New track coach takes over
men's, women's teams
By Keith Thomas
Editor
in Chief
A major reorganizing of the men's and women's track
and field programs has resulted in the promotion of Lissa Olson to the
position of head coach for both squads.
Olson, formerly an assistant coach for the men's
team, replaces veteran Boilermaker coach Mike Poehlein as the men's
coach and Ben Paolillo as the women's coach. The decision to combine
the programs under one administration came in June, according to an
athletic department press release. The selection of Olson to head the
programs was announced on Tuesday.
Olson becomes the only woman head coach of a men's
track and field program in the Big Ten Conference. She also becomes
only the second conference coach to be named the director of both the
men's and women's squad concurrently, joining Ohio State's Russ Rogers,
who oversees both programs.
Under Paolillo, the Boilermakers won Big Ten Conference
Championships in two of the last three years — a 2001 Indoor Championship
and a 1999 Outdoor Championship. Both times, Paolillo was named the
Big Ten Conference Coach-of-the-Year.
Paolillo was unavailable for comment; however,
he said goodbye to the Purdue community and his supporters in an e-mail.
"I want to thank all of you who have been so supportive
over the years of me and the Purdue women's track and cross country
programs," Paolillo said in the e-mail. "With Big Ten Championships,
national champions and many other highlights I've truly had a great
run here at Purdue."
The shake-up comes in an effort to consolidate
the two head coaching track and field positions into one director position.
Along with Olson, both Poehlein and Paolillo and assistant coach David
Kaiser applied for the position.
"We are convinced that a unified program will take
greatest advantage of the skills of our specialty coaches and ensure
the long-term success of the program," said Roger Blalock, associate
athletic director, in a press release. "This provides a better opportunity
for our student-athletes to have more one-on-one contact with coaches."
According to Paolillo's e-mail message, he explained
the difficulties surrounding the setup consisting of two head coaches
sharing four assistants. He said the consolidation was something that
had to be done "after struggling for three years to make it work."
Poehlein, who has been the men's team's coach since
1982 and the head cross country coach since 1973, was the Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year
four times.
According to Jay Cooperider, Purdue's director
of athletic communications and information services, Olson, Paolillo
and Poehlein are out of town.
Morgan Burke, athletic director, said in a press
release, "Mike and Ben are consummate professionals. We appreciate what
our men's and women's coaches have done with the respective programs
through the years."
Poehlein has been offered the position of head
cross country coach for both men's and women's teams. Paolillo has been
offered reassignment within the athletic department and is considering
that option, according to the press release.
According to Paolillo's e-mail, he will remain
in Lafayette so that he is able to watch his daughter grow up.
Olson's husband, Greg, is formerly the Purdue football
team's quarterback's coach. Greg, however, accepted the same position
for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
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