COLUMN: Better facilities, better coaches

Joah Callahan, Commentary Now Bilsky has realized that "they" -- high-caliber coaches -- can't come to Penn unless he makes room for them by firing existing coaches. With improved and improving facilities in abundance, current coaches who haven't already proven their skills may now be given less time to fumble around with losing teams before they are replaced. Penn men's soccer coach George O'Neill was told 12 days ago his contract would not be renewed in 1998. He said recruiting was the only issue the Athletic Department ever raised with his way of running the program -- and that over a year before. In an issue of PennSport -- the official newsletter of Penn Athletics -- from this past summer, Bilsky wrote, "Recruiting becomes the key ingredient to competitive success." In response to O'Neill's release, Bilsky said it was more than his record that led to the decision. Just as there is an understood, but never stated, policy of "publish or perish" for University professors, Bilsky may be beginning an unstated policy of "recruit or relocate" in the athletics program. In order to implement the policy, Bilsky needs concrete reasons for nationally recognized coaches to be attracted to Penn. Those concrete reasons seem to be mostly made out of concrete. Bilsky's plan was to improve the image of the athletic program by building better facilities. In the same PennSport article, Bilsky wrote, "I have stated that improving our athletic facilities was my number one priority and would have the greatest impact on our intercollegiate programs." Locker room and weight room renovations, squash courts that meet international standards, and a new lounge for alumni in the Palestra have all been completed. A $3 million project to create new coaches' offices is scheduled to be done by fall 1998. There is also a plan for creating stadium seating and a press box at Rhodes Field for the soccer teams. The new facilities obviously need players to use them. Academics and location is a major selling point for all of Penn's teams, but other Ivy and non-Ivy institutions can offer similar credentials. Therefore, Penn needs quality coaches and facilities to push their programs to the top. With many of the buildings finished, current Quakers coaches who believe they match Penn's desire for quality but don't yet have the results to prove it will need to improve their recruiting and on-field accomplishments. Bilsky may also be encouraged to make more coaching switches due to the performances of his recent hirings. Two of the newest additions to Penn's head coaching staff -- men's lacrosse coach Marc Van Arsdale and women's crew coach Barb Kirch -- both come from coaching positions at nationally respected programs and have had success in their first seasons. Bilsky is slowly molding his athletic program. He built the buildings, now he may be moving towards revamping the other key part of attracting the best athletes, the coaching staffs. Softball coach Linda Carothers' contract was not renewed after last spring, her 23rd season in charge. She had been the only softball coach Penn ever had, despite her continual pattern of losing. Now George O'Neill is gone, and a bit of unease must have crept through the Penn coaching ranks. Two releases in six months doesn't make for an epidemic, but for a program that is slow to move against its coaches, it is certainly noteworthy. When the new coaches' facility is opened, there will be one more enticement for big-name coaches. Current Quakers coaches who do not meet expectations may find their job safety net pulled out a little earlier than it used to be.