Also the Athletic Director, Bob Nielson returned to the sidelines after a four-year hiatus last year and engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in college football, winning 15 games and the Division II National Championship.
Coach Insider goes in-depth with UMD’s record-setting leader.
With your team's success – including an undefeated season last fall – how do you keep your players humbled and prepared for each game?
We attempt to stay very goal oriented with the focus on improvement and being a better football team each and every week. We have a challenge board that includes 24 specific performance objectives related to offense, defense, and the kicking game that we evaluate after each game. Our weekly performance is always gauged against these objectives and how much of the "little things" we did right.
As a football coach, how do you encourage your student-athletes to balance academics and athletics?
I know this sounds simple but you have to truly make it a priority. We start by telling all our people up front that they are here for an education and then we as a staff provide the same high-level support in their academic development as we do in their athletic development. We highlight academic successes to our entire team and stress the importance of each individual working to their full potential as a student.
What coach did you most admire growing up and why?
My first mentor in coaching was the late Don Canfield, longtime head coach at Wartburg College and later at St. Olaf College. He gave me my first opportunity in coaching and I learned a tremendous amount from him – both about football and life. I developed three underlying principles through working with him that I have always carried with me.
- 1. Work hard to make difference and never think you are the difference
- 2. Hold tight to your integrity and never let go
- 3. Always make fun a part of it
Do you require your players to volunteer in the community?
Yes, we want all of our student-athletes to be involved and give back to our local community, and we provide a wide range of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. We will respond both to community based requests as well as having various projects that our players assist with on an annual basis.
Fill in the blank. If I weren't coaching football I'd be _________
I used to respond to this question by saying I would probably have gone to law school, but really I would probably be watching football somewhere and wishing I was coaching.
What are three things that you demand from your student-athletes?
I would hesitate to use the word "demand" because I believe in being a coach of expectations. So the three things that are expected from our student-athletes are:
- 1. That they are committed as a student
- 2. That they represent themselves, their teammates, our program, and the University at all times in a positive manner
- 3. That they care about winning as part of a team and take responsibility for their role in that effort
What values and principles are your players learning through football?
I know our players learn the significant value of teamwork and how each piece is vital to a team's success. We also stress the development of leadership skills and the value of leadership throughout the entire group. But most of all, I hope they learn that getting knocked down is never an end but rather a beginning and that there is no limit for what one can achieve if he truly believes in himself and in those around him.
What is your guilty pleasure or junk food?
No question about this one, ice cream.
What's the most electric atmosphere you’ve ever coached in?
While I was coaching at Wartburg College our big rival was Luther College. This was, and I think still is, a great small college rivalry. The atmosphere was always electric with overflowing crowds. I am sure my being a Wartburg College graduate made those games seem even bigger.
What's the most unusual pre-game ritual of any of your players?
During my early years as a head coach, I had a player who would be completely ready to go almost three hours before game time. He would sit in the darkest corner of the locker room, fully padded up, helmet on and, chin strap fastened. What I found particularly odd was he never said a word for the entire three-hour time. It was through that experience I learned every athlete gets prepared in his own way and you have to give him the freedom to do so.
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