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Phillips enjoying new post

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 6, 2000

Kelly Phillips readily admits she was apprehensive about taking over as coach of the men's and women's cross-country teams in August.

It wasn't because Phillips, a former Auburn runner, was stepping into her first collegiate coaching job.

It wasn't because Phillips had recently given birth to her son, Michael.

And it wasn't because she was taking over for longtime coach Bob Braman.

Her uneasiness stemmed from taking over the women's and men's teams, the latter filled with upperclassmen comfortable with their routines and their former coach.

"That was probably my biggest reservation," Phillips said. "You never know how upperclassmen will react to a new coach, especially a female coaching men. I was actually expecting a little trouble from the seniors, but they've been great. Most of the guys are upperclassmen, and they know they are coming to the end of their careers, so they are working hard. They have been very open to new ideas, which is good because coach Braman and I have coaching philosophies that are very different."

Phillips is a firm believer that fewer miles during the week allows athletes to run better because they will be rested and fresh. Braman's success was rooted in high-mileage training.

Phillips' philosophical change has been embraced, and the Bulls are doing fine.

The men's and women's teams have won all three meets this season, most recently at the Sept. 30 Greensboro Invitational.

Phillips said she knew the teams had the potential to do well. She said team chemistry has been key to the success.

"Most of it is because they get along so well," Phillips said. "They are doing such a great job. They are all really good friends, and that has made my life really easy."

Phillips said the teams are so supportive she sometimes has to remind them to concentrate on themselves.

"It got to the point last weekend that I had to tell my guys they needed to warm up and concentrate on their own race, they were cheering so much for the girls," Phillips said.

Senior Russ Gerbers and transfers Andrew Smith and Barry Egan lead the men's team.

"They run so well together, you just never know which one is going to be No. 1," Phillips said.

The women's team is more balanced. A different runner has excelled every week.

The top eight runners are: seniors Rita Arndt and Jennifer Dorna; junior twins Tiffany and Tara Quinn; and sophomores Jennifer Walczuk, Nicole McCarthy, Cori Kill and Kristy Fuller.

"It's awesome," Phillips said. "There was one meet where they were so tight together, I questioned whether they were running hard. Last year our top three were strong, but if one went down, we were a good degree back. When you have eight, you always know there is somebody to take a place."

TOP SOCCER HONORS: Senior forward/midfielder Greg Krauss is the Conference USA player of the week. Krauss had four goals in two games against Memphis and Alabama A&M in a tournament at USF and was named to the all-tournament team.

He scored the opening goal four minutes into a 3-2 overtime loss to Memphis last Friday, then had a hat trick in Sunday's 4-1 win against Alabama A&M. Krauss' goals came consecutively in eight minutes.

Krauss, who scored twice in six minutes during Wednesday's 3-1 win over Central Florida, leads the Bulls with eight goals.

After an 0-4 start, the Bulls are 5-6.

VOLLEYBALL ROLLS: The team is 11-4 heading into tonight's match at Memphis. The Bulls defeated Charlotte and St. Louis last weekend. Sophomore Michelle Collier had 46 kills and 28 digs in two games. Collier has had 20 or more kills in seven of USF's 15 matches.

- Contact South Florida beat writer Antonya English at (800) 333-7505 ext. 8810 or by e-mail at English@sptimes.com.

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