5 Questions: Why Stanley Redwine chose to start coaching at Kansas more than 2 decades ago

LAWRENCE — Stanley Redwine didn’t know what to expect last month, ahead of the World Outdoor Championships in Oregon.

Redwine, the men’s head coach at the event for USA Track and Field, understood the goal was to win 30 medals. That aim, he said, is always there. To watch the U.S. athletes be able to exceed that on their home soil, and in the process break a record for medals won at such an event, was amazing for him.

But that wasn’t the only positive news to come Redwine’s way this summer, as it was also revealed in July that he had signed an extension with the University of Kansas. The contract keeps Redwine in his role as the Jayhawks’ head coach for cross country and track and field through the 2025 track and field season. Redwine has been at Kansas since he left Tulsa to take on the role back in 2000.

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“I’m excited,” Redwine said recently. “(Athletic director) Travis (Goff) is a great guy, and I think, hopefully, he sees value in what we’re doing. And to be able to get the extension speaks volumes for me. I just think I’m excited to represent KU in a positive way, and hopefully we’ll continue to do that. And my family is super excited. They love the community, and so, that’s just part of it … Hopefully it’s a win-win deal for everyone.”

Redwine’s initial decision to come to Kansas has helped lead to numerous instances of Big 12 Conference and national success for the athletes he’s coached, not to mention recognition for himself. Before Redwine embarks on the upcoming cross country season, he took some time in early August to speak with The Topeka Capital-Journal about why he decided to join the Jayhawks more than two decades ago.

Question: Going back to your time as the head coach at Tulsa, it’s 2000, the Kansas job hasn’t opened up yet. But how much did you know about the Kansas program? Was it one you had your eye on in any way, shape or form?

Answer: “I mean, the tradition of Kansas track and field was always there. While an athlete at Arkansas, Kansas Relays was huge. We came to the meet, and it was something that I enjoyed competing at. Then, as a coach at Arkansas, I got — we, under coach (John) McDonnell's leadership, had the best program in the nation. And so, I was aware of the tradition of Kansas track and field, but also at Arkansas we established a great tradition of winning at the University of Arkansas.

“And then, in having the opportunity to be a head coach at Tulsa, it was a step down in conferences. Arkansas was a big conference, big-meet atmosphere, everything … Going into Tulsa was just an opportunity to be a head coach. It was a smaller conference. And then the opportunity to come to Kansas at a bigger conference is what I was more accustomed to. It was there and I was excited to apply and get the position.”

Q: So, when that Kansas job first opens, when did you first realize that you had a chance at this? That this could be your next destination?

A: “Well, there was an interview process. Actually, Paul Buskirk was the sport administrator at the time. And he interviewed me and, I guess, he liked me. And I came up for a personal interview, and the committee liked me. So, I think it was more about answering their questions and the work ethic that I showed in the interviews. I can’t tell you exactly why they did it, I’m just glad that they did it.

“So, it was kind of one of those things. But it was an exciting time. And the tradition, that was one of the things. KU always had a tradition in track and field that I wanted to be a part of.”

Q: So, when you first signed that initial contract back in 2000 … is that what’s going through your mind? That tradition?

A: “What was going through my mind? Let’s restore it. Let’s get it back to where it was, and do what we can do. And that was the only thing on my mind. It wasn’t about any longevity or anything else like that. It was about — let’s make Kansas great now, and whatever we needed to do let’s do it.

"And so, I was excited that the staff that was at Tulsa decided to come with me. And so, there was a familiarity there. And so, that made the transition a little bit easier. And, that’s what we did at a different level.”

Q: What do you feel like has kept you (at Kansas) over those years?

A: “KU is a great place. It just — the environment, the people you work with … Lawrence is a great place to raise a family. So, all of the above. I think those are the things that kept me here. But the athletes, the student-athletes, is the one that really keeps you here. I know that there has been other opportunities, maybe, things like that, but I like the student-athletes here. And that’s what I want to do, make it great for KU.”

Q: Coaching out this contract would take you to be the longest-tenured head coach in program history, take you past Bob Timmons’ 23 years … I know longevity wasn’t a big thing for you, but when you hear that what goes through your mind?

A: “I don’t think about it. The only thing I think about is making the team better today. And so, that’s — I think it’s an honor. But my main focus is the athletes, and not myself. So, my focus is for what we need to do to make the athletes perform better, to make the team better. And it’s not about me.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 5Qs: Why coach Stanley Redwine joined Kansas more than 2 decades ago