Just logged onto Flo and saw this story, then came over here and was surprised no one was talking about it. Looks like Eric's going to head up OU's RTC. Checked the official website and he's gone there too. Hopefully this was an amicable split and he does well there. Any ideas on who'll replace him?
Guerrero to OU RTC
- Thread starter NEcowboy
- Start date
I am happy for Eric but I believe in my heart that although he is a great technician he is not a great recruiter and the replacement has to be both. Eric will excel as a technician so I believe this is a win-win situation for both schools.
I can't speak for the entire board, but I don't consider OU the enemy. My priorities are 1. wrestling 2. OSU wrestling 3. wrestling in Oklahoma.
If it wasn't working out for him in Stillwater, for whatever reason, then I'm happy he's staying local and helping to build another in state program. A strong OU is better for all of us.
Esposito has been our best recruiter on staff and we need another high level recruiter and Eric just wasn't that. He has also been here for 17 years and a change of scenery and direction is probably a good thing for him.
I think both parties will be better for this move.
It was time that new blood came into the room. Not many better then Eric when it come to being a technician but new blood was needed. As for being John's successor, never saw that happening. Was hoping for a head coaching job for him in the last few years. OU is getting a great coach.
Hope we can get Jordan Oliver back in Stilly! New OTC coach already and Jordan back, watch are middle weight improve.
First, I wish Eric well in the new position. He was part of a lot of great moments in Cowboy wrestling.
I tend to agree with those that say we need a different approach vs another great technician/instructor. We already have John, Zack and Chris - all of them terrific technicians.
John may already know what he plans to do with the staff, but this is an opportunity to reshape things and I hope he considers different options. This might not be popular, but one of those options is to bring in someone from outside of the OSU wrestling tree. If Perry is going to take the official assistant position, then the new volunteer assistant could be a recent graduate that competes for the CWC. This athlete could go live with our college wrestlers and hopefully also be someone that connects with today's recruits. If Perry is going to stay as the volunteer assistant, then the new official assistant could be someone that helps in multiple areas, young enough to still go live with the wrestlers, but also someone that recruits, promotes the program, is active on social media, is good at fundraising, etc.
I tend to agree with those that say we need a different approach vs another great technician/instructor. We already have John, Zack and Chris - all of them terrific technicians.
John may already know what he plans to do with the staff, but this is an opportunity to reshape things and I hope he considers different options. This might not be popular, but one of those options is to bring in someone from outside of the OSU wrestling tree. If Perry is going to take the official assistant position, then the new volunteer assistant could be a recent graduate that competes for the CWC. This athlete could go live with our college wrestlers and hopefully also be someone that connects with today's recruits. If Perry is going to stay as the volunteer assistant, then the new official assistant could be someone that helps in multiple areas, young enough to still go live with the wrestlers, but also someone that recruits, promotes the program, is active on social media, is good at fundraising, etc.
Great opportunity for EG....I think a change of scenery will do him great! Really glad he is staying in Oklahoma. Terrific step for Lou and the Sooners.
JO tweeted that he'll see Eric soon to train. Can't say I like the sound of that.
I had previously twice alluded to changes coming that would benefit training and recruiting. Derek Fix has accepted a position with the Cowboy wrestling club. He is not only an excellent coach but he is a great recruiter. His position with the USA Oklahoma wrestling team has put him in a situation where he knows well all of the top recruits in the country and he will be of great value in evaluating and recruiting for Oklahoma State. Knew about this move for some time but did not want to post it prematurely and it has not been officially announced. I do not know what plans John has to replace Eric on the staff but I certainly want to wish Eric G. well on his new position and he will do well training regional athletes. As I indicated before this is great news for both programs.
LETS GO POKES!!!
LETS GO POKES!!!
I loved watching Eric wrestle and have had nothing but respect and praise for him as a Coach. Good luck Cowboy and thank you very much for your blood, sweat, and tears you have poured into our program!! See you around my friend.
Wishful thinking. No way he leaves Penn State as Head Assistant Coach. I wish we could get Pendleton back to Oklahoma State but looks like he's happy at ASU with Zeke. Bigger guy coach with recruiting creditals would be nice. We have great lower guy technicians with Smith, Esposito and a middle weight guy with Chris. Maybe a guy like Gwizdowski, maybe a bit out of reach but hopeful for something along those lines. It would be great for our RTC to get a guy contending for teams as well as great contributer to our staff.
I know nothing about Fix is he a guy who has reach beyond Oklahoma?
I was listening to the Flo Podcast this morning and they mentioned other schools have tried to hire Chris.
I was listening to the Flo Podcast this morning and they mentioned other schools have tried to hire Chris.
He most certainly has reach beyond Oklahoma and knows all of the youth wrestlers after years as coach of the Oklahoma USA team. He and his wife Staci are great ambassadors for the sport of wrestling throughout Oklahoma and the United States. He will be extremely important in recruiting and is well known and respected throughout the U.S.
Thanks for the info. That is great to hear. I'm guessing he is also pretty good from an actual technical/coaching side also?
He also has some personality traits that many wrestling coaches just don't have. He has a little more of that politician/sales aspect to him in a good disciplined way if that makes sense.
He is a very likeable guy who is very well known with top youth programs and wrestlers across the country. He wrestled at OSU and has been a very good coach for the Oklahoma USA freestyle team for years.
Well, he did wrestle for OSU. I know that's not the end all be all for coaching, but he does have a good pedigree. Most OK teams have done well under him.
I was going to hold off until I saw something official on the new hire and what the new role was exactly. But what the heck...
I've posted a lot about 2 themes that are linked, (1) recruiting and (2) getting more athletes in our RTC. I remember a Daton Fix interview when he was asked what he does to improve. His answer was that no matter where he is, he looks for the best guy in the room to wrestle against. It's the reason the USA Senior, Junior and Cadet world teams all practice together at the same training camp.
The only things I know about Derek Fix are that he raised an outstanding young man and he helped coach/develop a terrific wrestler. My hope is that he can bolster those 2 areas of need for us - high school recruiting and growing/developing the RTC. I like some of the descriptions made or implied - well connected, charismatic, salesmanship skills, smart.
As to the other opening, I think it's pretty clear that we should move Chris from volunteer coach to assistant coach and then hire another senior level athlete to be the volunteer coach. Ideally it would be a recent graduate who is well known by high school kids (maybe a national team member), at a weight spaced apart from Alex. I see Alex going live against our 157s - 174s, so maybe a 61 kg or 86 kg guy.
I've posted a lot about 2 themes that are linked, (1) recruiting and (2) getting more athletes in our RTC. I remember a Daton Fix interview when he was asked what he does to improve. His answer was that no matter where he is, he looks for the best guy in the room to wrestle against. It's the reason the USA Senior, Junior and Cadet world teams all practice together at the same training camp.
The only things I know about Derek Fix are that he raised an outstanding young man and he helped coach/develop a terrific wrestler. My hope is that he can bolster those 2 areas of need for us - high school recruiting and growing/developing the RTC. I like some of the descriptions made or implied - well connected, charismatic, salesmanship skills, smart.
As to the other opening, I think it's pretty clear that we should move Chris from volunteer coach to assistant coach and then hire another senior level athlete to be the volunteer coach. Ideally it would be a recent graduate who is well known by high school kids (maybe a national team member), at a weight spaced apart from Alex. I see Alex going live against our 157s - 174s, so maybe a 61 kg or 86 kg guy.
Chris would be a good pick and he is an excellent wrestler and technician. If this is in the works it is fine by me and he would be a great pick however if he has another offer and wants to try his wings out at another program it is also OK by me and if that is the case then I would like to expand our horizons and take a known wrestler from another program. Others have mentioned we might want to go out of "the family" and I like that idea. Not everyone has to be an OK State wrestler to be a coach in our program. Maybe we need to think big and go after say, Jordan Burroughs or someone of that ilk. Just a thought and as I say Chris would be a great pick.
Yeah, I understand what you are saying about exploring new opportunities and I think that makes sense for Eric. But with Chris, not only do I not want to see him leave, I think if he does leave for a lateral move (assistant here vs assistant somewhere else), that would actually be a bad sign for the program. Hopefully the "new blood" will come from the new volunteer assistant / RTC athlete. Should be interesting to see how it all works out.
I'll be honest, I thought Espo was leaving when I heard the NYCRTC...especially considering his brother is involved. I think he's the HC in waiting.
I'd like to see you guys hire back Jamill Kelly. He seems to have a great repoire with kids, which helps with recruiting, and obviously a great workout partner.
I'd like to see you guys hire back Jamill Kelly. He seems to have a great repoire with kids, which helps with recruiting, and obviously a great workout partner.
Here's an interview with Eric at the OTC. I found a couple of things interesting. He says the new role is still being defined, but it will help all of Oklahoma by working with the school boy, cadet and juniors levels, and not just senior level athletes like most RTCs. The other thing is he never mentions coach Smith. He says it's been a quarter century since someone residing in Oklahoma won gold and then he mentions teammates Jamill and DC when asked about how his time at OSU helped prepare him for the new position.
Link:
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestlin...-Wrestling-about-his-move-to-the-Oklahoma-RTC