For Safeties Coach Kasey Teegardin the Decision to Come Back to IU was a Quick 'U-Turn'
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Kasey Teegardin meets with the media on Sunday afternoon Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle
Written By Lauralys Shallow
Kasey Teegardin was on the road recruiting when he got a call from Tom Allen asking him if he was interested in becoming the safeties coach.
“It was a Friday night,” Teegardin said. “I immediately turned around in my car and started driving back. Before I even said, ‘I’m in’, I made the U-turn.”
Teegardin is in his fifth year with IU, serving as a defensive graduate assistant (2014-16) and the director of on-campus recruiting last year.
He said the familiarity with the program made transitioning into his new role as safeties coach comfortable.
“They know me,” Teegardin said. “They know my personality. They know what I’m about. I am who I am, and I’m not gonna change in a new position.”
Teegardin said the support from former players is huge because the younger guys see that and they relate to that.
Ricky Jones, 2016 team captain and 12th all-time at IU with 111 receptions and 1,814 tweeted his congratulations to Teegardin. Jones said that he knew Teegardin would be a good coach from the first drill he coached as a graduate assistant.
Teegardin said he is optimistic to coach this group of safeties.
“Those guys are hungry,” Teegardin said. “The young guys are buying in, and it’s exciting to watch. The group of recruits we have coming in will be explosive.”
The Palm City, Florida native said he is going to recruit in his home state and has already had several coaches reach out to him asking him to let them know whatever they can do for him to help with recruiting. Teegardin said he is definitely recruiting from the east side of Florida, and he also mentioned Columbus, Ohio.
In his previous roles at IU, he spent a lot of time in the safety room with the huskies. Teegardin said there is a lot of carry over with the coverage checks, different looks, motions, shifts, reactions and footwork technique he would go over with the husky players.
Teegardin said he has an overall passion and love for the game, but coaching is more than just football to him.
“I’m invested in my players as individuals,” Teegardin said. I want them to be able to call on me no matter what, even after they graduate. I want to go to their weddings and celebrate the birth of their first born. That’s important to me.”
Teegardin had his first weekend of practice as a safeties coach this weekend. He said he is excited for this opportunity, and he has bought in to this university and Coach Allen.
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