Jim Knoedel
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Jim Knoedel is currently the head Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track Coach at University of Illinois at Chicago. Knoedel has held that position at the University since 1996. Prior to coming to UIC, Knoedel was the Assistant Coach at Loyola University Chicago. Jim Knoedel is a 1974 graduate of the University of Iowa
The USA Track & Field National Office selected Knoedel as the head coach for two United States teams. In 1996 he coached the USA Women's Ekiden team competing in Yokohama, Japan, and in 1999, the Junior Men's Coach at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Junior Team placed a surprising sixth out of 81 competing countries.
[edit] Controversies
Since 1996, there have been numerous controversies surrounding Knoedel's tenure at the University. The most common complaint circles around his continued disinterest in the University's Cross Country program, focusing primarily on the Track & Field program instead. It has been rumored that many of the University's Cross Country funds have been used for Track & Field expenses over the past 12 years.
Other controversies include...
- Knoedel's high attrition rate throughout an athlete's tenure at the University.
- Continual elminations of the number of Cross Country meets and races.
- The program's inability to recruit and attract top level runners in Illinois.
One rumored reason for the attrition rate is poor funding which is also said to affect the ability to recruit top level runners. Most athletes are attracted by a program's ability to provide a substantial scholarship.
On May 6th, 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Track program had lost scholarship funds due to the teams low grade point average and inability to meet the minimum NCAA requirements.
