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Rick Sloan

Cougar Chats presented by:

Chat with track and field coach Rick Sloan this Friday, April 3 at 4 p.m.

Moderator: Good afternoon Cougar fans and thank you for visiting wsucougars.com and today's online chat with Washington State Track and Field Head Coach Rick Sloan. Coach Sloan, thank you for joining us today.

Rick Sloan: Thank you. It's great to have the opportunity to talk track and field and discuss our current season, which is going well for us right now.

Moderator: Okay, let's get started and answer some questions.

Jeremy (Main Line, Pa): How does an athlete like Jeshua Anderson juggle the responsibilities between football and track? How closely do you have to work with the football coaches and vice versa to make sure he's in optimal shape to do his thing on the track and do his thing on the gridiron?

Rick Sloan: Thank you Jeremy. Jeshua Anderson is a remarkable athlete. We are fortunate to have his services for both the football and track and field teams. Coach Wulff has been very generous is allowing Jeshua to compete in indoor and outdoor track during the second half of the year, and not be involved with spring football. This allows him to focus all of his energies on school and track and field. As evidenced by last year's results, it has been very beneficial to his performance.

John (Yakima): Coach Sloan, can you describe your experience coaching Bernard Lagat? Did you expect him to have the great success that he would have, both while at WSU and after WSU?

Rick Sloan: John, I did not coach Bernard Lagat. Coach James Li recruited Bernard and fulfilled the coaching responsibilities during his tenure at WSU and still coaches him today. We did expect Bernard to have great success and recognized his talent right away. Bernard is an outstanding runner and a great ambassador for track and field and Washington State University. It has recently come to my attention that Bernard will be inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame this year. His athletic abilities are exceeded by his dignity and class.

Julie (Seattle): What qualities do you look for when recruiting athletes and are there certain characteristics they must have in order to be in your program?

Rick Sloan: Julie, we certainly look for talented athletes who are consistent in their performance, as well as committed to academic success. We are looking for individuals with strong character, who are tough and competitive.

Steve: What advice do you give your athletes in their preparation immediately before a competition so that they are in the best frame of mind mentally and physically?

Rick Sloan: Steve, this advice may vary slightly for different athletes. I want athletes to be well-prepared in their training, which leads to a confident performance. I think visualization is a strong tool for mental preparation. Physically, I like them to eat well, be well-hydrated, and get lots of rest 48 hours prior to competition.

Kennewick: What goals have you set for the men's and women's teams this year?

Rick Sloan: Our goals every year are to maximize the talents of our student-athletes and prepare them for competition at the highest level. I believe this year, our men's team is stronger than it has been in recent memory and our goal is to win a Pac-10 Championship; that is what we are after. There are 21 events in championship competition and nine full Pac-10 teams and more variables than I can count. All we can do is prepare our student-athletes and compete in the Cougar tradition.

Jerry (Olympia): I saw on the website that your men's team is ranked 17th in the nation. Can you talk about who you expect to standout on the team?

Rick Sloan: Jerry, our 17th placed ranking is based on the projected outcome of the NCAA Championship. I think the Cougars who can contribute to that outcome are Jeshua Anderson (400 IH), Trent Arrivey (HJ), Matt Lamb (Discus), Barry Leavitt (400 IH), Rob Williams (110 HH), Sam Ahlbeck (Steeplechase), and our 4x400 relay with Justin Woods, Reny Follett, Anderson and Leavitt. Strong at the Pac-10 level and possibly the NCAA are Justin Woods (100m & 200m), Marlon Murray (100m & 200m), Reny Follett (400m), Ryan Deese (HJ), Shawn Swartz (HJ), Moreno Zapata (TJ), and Philip MacArthur (Hammer). Both of our relays will contend for Pac-10 titles. Of course, we look for all of our athletes to contribute.

Pullman: Coach, in your career, do you have a fondest memory of an athlete's performance or something that you experienced personally? Is there a moment or moments that standout above everything else?

Rick Sloan: In my 36 years at Washington State I have many fond memories. However, two stand out. Dan O'Brien's gold medal in the decathlon in 1996 was a very exciting experience. More recently, Diana Pickler's performance in the 2008 Olympic Trials was the most pressure packed and rewarding experience of my career.

Tim Weber (Tacoma): It was great to watch the Pac-10, National, and even International success of the Pickler sisters in the multi-events. Any up and comers to look for in the multi-events on the mens or womens side?

Rick Sloan: Tim, our current combined-event athletes are extremely talented but are still in a developmental stage. Decathlon and heptathlon training is very difficult and there are many things to work on. However, I believe Angela Jensen, Courtney Kirkwood, Kyle Schauble, and Sean Harris are all talented athletes and will be outstanding performers in time.

Josh (pullman): do you have any words on our very strong and young jump squad?

Rick Sloan: Josh, Coach Matt McGee has done an outstanding job of recruiting and coaching a very talented jump squad. Under his tutelage, they are all progressing nicely and should contribute to our team's success in the championship season. Our men's high jump squad is especially strong with three jumpers over 7 feet led by All-American Trent Arrivey.

Dave (seattle): Is this one of our strongest freshman classes in recent history ?

Rick Sloan: Dave, yes it is. Our coaching staff has done a terrific job of combing the western part of the country, but especially focusing on the state of Washington. Every event has underclassmen who show tremendous potential for growth. The future looks bright for Cougar Track and Field.

Rebecca Litz: Hello Coach, What do you think is the reason athlete's times and performances seem to be getting faster and stronger?

Rick Sloan: Rebecca, I think there are a number of factors contributing to improved performances, such as improved equipment, improved facilities, and training methods. But I think the most significant factor is the belief that they can do it. One of my favorite quotes is: Go as far as you can and once you get there you will be able to see farther.

Moderator: Okay, that's all the time we have. Rick, thank you once again for joining us.

Rick Sloan: I thank you for the opportunity to talk about the Cougar Track and Field program and appreciate the support that we receive from the WSU athletic department and the fans. I'm very excited about this season and look forward to the challenges in front of us.

Moderator: Thank you to everyone for your questions. Remember, to get all the information about WSU Athletics, go no further than wsucougars.com, the official website of Cougar Athletics. Please check back to wsucougars.com for future online chats.