Tuesday, January 19, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Kansas javelin coach aims for success
Assistant's career basis for lofty standards, goals
By Torrie Jones Kansan sportswriter
As another season gets out of the blocks for the Kansas track team a new set of goals and expectations arise. For assistant coach Lorri LaRowe, the pressures of lofty goals are nothing new.
LaRowe, in her third year as a Jayhawk coach, has had an illustrious track career, on the field of play as well as on the sidelines.
"She knows a lot about the events and has tons of connections in the throwing area," thrower Darin Schmitz said. "Lorri's experience not only benefits our athletes from a physical standpoint but mentally as well."
LaRowe, a native of Windsor, Ontario, competed in the javelin for Western Kentucky from 1978-1981, then took her talents to the University of Texas at Austin. Being in the highly competitive
Southwestern Athletic Conference gave LaRowe the opportunity to hone her javelin skills. During her first three-year tenure at Texas, LaRowe was a three-time AllAmerican, and in 1982 she won the NCAA national championship in javelin.
"Winning the NCAA championship is an accomplishment I'll cherish for a lifetime," LaRowe said.
After LaRowe received her first degree in 1981, she remained at Texas until 1989 to work on her master's degree and serve as the track team's strength coach.
After a successful collegiate career, LaRowe competed on the national level in Canada. While on the Canadian National team, LaRowe topped many of her personal bests in javelin and weight lifting.
LaRowe received numerous accolades while competing for the Canadian National Team from 1988-1991, including the 1988 javelin title and the 1990 weight lifting title, but her career highlight took place in 1989 at the Jeux de la Francophonie games.
every four years, are an opportunity for athletic competition and for sharing and learning about different cultures. Team selection is based on athletic prowess and selection criteria established by the Canadian national sports organizations.
The Francophonie Games, held
While at the Francophonie, LaRowe won another javelin title, this time representing her native land and competing against the best from many other countries, making her victory all the more sweet.
"Winning the NCAA championship was pretty awesome," LaRowe said. "But winning for my country in a foreign land was an unbelievable experience that I'll never forget. Being on the winner's podium while they're playing your national anthem and raising the maple leaf is an indescribable feeling."
While competing in Canada the honors continued to roll in. LaRowe was inducted into the Western Kentucky Hall of Fame and placed on the All-Time All-Ohio Valley Conference Track team.
Since 1991, LaRowe has coached at Southwest Texas and Penn State, but since 1997 she has called Lawrence home.
"I really enjoy living in Lawrence, from the instant I started at KU I've felt right at home," said LaRowe.
LaRowe's intensity and commitment to the sport and her athletes has given her an excellent rapport with the members of the track team.
"She gets fired up about her athletes and cares about the sport a lot," said Chris Dunback, throuwer. "Lori has a very positive attitude but she still pushes us pretty hard."
Though Lorri LaRowe has a track resume that most athletes and coaches marvel at, there is still more goals and accomplishments on the horizon for her.
"I want to continue to recruit the best student-athletes in the country and bring KU athletes that have a passion for the sport," LaRowe said.
Women's soccer coach brings experience, ambition
Bv Chris Wristen
Kansan sportswriter
After a nearly two-month search for a soccer coach following the resignation of coach Dan Magner, the Kansas women found their man in former South Alabama coach Mark Francis.
"He is very enthusiastic, and he gets down to business," four-time team captain and selection committee member Jackie Dowell, senior, said. "He's ready to get in and get his hands dirty."
Francis was hired on Dec. 22, bringing with him 14 years of coaching experience, as well as a 10-year career in professional soccer. He also served as a staff coach with the Olympic Development Program for eight years.
At Kansas, Francis is taking over a soccer team that is coming
off of a 5-13-1 last-place finish in the Big 12. This is just the situation he wanted.
"I look at it as a new start," Francis said. "I know what it takes to get something going from scratch — a lot of hard work."
Francis has shown that he knows how to turn a program
around. At S ou t h Alabama, he inherited a squad that went 2-17 his first year. After a year of work with the
team, they set an NCAA Division I women's soccer record for the biggest one year turnaround by posting an 18-3 mark. His team went on to win back-to-back Big South Conference titles during
the past two years.
The real question lingering is whether Francis can have similar success here at Kansas.
"No doubt," Francis said. "I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think I could."
It may take some time, though. The upcoming spring season will provide a transition period that lets Francis to implement his system and allow for the adjustments to occur.
"Any time you have a coaching change it's difficult on the players and coaches," Francis said. "By the end of the spring, I'd like to have a good handle on every single player and decide what system we'll use."
Before his team can even take the field, Francis will first have to win the approval of his team, which Dowell believes will not be
"He's genuine," Dowell said. "I think that goes a long way. He's honest, personable, and easy to get along with."
a problem.
Francis said he felt positive about what was to come and believed that with the addition of another recruiting class or two, Kansas will become a conference power.
"I want us to be a recognized force in the Big 12." Francis said. "Realistically, in two recruiting classes we should be able to make the Top 25."
Bringing with him an enthusiastic attitude, Francis promises his team will be competitive.
"You're going to see an exciting brand of soccer if you come watch us play," he said. "Just give us an opportunity to show you what we can do."
Schottenheimer resigns, ends Chiefs' 'golden era'
By The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Marty Schottenheimer left the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 11. No one in the Chiefs' organization said they wanted him to go, and Schottenheimer himself expressed some doubts.
Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt said he twice asked Schottenheimer to reconsider. Hunt, who founded the Chiefs, said "a golden era" of his franchise had come to an end.
President and general manager Carl Peterson called for an ovation for the coach, shrugging off suggestions that he and Schottenheimer did not get along.
"It has truly been a marvelous, wonderful ride," Peterson said.
Schottenheimer, who as recently as two weeks ago had reassured his staff that he would be back, said he reached the decision after two weeks of discussion with his wife, an evaluation he said the couple went through together after each season.
"The volumes of reasons to stay may have exceeded the reasons to leave but we felt it was time after these many years to step aside and maybe get a different perspective," the 55-year-old Schottenheimer said.
"There have been rumors during this last season regarding my marriage and my personal life," Schottenheimer said. "These rumors are absolutely false and untrue."
He went out of his way to dispel rumors that an affair had left his marriage in trouble.
The disasters of the past season, which ultimately called into question both Schotten-helper's judgment and his ability to control his players, were not enough reason to leave, he said.
In fact, he said, going 7-9 for his first losing season as a coach was more of a reason to
stav than leave.
Schottenheimer seemed unsure about what the future held for him, other than playing golf, traveling with his wife and spending more time flying.
If Schottenheimer never returns to football, he will forever carry the legacy of having been the best regular-season coach who could never win it all.
Seven times his Chiefs were in the playoffs, but were just 2-5 in opening playoff games. They made it to the AFC title game only in 1993, the first of Joe Montana's two years in Kansas City.
There were two stunning losses to the Denver Broncos in AFC title games while he was at Cleveland, and then the brutally disappointing 10-7 loss to wild card Indianapolis after a 13-3 regular season in 1995.
Schottenheimer's 1997 team was also 13-3, but lost at home to John Elway and the Broncos again.
He leaves behind a happy owner who watched Peterson and Schottenheimer turn around a franchise that by all measures was in the pits.
Arrowhead Stadium now is a consistent sell-out and a Chiefs ticket now is considered a prize, not a throwaway.
Peterson said the search for a successor was under way, but gave no hint of possible candidates or how quickly he would move to hire a new coach.
Schottenheimer said he felt confident that despite the disappointments of the past season, he was leaving the team in good shape with a nucleus of good players.
"As I said, timing is everything." Schottenheimer said. "I think the right time for Marty Schottenheimer is now."
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