The ProRodeo Sports News - March 6, 2020

Photo courtesy Logan Corbett New Mexico State rodeo coach Logan Corbett (sixth from left) had pleny of support from his student-athletes to compete in ProRodeo full time. Corbett hitting rodeo trail full time for first time Saddle Up

BY MATT NABER A t an age when a typical bareback rider might be considering competition. “At the ripe age of 31, I will be officially rodeoing full time for the first time in my life,” Corbett said. Corbett won a few thousand dollars each year from 2010-14 before taking a hiatus in 2015-16. He returned in 2017 to finish third in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings for bareback riding with $34,913. Corbett peaked at 25th in the 2018 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $44,402, all while balancing ProRodeo with his coaching career. With their third child due in August, Corbett and his wife, Lacey, are moving to southern Illinois to be closer to her parents while he competes in the Great Lakes Circuit to build up his qualifications for larger rodeos. “I think it’s a smart move,” said Bo Tyler Vocu, a freshman roughstock cowboy at NewMexico State and a permit holder. “It’s everyone’s dream to make the NFR, and he rides good enough to make it. He just needs to put himself out there and give it a shot. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s doing it.” SURROUNDED BY TALENT Corbett was inspired by watching friends such as three-time world champion bareback rider TimO’Connell achieve great things in ProRodeo. “He was always half in and never fully committed to being a full-time rodeo athlete since he was in charge of 60 young men and women at the college where it was a job with a guaranteed paycheck,” O’Connell said. “It’s a big leap to go from that to ‘this is how I will provide for my wife and kids.’ But I believe in Logan and what he is doing to prepare himself for the task at hand. When you rely solely on rodeo it’s scary, it’s a leap of faith, and he is doing what he needs to now to prepare for it.” Rather than diving in, Corbett toed the waters first. “I just have to try and don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering hanging it up, Logan Corbett is proving to be anything but typical. Corbett is quitting his job as the rodeo head coach at NewMexico State University to pursue full-time ProRodeo

what-if,” Corbett said. “You’ve got to risk it for the biscuit.” This season is a building season for Corbett to qualify for the bigger rodeos in 2021. “His plan of attack is the right plan of attack for 2021,” said O’Connell, who won world titles in 2016-18 and who led the 2020 standings as of March 2. “He’s re-teaching himself to ride bareback in a more aggressive manner than he used to so he can win more when the time comes, and he’s taking a year to do it. Logan is going to the extreme now to change how he rides to be a better competitor, that says a lot about what he’s willing to do.” PRACTICING WHAT HE PREACHES In addition to simply enjoying the sport, Corbett has a list of reasons for shifting gears: others would love to have the opportunity to compete full time but aren’t able to; it’s an opportunity to win a lot of money; and he’ll be able to use his ProRodeo experience as a way to help recruit students for college rodeo. “He’s been really big on having a winning mindset with the whole team here, just getting into the right mindset to compete at that level and have success,” Vocu said. Although he’s leaving his coaching position at NMSU on May 1, Corbett isn’t throwing in the towel on coaching. “I have no doubt I’ll end up back in coaching,” he said. “I’m passionate about helping people and trying to help them be the best version of themselves, as cliché as that sounds. At the end of the day, the buckles and saddles and jackets are nice, but I guarantee my wife will have that NFR money spent. What you leave behind, your legacy and information you’re able to pass on, is the only thing that really lasts. The only thing worth giving your life to is making an impact.” Corbett is leaving big boots to fill as the NewMexico State coach. He hopes to find his replacement soon so that he can help in the transition. “The administration here is really supportive of the team,” Corbett said. “They’re wanting to open up the position in mid-March to take applicants for the job. Typically, they look for someone with a bachelor’s degree. All you need is someone who is passionate about college rodeo and student-athletes. If you get someone who is passionate about college rodeo and student-athletes, the rest will take care of itself.”

ProRodeo Sports News 3/6/2020

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