Issue date: 9/12/05 Section: Sports

 

Matt Dobson, head coach of the University of West Florida men's cross-country team for the past six years, has been given the head coaching job for the UWF women's cross country team too and wants to have the same success as he's had with the men.

"One of the things that I want to do is challenge the women to tougher work-out practices and have them run against some harder competition with Division 1 schools so they can compete on a higher level," Dobson said.

Dobson has coached the men's team for the past six years and has had success against Division1 schools, such as Florida and Florida State University.

Last spring senior Ramad Hicks made NCAA All-American at the FSU 800 meter relays when the standards were set to a higher level, Dobson said.

"I want to bring the women's team to the same standards as I set for the men's and I think we could have a top notch women's program as well, Dobson said.

Retired coach Dan Keely, who was coach from 1999 to Spring 2005, put together a good women's team, and the goal is to enhance what he did, Dobson said.

The UWF Men and Women's cross-country teams run 5K and 8K races.

"The UWF record for the men is 24.50 minutes and the record for the women is in the 25 to 26 minute range," Dobson said.

Dobson keeps his UWF student athletes in peak shape, working the athletes out on a regular basis on and off the UWF campus.

"We will run as many trails as we can get to as long as there is not a tree in the way, and we also take the teams off campus to run through residential areas just to get a break from the campus trails," Dobson said.

Dobson has two assistants the runners really respect, allowing him to pass on some of his duties.

"I have one assistant on the men's side and I also have some pretty responsible seniors on the women's side too that the women really look up to and respect, so that is working out nicely," Dobson said.

Looking for a new coach did not affect the recruitment process, Dobson said.

"We had some recruiting with Keely and some recruiting with myself and all of a sudden we have a program change, but the hiring process did not affect recruitment at all," Dobson said.

UWF track athletes are told to watch their diets and drink fluids, such as soda in moderation to stay in shape.

"I drink a coke a day. So as long as the athletes don't tank up on carbonated drinks and use food and drink in moderation, then there should not be any problems with diet," Dobson said.

Coach Dobson is mindful of his student athletes when it comes to dehydration and heat exhaustion.

"You know I really have to be mindful of that in this hot climate, and being in this sport I know when the students say they are tired that it just isn't tired of practice, but that it is something more, so I watch out for that," Dobson said.

This season injuries have played a minor role so the UWF roster is very healthy.

"Right now I have two women that have been on the injured list and have not been cleared to run yet, but the men I have are all healthy and ready to compete," Dobson said.

There are a total of 33 runners between the men and women's rosters.

"We have a total 17 runners on the men's side and 16 runners on the women's side, and with five athletes on each side ready to compete I have more than enough runners for back up if necessary," Dobson said.

UWF women runners have adapted quite nicely to my coaching philosophies, Dobson said.

"There have been some things that the women had to adapt to like my training techniques, but this has been a very smooth transition and everything has worked out quite well," Dobson said.

Another of Dobson's major goals is to increase UWF student attendance at the meets.

"We are here as student athlete's representing them and we at the same time know we are representing the entire student body, so let's support one another and be proud of the university," Dobson said.

I am really happy with my new responsibilities and I want to stay as long as I can, Dobson said.

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