Friday, March 19, 2010
By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
Youngstown
Since 1995, when Eric Wolford started his full-time coaching career as an offensive line coach at Emporia State, he’s always entered spring practice focused on a specific position.
That’s what made Wednesday so different.
“This was the first time I didn’t necessarily have a position to coach and I’m not chasing guys around,” said Wolford, who spent his first practice as YSU’s head coach doing more observing than coaching. “I really want to let those guys [his assistants] coach.
“Once in awhile you’ll hear me blurt something out just because I can’t help myself.”
This is Wolford’s eighth coaching stop — ninth if you count a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at Kansas State — and he’s patterned his coaching style after those he liked, and some that he didn’t.
“I’ve had some unique experiences being with a lot of rookie coaches,” he said. “I think sometimes as a head coach you can get too involved in maybe certain positions or become a little bit overbearing and maybe you lose some confidence in your assistant coaches and they lose confidence in their abilities.
“You’ve got to let them coach.”
After being hired in December, Wolford took his time assembling his staff, wanting to make sure he had the right mix of personalities and ability. The result was an experienced group with a mostly Division I background. The staff also includes three former NFL players (Tom Sims, Andre Coleman, Rollen Smith) and former Miami (Ohio) head coach in Shane Montgomery, who is most known for being Ben Roethlisberger’s offensive coordinator.
“I think the kids are excited,” Wolford said. “The last thing I said to them before we left the team meetings [Wednesday] was, ‘Guys, just let us coach you. Just let us coach the heck out of you.’
“We’re going to get after them and we’re going to coach them hard. You can’t take it personal. We’re not going to accept anything less than their best effort.”
While the staff plans to be tough on the practice field, they also plan to show a lighter side with the players, Wolford said.
“I think it’s important to have a relationship with your players where off the field they realize you’re a normal human being,” he said. “I want them to realize I do have a personality and I can joke around with them.
“It’s important to have that balance. I don’t want it to always be just an in-your-face environment.”
Senior offensive lineman Eric Rodemoyer said the team has bought into the new staff.
“They’re coaching their butts off out there and us players realize that,” he said. “That makes you that much more willing to get better and be coachable.”