108. Chris Bucknam: Following a Legend

The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

Sport & Story

Arkansas, Hogs, Sports, Razorbacks

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2021

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There is one thing no coach ever wants to do: follow a legend. The pressure to succeed is unmatched, and many coaches aren’t able to escape the shadow left behind. But that’s exactly what Chris Bucknam did. The Arkansas men’s track & field coach did what most would believe to be impossible—he took over for the most successful coach in NCAA history and was able to find success. Why did he want the job? How was he able to carry on and build on the success of John McDonnell? Chris Bucknam opens up about what it's like to follow a legend.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I really didn't set in until I came down for the press conference.
0:05.0	I feel incredibly humbled to be standing up here and...
0:10.0	Because it was intense and it was Nate Allen sitting in the front
0:14.0	and the first question was,
0:16.0	hey, how are you going to be, you know, can you win the
0:18.0	conference, can you win the SEC conference this year?
0:20.0	The pressure of your first conference cross country meet, they'll be shooting for the
0:25.3	35th straight title.
0:27.3	I mean, I realize, oh, what did I just do? Welcome into the Hog Pot. I'm Bo Mattingly and this episode is made possible by our friends at First Security Bank,
0:47.0	Sarazan Resort, Lindsay Golf, and Abilita Maria.
0:57.9	They say never follow a legend, but Arkansas men's track and field coach Chris Bucknam didn't just follow a legend. He followed the
1:01.8	winningest head coach at NCAA history in
1:04.6	John McDonnell. The man who has led the University of Arkansas to 42 national
1:10.4	championships and 83 conference championships.
1:14.0	I'm a brave guy, on I.
1:21.0	It's a feat not many would be up for. And from early on was
1:26.0	questioning his decision. President Clinton is saying coach Mack, I can't tell you
1:31.2	how much we appreciate all you've done for the state of
1:33.4	Arkansas the whole bit and I looked at my wife Cindy and she looked at me she
1:37.6	goes I don't think they filled that job in Northern Iowa yet you might want to
1:41.0	call them back. Overlooking any initial doubt, Bucknam took on the challenge with one goal.
1:47.0	Keep McDonald's philosophy intact, competing at the highest level in all three seasons of the sport.
	...

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