Wolford still assembling his staff, plans to meet team on Wednesday

By Joe Scalzo

YOUNGSTOWN — New Youngstown State football coach Eric Wolford didn’t want anyone on Jon Heacock’s staff. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want anyone on Heacock’s roster.

“The big thing I want to make sure I get across to these young men is, ‘We’re in this thing together,’” said Wolford, who will meet the team for the first time on Wednesday at 4 p.m. “They’re our guys. I don’t care if you were recruited by so-and-so.

“You’re going to be a part of our team. Eric Wolford’s guy.”

Soon after being hired last month, Wolford interviewed everyone on Heacock’s staff over a two-day period. He opted not to retain anyone.

“I was impressed with a bunch of those guys [on Heacock’s staff] and I thought they had a lot of value,” he said. “But I think at the end of the day, I felt more comfortable with the people I’ve worked with in the past.”

Wolford has only announced one hire, adding former Mooney defensive coordinator Ron Stoops as his secondary coach and the newly-created director of high school relations.

Wolford worked under Stoops’ brother, Mike, while serving as offensive line coach at Arizona. Two of Stoops’ other brothers coach collegiately, with Mark Stoops leaving Arizona last month to become defensive coordinator at Florida State. Bob Stoops, of course, is the head coach at Oklahoma.

“Ronny Stoops, in my opinion, could be coaching anywhere,” Wolford said. “I know his pedigree, I know where he’s from, I know what he’s about.

“He’s going to help us in this area.”

Wolford said he’s in the process of hiring four or five more coaches and hopes to finalize his staff in 10-14 days.

“[Kansas State] coach [Bill] Snyder taught long time ago [to not] make rash decisions,” said Wolford, a 1994 Kansas State graduate. “The more I talk to other coaches in the business, the more they’re assuring me, ‘Wolf, you’re doing it the right way.’

“Your staff is the biggest decision you can make.”

Wolford estimated he’s talked to 50 coaches, or about five per position. He said Stoops won’t be the only former high school coach on staff. He also wants to gain input from high school coaches in the summer through clinics and other events.

“College coaches don’t have all the answers,” he said. “There’s a lot of great high school coaches that can coach in college or coach professional football.

“It’s important for local high school coaches to know our staff isn’t going to put ourselves on a pedestal that we’re better than them. Coaching is coaching. If I was coaching at a high school today, I’d be just as excited as I am at Youngstown.”

Wolford is confident his staff will be on the same page. He wants to make sure his players are, too. He cautioned that there may be some “housecleaning” but said every player will enter spring football with a clean slate.

“We all need to be on the same page,” he said. “I want to make sure the seniors understand that we’re not expecting to go through rebuilding process.

“We’re not going to wait to win.”

scalzo@vindy.com