Joe Karlgaard comes to Oberlin from the University of Minnesota, where he earned masters and doctoral degrees in educational policy and administration.

He spent three years as an assistant men’s cross country and track and field coach for the Gophers, helping guide the team to the 2003 Big Ten outdoor track and field title. As a member of the track and field and cross country staff at Stanford University from 1998 to 2000, Karlgaard managed all non-coaching aspects of the Cardinal’s combined men and women’s program.

He organized team travel, served as a liaison with Nike, managed media relations, assisted with the direction of home meets, managed the budget, coordinated recruiting and helped organize Stanford’s summer running camps.

Karlgaard also spent two seasons at his alma mater, culminating in the 2000 NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championship for the Cardinal men. Here at Oberlin, Karlgaard serves as the Acting Director of Athletics and Physical Education

MK: How does Oberlin athletics reach out and include students, faculty, staff and community members?
JK: I do not think the athletic department is strictly a home for varsity student-athletes. This department truly offers athletics and physical education opportunities to the entire community by offering several classes, intramural sports such as basketball and softball, club sports like ultimate Frisbee and rugby, weights and cardio, and an exciting atmosphere for the community to watch members of our intercollegiate teams.

MK: To what do you attribute the tremendous success of the field hockey [first place], men’s and women’s cross-country [men finished third and women finished first at Otterbein Invitational] and tennis [sophomore Kimiko Glynn named ITA Rookie of the Year last year]?
JK: The field hockey team has a history of success. They have constantly competed for an NCAC crown and a playoff birth. Coach Ranieri and her teams have established momentum from their success.

The acquisition of Ray Appenheimer to lead the cross country program and splitting the track and field duties from the cross country duties have allowed coaches to devote more time to each student-athlete.

Coach Appenheimer’s profile is pretty accomplished. He won the national title at the 1999 United States Cross Country Championships and followed up with a win in the 3000 meters at the 2000 United States Indoor Track and Field Championships. He qualified for the 2000 United States Olympic Trials in the 5000 meters with a time of 13:28.99. I think he can help to recruit student-athletes when you have a coach of this profile.

MK: Do you think Oberlin thrives in sports that are generally considered more suburban and played in more affluent regions? For example, tennis, swimming, field hockey, lacrosse, cross country and track.
JK: These sports are different than traditional sports because you do not need great depth to drastically improve. Generally, first-year student-athletes can have great impact on their teams and we have been fortunate to recruit student-athletes who have done just that. Also, if you look at our academic peer institutions in DIII and DI you will find this pattern and trend.

MK: Vin Lananna mentioned that he would help with the transitional period after he left. How has he remained involved?
JK: I have a great relationship with Vin. He was my coach at Stanford, and our friendship goes back nearly 13 years. His accomplishments and experience are tremendous and I trust his advice. I speak to him usually once a week. He is still very much committed and interested in the success of Oberlin and Oberlin athletics.

MK: What is the current status of the track and field, lacrosse and soccer complex, the enhancements to the training room,and the new cardio equipment? Can Oberlin students still count on that commitment and do you think it will be honored?
JK: Those projects are very much still on the table and in the plans. We will be attempting to honor each of those projects. These projects were not solely created and adopted by Vin Lananna. They have been acknowledged as important to the department, the school and the Board of Trustees.

MK: Vin Lananna is a big name in sports. Do you think he came to Oberlin knowing he would not see the success of the department come to fruition under his leadership? Do you think he came to Oberlin in order to build his administrative résumé experience in order to compete for a big-time athletic directorship at a major track and field school?
JK: I don’t think it is fair to speculate on his reasons for coming or leaving Oberlin. I think it is obvious he loved Oberlin and still thinks very fondly of Oberlin. Otherwise, he would not continue to be involved and active during the transition.

MK: You look at a place like Denison University and they constantly win the NCAC All-Sports trophy. They are a decent academic school. Oberlin constantly has finished in seventh place for the past five years, regardless of how big-time the athletic director is. How is Denison able to constantly compete for a top finish in the All-Sports trophy and Oberlin struggles to fight its way out of the bottom?
JK: I have only been at Oberlin 16 months. I spent six years at Stanford, and we competed with the intention of being great in everything we set out to do. This past fall, I have seen Oberlin student-athletes compete harder than ever.

For example, the women’s field hockey team digging down deep and pulling out a double-overtime victory over Wooster, or the men’s soccer team competing long and hard against Allegheny. We have to adopt the mentality and intensity to compete and be successful in every field we make a commitment. You can’t change this overnight, but we are making big steps forward.