results to the section authority. Until and unless we get to that point, stop with the accusations - the kids and coaches deserve better!

Anonymous said...

The same kind of circumstances that might propel a team from 5th in the section to 2nd in the State. In one year. How excited you must have been when you realized the type of depth you were adding to a team that already had two of the top returners in D4. I didn't have to look up Ward, because I recognized her as one of 2 freshman who qualified to CCS finals in the 800. I think asking some questions about all these girls who are accidentally ending up at these certain schools like many have done to Campo and P.H. is appropriate on an anonymous message board where probably no more then 100 people regularly comment. If there's no such thing as bad pub, then answer the questions if you want and use it as bulletin board material. If parents are going to move for what looks like obvious athletic reasons, then they could probably care less defending their decision on a message board. You are far from the only team in league that has benefitted from this.

Anonymous said...

All this BS for a girl that ran 20:37 at Stanford as a frosh, and 19:51 at State this year? While good, it is hardly the number one target for recruiting. Let's move on. How about those evil WCAL teams!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous @ 4:27 - Where are all these girls from Campo that you mention? You seem to be a disgruntled coach who can't coach.

Anonymous said...

I work at a public school in a upperclass area. About 8-10% of report cards mailed home are returned to the school with "return to sender, no longer lives at this address."

How many families lie about their address or claim to "rent a room" or "live with a relative" so their kid can go to a good school? About 200 students at the average school in a good school district. This is not athletes but the entire population. What happens is this takes money and resources from already ailing schools. But if you can go to a better school that's what parents will do.

Can we please stop about Santa Cruz? They got lucky but are hardly an annual powerhouse. I would want to move from that shit hole San Jose to Santa Cruz too. Can you blame them? Everything came together. Next year they'll be back to 5th in the section. And how about Willow Glen? Should we look at where their boys live? They've had their fair share of international students too.

Albert Caruana said...

No more comments will be allowed here. Thank you.

Popular Posts