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Thursday, May 25, 2000
UH track team
chooses coach
Carmyn James, who will take
By Pat Bigold
the women's coaching position,
learned about the offer after
driving through a snow stormStar-Bulletin
Carmyn James, the 37-year-old former head coach at the University of British Columbia, is the new University of Hawaii women's track and field coach. James accepted the position which was offered last night by phone to her by senior women's administrator Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano at her hotel in Smithers, B.C.
James coached the men's and women Canadian national teams in Sweden in 1995.
"She's very knowledgeable, communicates well, and has a wealth of experience in head coaching," said Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano.
"She's enthusiastic, has good demeanor and is extremely well organized, and has an analytical mind."
She got the news of the coaching offer at 10 p.m. British Columbia time from a reporter after driving through a snow storm to reach her hotel, 425 miles north of Vancouver. Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano reached her later at midnight and made the official offer which James immediately accepted.
"I said, 'I apologize for calling you so late but I thought you wouldn't mind,' " said Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano.
James didn't mind. In fact she said last night she would have taken Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano's call at any hour.
Gwen Loud-Johnson, who six days ago was chosen by a selection committee, turned down the Wahine track job for family and financial reasons early yesterday afternoon.
Loud-Johnson, who won the 1984 NCAA long jump title as a member of the Wahine team, said in an athletic department press release that declining the job "was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make."
The Wahine track program was dismantled in 1985 but will be revived in spring 2001.
The coaching job will pay $50,000-$60,000.
James, who is single, said she could be in Hawaii as early as next week if needed.
"I think everyone is happy that this worked out for the best," said associate athletic director Jim Donovan.
Smithers is the second stop on a three-town clinic tour in north central B.C. for James. She spent the previous few days in Prince George, and will move on to Terrace today before returning to Vancouver tomorrow.
James said that she will bring at least one top British Columbia athlete with her to Hawaii. That's Sarah McDermott, the nation's top collegiate high jumper who has won two national titles.
"She would have won a WAC championship last season," said James. McDermott would have only one year of eligibility left.
James said she also has an outstanding triple jumper who might transfer here. "I'll definitely be talking with her when I get home," she said.
James said she attended the Hawaii state track championships at Mililani two weeks ago.
She will be scouting the B.C. provincial high school championships next weekend. "I guess I won't be going in there with my B.C. hat but my Hawaii hat," said James.
She will pursue recruiting in Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean and Australia. "Then I'm sure she'll develop contacts on the west coast too and we'll have a strong recruiting area," said Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano.
Donovan said the physiological program James presented was impressive.
Despite her age, James's coaching experience goes back 20 years. Her University of British Columbia team won a Canada West conference title in 1992 and she has produced seven Canadian Olympians.
She was president of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union for two years.
James's coaching strengths have been in the jumps and distances.
"It was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make in mylife," said Loud-Johnson in the release issued late this afternoon.
"I honestly gave this every ounce I had. At thisjuncture, it would be hard for for us to do it as a family. Unfortunately,Im package deal. I dont want to do anything to hinder the rebirth of thatprogram. As an alumnus, I'm so enthusiastic about what is being startedthere. I wish it nothing but the best. There's no doubt in my mind thatHawaii can be a mecca for track and field."
The other two candidates in the final four field were 25-year University of Idaho head coach Mike Keller, who coached Olympic decathlon gold medalist Dan O'Brien and well-known exercise physiologist, coach and author Jack Daniels, who coached Olympic marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit.
