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Equestrian coach lets go of the reins

Equestrian coach lets go of reins

By Joshua D. Scroggin

For the first time since it’s become a varsity sport, the Fresno State equestrian program is searching for a new coach.

Seven-year coach, Megan McGee announced her resignation earlier this month.

McGee leaves only a few months after Fresno State placed sixth in the 2003 Varsity Championships—the biggest competition of the year.

And Fresno State associate athletic director Randy Welniak said the possibility of holding Fresno State equestrian events in the new Save Mart Center is being evaluated.

McGee said the Save Mart Center would be an ideal location for a future home to an equestrian NCAA championship. Currently, equestrian is not a championship NCAA sport.

McGee said it was a very tough decision to make because of what she may miss out on, but cited a difference of opinion between the athletic department and the agriculture department as the main reason for her resignation.

“ A very challenging part of my job was to find middle ground,” McGee said. “For me personally, it was a struggle to work with both groups.”

Anne Rodiek, a professor in the ag dept. in charge of the horse units said the college of agriculture owns the land, the horses and the equipment and paid for and built the barns used by the equestrian team.

McGee said her superiors are in athletics not ag, and her frustrations with not being able to expand the program’s facilities was a factor in her decision.

“ This program has outgrown that facility five times over,” Mcgee said.

Rodiek said there are always conversations between the two departments concerning which should pay for certain expenses relating to the equestrian team.

“ There’s frustration with anything that anyone does in a large institution,” Rodiek said.

Rodiek did not elaborate on the possible causes of McGee’s frustrations, but agreed with McGee about the inadequacy of the facilities.

“ [There are] 90 to 100 women trying to use a facility that is quite small,” Rodiek said.

McGee said she would like to stay in coaching at the division 1 level and has targeted about three or four schools as possible programs that could make the jump to D-1, but nothing is for certain.

“ I weighed all of the factors, and we’ll see if I made the right decision or not,” McGee said.

Welniak said a new coach should be named by mid-to-late September.