Kevin Ankrom stepping down as High Performance Director

RayCun

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/aai-announces-high-performance-director-kevin-ankrom-to-return-to-usa

After 15 continuous years working around the world in similar roles and two Olympic Games with Ireland, the decision to leave has been a difficult one, but I feel it is the right time for me and my young family to return to the USA

pconn062

Could you describe his tenure overall as a success? Are we stronger than we were say, 10 year ago in terms of numbers of athletes competing on an International stage and at least reaching major championships?

RayCun

pconn062 wrote: »

Could you describe his tenure overall as a success? Are we stronger than we were say, 10 year ago in terms of numbers of athletes competing on an International stage and at least reaching major championships?

I find it hard to judge because I don't know enough about what his role is supposed to be. There's a lot of emphasis put on logistics and support services in the AAI story. How much have they improved in the last 5/10 years? How much more funding do they get now than 10 years ago? Should that be the focus of the job, or something else?

In terms of international success - we're a small country, where the level of success is going to depend, one way or the other, on a small number of athletes, which makes success hard to predict. There's a difference between being the manager of a football club, where you have a budget to spend and can pick your team, and can be compared against other clubs of a similar size, and the manager of a national team, where some managers get to pick Roy Keane in midfield and some get to pick Glenn Whelan.

BeepBeep67

RayCun wrote: »

I find it hard to judge because I don't know enough about what his role is supposed to be.

Making decisions on where to allocate the small amount of funding the HP dept. receives and then trying to justify that funding after every major championships in attempt to secure a similar amount of funding again.
Rinse and repeat for 15 years.

RayCun

the job has been advertised, if anyone is interested
http://sportireland.ie/About_Us/Jobs_in_Sport/

The Director of High Performance will be responsible for the creation of an environment within which athletes can develop to their full potential and excel at an international level. The incumbent will be responsible for the development and implementation of the necessary strategies and plans that will deliver high performance in world-class competition. This will embrace the development of high performance programmes for elite athletes; including talent selection, coaching, fitness, competition, nutrition, equipment, career support, the application of all aspects of sports science, through to the delivery of success on the world stage. The role will have a specific focus on coaching and the ability to build on the existing coaching structure to ensure that it is sustainable and progressive and impacts on High Performance coaching in all event disciplines. The Director of High Performance will be measured in terms of success at European and World Championships and at the Olympic Games.

Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, candidates must have extensive experience in the international athletics high performance field at senior management level and will have led athletes, coaches, science and medicine professionals through all levels of international performance. A proven record of success at a major international level is a prerequisite. It is also vital that he/she should be a strong communicator, with exceptional influencing and interpersonal skills, coupled with excellent planning and organisational abilities.

(I don't see how a degree is necessary for the job as described)