Cliff Rovelto of Kansas State

Rovelto talks with former Kansas State Olympian Steve Fritz back in 1996 (Jill Jarsulic)

1. Led by Austra Skujyte and Rebekah Green in the shot put including Amy Mortimer in the 1500 meters, the lady Wildcats took 5th overall at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Mortimer and Green will be back this season including a strong core of newcomers. What do you expect out of the women this season?

Along with Kendra Wecker (javelin), Morgan High (high jump), Brie Madden (high jump), Chaytan Hill (triple jump), all NCAA outdoor qualifiers, returning we do feel we have a strong nucleus returning. We have added a strong recruiting class as well. Our goals every year are to compete for conference championships, rank among the top ten in the Coaches' Power Rankings and place as high as possible at the NCAA meet. We feel that the quality, depth and completeness of this team will be comparable to our teams of the past two years.

2. The women also took home the Big 12 Outdoor title for the second year in a row and the men finished in a tie for fifth place. How difficult is it to compete in the Big 12 year after year with the fierce competition?

The Big XII is an extremely competitive conference. There are quality coaches with tremendous resources and high expectations. We feel fortunate to be in a position to compete for championships. We look forward to the upcoming track season with great expectations. We feel our men's team is considerably improved and has the opportunity to continue to move up the ladder in our conference.

3. You were recently named a member of the Team USA coaching staff for the 2003 IAAF World Championships. How much are you looking forward to the events and how will you prepare your athletes heading into the meet?

I consider it a tremendous honor to serve on this and any staff of a US national team. Having the opportunity to represent your country is not something I take lightly. I see my role as an assistant in two ways. One, I do whatever I can do to assist the head coach in executing her plans. Two, I do whatever the athlete and their personal coach need of me. I will be available to assist in any way requested.

4. Among your honors includes being named the 2002 Big 12 Conference Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year, as well as the Midwest Region Coach of the Year. You were also the 2001 National Coach of the Year for the women's outdoor season, as named by the U.S. Track Coaches Association. Looking back upon your career so far, what are you most proud of?

I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with a number of very fine athletes and work for two fine Universities. Team and individual accomplishment are appreciated but what I value most is the academic success of our team members and seeing student/athletes grow into outstanding contributing adults. Earning the respect of my peers and leaving the program at Kansas State better for the next staff are my goals.

5. Given the sucess of the Kansas State program under your direction, the majority of your athletes have come from the state of Kansas. Do you prefer to stay in-state in this aspect?

Being a state school we certainly wish to provide an opportunity for Division One caliber athletes in our state to be a part of a quality program and the opportunity to achieve their academic and athletic goals. Fortunately we have been able to attract a number of our state's finest high school athletes. The core of our team has been, is and hopefully will continue to be Kansas kids. The reality is, however, that the population of our state is considerably smaller than many of our competitors. We must recruit the entire nation and world to increase the population of quality athletes from which to choose.

6. Kansas State is currently building a new outdoor track & field facility. What can the athletes and fans expect to get out of the new facility once it is completed?

I honestly believe that we will have as fine a training facility as there is in the United States. From a training standpoint we will have no limitations. It also will be an outstanding competition facility. We will be able to host conference and regional competitions as well as world class combined event competitions. Perhaps the greatest positive is that the significant financial commitment signals to all that our University is committed to our track and field program.

7. Where did you first start getting into coaching and what paths did you take to eventually become the head coach at Kansas State?

I served as an undergraduate assistant coach at The University of Kansas under Bob Timmons and assisting Stan Narewski. I then coached at the high school level first assisting Bob Knoll at Leavenworth High School (Kansas) in cross country and then I became the cross country and track coach at McLouth High School (Kansas) for four years. I returned to The University of Kansas and served as a graduate assistant at KU on the men's side for two years working with sprinters, hurdles and pole vaulters. I then joined the women's staff under Carla Coffey as a full-term assistant working with cross country in the fall and middle-distance, distance, jumps and heptathletes in the spring.

Prior to the 1988-1989 season I went to work for John Capriotti at Kansas State University where I worked with the jumps and combined events. In November of 1992 I became the Head Coach at Kansas State. I never competed in track and field at any level. I did run cross country and competed in football, basketball, baseball and golf. My education in the classroom as well as the years of apprenticeship under many truly outstanding teachers gave me an excellent foundation. That and an enormous insecurity (I'm not that bright!) and a strong work ethic have served me well. I never had a strong desire to become a head coach but I was taught and I believe that an effective assistant coach works to develop all of the skills necessary to be a head coach. I have coached all the event areas in track and field at the Division One level at one time or another. I had also handled every administrative role within the program as an assistant. I was blessed to have worked for outstanding head coaches.

8. Given the new direction for NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifying, are you in favor of the current regional format?

I have not been a proponent of regional qualifying. I respect the opinions of those who favor the system but I take issue with the arguments that regional qualifying is in the best interest of the student-athletes, our programs in general and collegiate track and field in general. The demands on the student-athletes will be considerably greater. We are lengthening the season, asking many athletes to have to compete in three major championships in the space of five weeks. This will interfere with summer jobs, summer school and shorten summer break. For our national caliber athletes we have made it unbelievably difficult for them to line up at the USA National Championships and the Olympic Trials.

Costs to the Universities will be increased for most schools because of housing and feeding student-athletes after school is out. Travel costs will be increased. The system that has been adapted has not reduced "chasing marks." If anything it has been increased. Not only will athletes be chasing regional qualifying marks but the top athletes will chase ideal competition opportunities to insure that they have some insurance entering the regional championships. I fear that the increased costs and the realization by administrators that were led to believe their programs would have greater representation at the national championships could further jeopardize men's program throughout the country.

9. If you were the head of USA Track & Field for one day, what would you want to change, if anything, to our sport at that level?

I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. The job with the current structure is virtually impossible. The majority of USA Track & Field's funding comes from the USOC. The USOC has mandated that financial support is contingent on winning medals at the Olympic Games. In the short run age group, masters, road racing, etc are not going to produce medals in 2004. If we fail in 2004 USA Track & Field will take a major hit. Certainly, continued success depends on age group track and a competitive outlet for masters, road racers and others who love to participate in the sport. At this point we would be best served to do everything we can to assist athletes and their coaches who are our best bets for medals in 2004.

We can argue that the United States should do better but the reality is that the US has had tremendous success. I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel. Amazing things happen in a free enterprise system. Reward accomplishment and don't reward lack of achievement. If we enable our best talent to live decently and train appropriately and provide incentive for them as well as the coaches and scientists who can help, great things will happen. The executive director of USA Track & Field must do his best to gain USOC funding but must also increase efforts to gain sponsorship from other sources to increase funding or in the worst case scenario at least continue current funding levels.

10. What is the one thing you stress to your student-athletes to understand on and off the track?

Value education, work hard, prepare, have a purpose, have high expectations, live and compete with character and you will be successful.