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August 2004
University of Alaska-Anchorage Head Coach Paul Stoklos took time
out to discuss an unexpected setback and his plans for his team
as he guides them to full Division I status.
Q1: CGF: How is your recovery from open heart surgery going?
When will you be cleared to return to the office full time?
A1: Stoklos: This has by far been the hardest thing I have
had to go through in my life. In fact, I have never been
hurt, injured, seriously sick or anything in my life. I am supposed
to be cleared back in week. I started sneaking back in last
week and will spend a good part of this week in the office trying
to make slow and non stressful progress. I can only do so
much and go so fast. I certainly have a new outlook on life. I
am not sure if I will or even want to be able to get by on four
hours of sleep like in the past. On the other hand, I now
have the plumbing and blood pressure of a 20 year old. I may
be able to go even harder when I am fully recovered.
Q2: CGF: You are normally a quite healthy, fit person so this
must have come as a huge surprise. But, already you are back
at school. How has your fitness level and athletic background helped
your recovery?
A2: Stoklos: I if had not been fit I would have most likely
have had a heart attack. Because I did not I am healing very
fast. I can feel more energy than I have had in two years.
I can not change the fact that I still fatigue very easy.
The first week out of the hospital I was taking hour long
walks. I am starting back jogging today. I still have
about 6 weeks before I can start strength training. It is
hard not to push this. My sternum is wired shut with stainless
steel wire. If I get stupid and push to much it will not heal
and they will have to open me back up to rewire it. This means
starting all over on three months of the same thing. I really
do not want to do this again, ever. Although I have always
been fit and had good dietary habits they will have to be better.
It was genetics that got me here in the first place. As
the doctor put it, "I picked the wrong parents".
Q3: CGF: Besides the time off from the gym, how else have you
been impacted? Have your recruiting efforts have been hampered?
A3:
Stoklos: My recruiting has been pretty wiped out. The
time when I needed to be out visiting athletes I was on my back.
I have a lot offer this year and a long way to go to finding
the three or four athletes we need.
Q4: CGF: Now that you've completed your move to Division I,
how has your approach to recruiting changed?
A4: Stoklos: Next year would be the first year we will have
all athletes recruited under the planned move to Division I. In
this period of time we have directed our efforts to recruiting all
Level 10 athletes and offering full rides. This is a change
from what we did when we were D II. The school had provided
more money for scholarships as well as for recruiting. In
the past we seldom had the funds to bring recruits in for a visit.
Now we will be able to do this. Alaska is an awesome
place and we really want recruits to see it.
Q5: CGF: Adding scholarships and funding is an unusual move
in this day and age. What type of support are you receiving
from your administration?
A5: Stoklos: This move was something I had wanted about 16
years ago when Alaska was in tough financial times. I had
to pretty much forget the dream. My athletic director was the one
who came to me three years ago and asked if we could take the program
to DI. They are supporting this move very much. The first
goal for us is to win our conference. Did you know that only
three gymnastics programs have been added in the last 20 years?
Alaska, Arkansas and Wilson College. The fact that any of
these schools added women's gymnastics is a statement about their
support.
Q6: CGF: How many scholarship are you awarding this season?
What type of qualities are you seeking in your prospective
student-athletes?
A6: Stoklos: We are planning to sign three or four athletes
to full scholarships. We have to recruit like every other
D I program if we are going to take the program anywhere. We
are looking for the strongest level 10 athletes we can interest
in Alaska. We really look for athletes with an adventurous
streak . This is an awesome place for those who love the out
of doors. At our school you can learn sea kayaking and dog
sled mushing. You can become a pilot and learn to climb mountains.
I wish I had come here when I was young.
Q7: CGF: What are your expectations for the team in the coming
season?
A7: Stoklos: The biggest plan for this year would be to continue
to make a name in our conference. At the 2003 conference meet
we were 6th with a 187.30. In 2004 we were 4th with a 193.750.
We only lost one team member from last years line-up. We
added two strong recruits and two talented walk-ons to give us the
largest team in program history. The rest of the team has a year
more of experience and we will have three seniors. We will
have a very experienced team to take in to meets. With the
added depth we are anticipating some very close meet scores.
Q8: CGF: What will be the key focus items for fall training?
A8:
Stoklos: We really believe in getting strong and developing the
endurance we need to get though the competition season. I
would say that we do about 30% conditioning through November. We
have had very few injuries in the past. I think that being
fit before we start pushing tricks and routines has played a huge
role in staying healthy.
Q9: CGF: One of your athletes, Dominique Ingram, won two National
Titles last season at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships.
Is this > indicative of the potential for future success
for the team as they move up to Div I?
A9: Stoklos: I think it shows that we have the desire and ability
to attract top athletes and provide them the training and competition
experience that most of the athletes want. With the recruits
and walk-ons we have I think we do even more this year.>
Q10: CGF: If qualified prospective student-athletes are interested
in finding out more about your program, what should they do?
A10:
Stoklos: First of all check out our school and department
web sites at (editor: URLS added) http://www.uaa.alaska.edu
and http://GoSeawolves.com.
The UAA Recruit Information Page for gymnastics is at this
link.
CGF: Thanks for your time and best wishes for a continued
fast recovery.
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