Kyle Shack leaves Alma

@Vic wrote:

According to Swimming World, Kyle Shack is leaving Alma to be an assistant at Arizona State:

http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/15454.asp

Wow. Can’t blame the guy, but I feel bad for the recruits who are going to Alma next year based on the things he said.

Now I feel bad that I didn’t take it when it was offered (not to say I’d be a better coach, but I sure wouldn’t leave after a year. Wife would kill me)… I hate to see a program already in turmoil go through even more crap

You too?. That’s almost as many rejections as the U of Chicago job got.

Even though its got a decent budget and salary for a (oh lets just say it) traditionally bad team in a good conference, I was in the middle of getting a masters and couldn’t take it. i know there’s a new AD there but I’m sure I burned that bridge anyway.

I know Alma had at least one rejection more after I turned it down, but I thought Shack was a great fit. But his Harvard ties are what got him out at ASU and turning down a Pac-10 would be hard to do for anyone.

@Psimon3 wrote:

But his Harvard ties are what got him out at ASU and turning down a Pac-10 would be hard to do for anyone.

So you are suggesting that ASU just offered him the job out of the blue? Yeah. He got there and by December was looking for other jobs. I’m happy for him as a coach, but I know that isn’t good for the program or the MIAA when a coach who clearly has top level talent just leaves after a year.

This post has been edited to ensure unsourced and unreliable information does not have a negative impact on an individual coach’s career. The remaining content should be considered just one person’s opinion.

I swam for Alma and I say that as bad as the program is right now…it’s great for the college that Kyle won’t be back. He was cocky and rude to swimmers, other AC students, parents and alumni; socially the man was inept and just not pleasant to talk to…he was not a MIAA school kind of person at all. After last season, he set the lowest standard possible for his team when he gave the MVP to a girl who {Moderator’s Note: The following is opinion of the poster and cannot be verified.} didn’t work hard in practice, got out regularly because it was ”too hard” and choked in high-pressure situations, and he was really nasty to alumni – who, I mean think about it, if they’re still interested in Alma swimming right now then they’re the hard core alumni – and I know of at least 6 other recent swimmers besides myself who have refused to give back to the program since they’ve met Kyle and he treated them poorly.

Those reasons make me happy that Kyle won’t be back. Way to win over alumni, buddy, way to build the program back up.

I’m really hoping that the new AD finds a coach that not only will help the program out because they’re in desparate need of it, but also fit in in the MIAA. I feel really bad for the freshmen class coming in that is expecting Kyle as a coach…and they are currently coachless. I love my college, I always swam well there under Greg, but the way that the program is heading is just not a good sign of things to come. It’s sad, considering that in the 90s the AC women used to beat out Calvin and they qualified quite a few more national-caliber athletes than the…4 or 5 men and women that they’ve had in the last decade.

@Derek wrote:

@Psimon3 wrote:

But his Harvard ties are what got him out at ASU and turning down a Pac-10 would be hard to do for anyone.

So you are suggesting that ASU just offered him the job out of the blue? Yeah. He got there and by December was looking for other jobs. I’m happy for him as a coach, but I know that isn’t good for the program or the MIAA when a coach who clearly has top level talent just leaves after a year.

I’m not suggesting that at all. Mike Chasson at ASU was at Harvard for years and I think Kyle had an in there with the recent departure their assistant coach.

My hope is the next hire at alma really tries to turn the program around as it will only make the MIAA that much stronger as a conference.

I think Chris Hamstra (Lenny) should go for the job. He has great experience with 2 teams in the MIAA and would be stepping into a program with a presumably solid freshman class. I think he’d do very well with the program if he wanted it.

well silentp, its good to see you recognize coaching talent when you see it!!! but seriously thanks for the compliment.

hope guys in charge of three MIAA teams? look out albion, you may be next…