“[We] are using a year of eligibility to compete for a dying program.”
In a decision made at the end of Mar., Michigan Tech’s Track and Field program revealed significant changes aimed at refining its focus and strategic direction, impacting the careers of eight athletes starting in 2025. This decision, a result of discussions between the coaching staff and administration, outlines a shift towards only supporting distance events starting in the 2025 season– releasing eight non-distance athletes from the team’s roster.
The decision-making process involved weighing various factors including the program’s direction, the student-athlete experience, and the logistical challenges faced by the coaching staff. Among the considerations, were the limitations posed by the current athlete-to-coach ratio and the constraints of available resources, including coaching personnel and facilities. This shift aligns with the expertise of the current coaching staff who both hold strong distance-focused backgrounds.
The decision has been communicated internally to the track-specific athletes, with discussions ongoing regarding its broader implications. All athletes who are currently in a non-distance event will be given full coaching support this season, but next season these athletes will only get a written training plan and an estimated two to three inconsistently scheduled practices a week with coaching staff. After next year, they will no longer have roster spots for non-distance athletes. Throughout this shift, they will honor the current level of athletic scholarship for those who stay at MTU through the completion of their 4th year in their program, whether they continue on the team or not. While the transition may raise questions about the program’s competitive standing in events beyond distance running, Coach Robert Young remains optimistic about the team’s prospects and its ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of collegiate track and field.
Robert Young, the Head Coach of the Track and Field program, articulated the rationale behind the decision, emphasizing the desire to provide a more focused and fulfilling experience for student-athletes. “We need fewer athletes per coach to be able to coach them at the highest level within our sport…There’s more coaches or less total athletes,” Young commented, “And working with our administration and our picture within the overall athletic picture, they’ve decided that to help us give the best possible student athlete experience to the athletes we have, our number of athletes can come to a different level, a lower level total than what used to be. [This is] in favor of being able to really coach and really mentor and have that really, really strong relationship between coach and athlete to the benefit of the athlete moving forward.”
The athletic administration has voiced support for the coaching staff’s strategic approach, emphasizing the importance of aligning resources with areas of expertise and program priorities. Rhys Edwards, the Assistant Athletic Director, gave the administration’s perspective on this shift, saying, “The athletic administration supports the decision by the coaching staff to focus on specific areas and positions within the program.” This move aims to enhance the overall student-athlete experience while ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness. Edwards also commented on the number of athletes affected, saying,“The majority of the student-athletes on the roster are unaffected and those that are will be supported.”
One of the eight affected athletes, who wished to remain anonymous, commented on this decision, saying, “It is understandable to not be able to afford a quality level of support, but even though the track side is ending it feels wrong to not graduate out the current athletes.” The person mentioned how the decision came a week before the second outdoor meet, and how many were not presented or downright denied the option to redshirt by the coaching staff. “[It] seems like they had been thinking about this for a while but not taking the athletes seriously enough to even let them save their eligibility for a future team. [We] are using a year of eligibility to compete for a dying program.”
The decision has been communicated internally to the entire team, with discussions ongoing regarding its broader implications. Time will only tell if this shift is the correct one for the program, as the events being released held six out of the eleven Michigan Tech records in the past three years.While the transition may raise questions about the program’s competitive standing, Coach Young remains optimistic about the team’s prospects and its ability to strategically adapt to the evolving landscape of collegiate track and field.
Want to follow the Huskies’ progress this season? Follow their progress at www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/track/index or on instagram @mtucctf.
