We had a little discussion in the office Saturday night about coach-of-the-year candidates. One (North Medford’s Nolan Harris) who should have gotten recognition for an award already decided, and one (Oregon State’s Craig Robinson) who should get strong consideration in the coming weeks.
Black Tornado wrestling coach Harris seems like a logical choice if someone is to share the honor with Roseburg’s Steve Lander. Instead, South Eugene’s Gabe Hamel was named co-winner at the Southwest Conference tournament Saturday. This isn’t to denigrate Hamel. Clearly he has the respect of his peers, and I’m sure it’s well-earned. And I don’t know anything about the Axemen program, to be honest. All I know is Harris has done a terrific job elevating wrestling and North, and the district meet is tangible evidence. His team placed second to Class 6A defending champion Roseburg Saturday, and five of his wrestlers won SWC titles — all over Roseburg foes in the finals. South Eugene was fifth among the six teams and lost its dual to North Medford, 63-15. So, yeah, it’s a head-scratcher.
Robinson, the OSU basketball coach, is a prime candidate. The Beavers were the first team to go winless in the Pac-10 last year. In came Robinson, who orchestrated a win at Washington State Saturday, the Beavers’ fifth in 13 conference games. They also swept the Bay Area teams in the Bay Area, knocked off USC and defeated Oregon. Lorenzo Romar has Washington atop the Pac-10, and he’d seem to be the other one to get major consideration. It was pointed out Washington woefully underachieved (I don’t have the numbers handy to back that up) last year and it’s little surprise the Huskies are where they are now in a weak Pac-10. That might be underselling the job Romar’s done, but the Beavers? Now there’s a surprise.
