Back in the fold

Mike Kolakowski returns to the YSU staff

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Although it’s been nearly three years since Mike Kolakowski roamed the sidelines at Stambaugh Stadium, it seems like just a few days to the veteran coach.

Kolakowski re-joined the Youngstown State football team last month as a defensive assistant coach in charge of safeties. He took over for Michael Zordich, who coached the Penguins through spring practice before leaving to take an assistant coaching position in the NFL.

Kolakowski was the defensive coordinator for the Penguins from 2004 through 2006. He spent the past two seasons as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Central Michigan University.

“It’s been fun and it really feels great to be back,” Kolakowski said.

“Just last week Coach [Dave] Elliot asked me how it felt being back and I told him it was like I went away for a couple off days and then came back and nothing had changed,” he said. “Kind of picked right up where I left off.”

But Kolakowski has noticed the changes in the Penguins.

“They’ve gotten a whole lot better and they’ve really got some good-looking guys,” he added. “They have more skill, especially in the secondary, and they’ve done an overall great job of improving the herd.”

The Penguins’ best season with Kolakowski in charge of the defense was 2006 when they posted a 11-3 record and reached the semifinal round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Six members of his defensive unit, including both cornerbacks earned first-team All-Gateway Conference honors.

He’s had two All-Americans — cornerback Codera Jackson in 2005 and 2006 and Jason Perry in 2006. In 2005, YSU was first in interceptions, first in passing-efficiency defense and second in pass defense in the conference.

Also, the Penguins’ defense was one of the best units in the conference making one of the most impressive turnarounds in league history. The defense ranked first in turnover margin at plus-10, first in scoring defense (16.2 points per game), first in total defense (330.4 yards per game) and fourth in rushing defense. The squad ranked seventh in scoring defense nationally and 12th in turnover margin.

Jackson helped make one the biggest impacts under Kolakowski. Jackson led the Gateway and ranked ninth in the FCS in interceptions per contest. His six picks were the most by a Penguin since 2001.

In 2004, senior strong safety Mike Bracken was named a first-team All-Gateway pick while Perry was an honorable-mention selection.

Kolakowski said that head coach Jon Heacock taking over as defensive coordinator was a great move.

“It’s just great for the football team,” he said. “I don’t know if you noticed or not, but he’s awful excited about this season. You know why? Because he’s a football coach and he loves to coach the game.

“As the head football coach he still has other responsibilities, but that was still a great move for this football team,” he said.

mollica@vindy.com