'Teacher' Qualities an Intentional Characteristic in Allen's New Staff Members

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following quotes were given during a one-on-one interview with Indiana head coach Tom Allen. We want to thank IU Athletics and Coach Allen for taking the time to sit down with Hoosier Huddle to talk about all things IU football. This is the first article of many from this interview.

This past offseason Indiana head coach Tom Allen had to rebuild much of his coaching staff after a firing and several departures. Allen hired new offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as four new position coaches. Hoosier Huddle had a chance to talk with all of them. There was a common theme between all of them. Each coach mentioned they wanted to educate the whole player and not just the on field version.

“I really liked to go after guys that have a progression.” Allen explained.

The Hoosiers made several hires of coaches with NFL and high level of college football experience, but that was not the deciding factor in whether or not they got the job.

“You have to understand how do you teach the game because some guys they're always at the highest level of everything. They don't understand a lot of things about what we got to do here at Indiana to be great.” Allen said. “Which is go find those recruits that that Micah McFadden ,Ty Fryfogle even paid hitter shot those three guys that are all going to be playing in the NFL and, and yet at high school, they wouldn't be projected to go to that level, you know, and so, to find those guys develop those guys”

New defensive coordinator Chad Wilt touched on what makes a good coach. He replied, “Really good coaches are coaches. They're teachers. They're motivators. They're developers. They're instructors.”

Wilt has his master’s degree from the University of Virgina. He explained the mindset he learned there and is bringing to IU.

“I got my master's degree from University of Virginia. They talk about there all the time about being a life-long learner. They don't talk about at Virginia having freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors. By the time you graduate, I'm a senior, I'm finished learning. They talk about first year, second year, third year, fourth year learners. When you graduate, you then become a fifth year learner and a sixth year learner.

That's where I am right now. Now, in the coaching world, I'm now a 22nd year learner and continue to try to grow, learn, develop, push myself and challenge myself. That's the beauty of this for me.”

New defensive line coach Paul Randolph echoed those statements in his introductory press conference.

“Right off the bat, I know (Allen and I) meshed. I knew it immediately. What he believes in, young men, developing them, growing them as men, capturing their heart and their minds. That's what I am about is developing and pouring into the young men that I coach with everything that I have, helping them accomplish their goals and their dreams. That's what coaching is about for me.” Randolph said.

Adam Henry was brought in from the NFL, but has a background in college at McNeese State that Allen touched on as well. Henry will draw on that experience to help IU.

“I played and coached at McNeese State, so most of the time when I got a receiver he never really played receiver. [A lot of times] He was a great 2A or 3A quarterback, running back, played baseball and basketball, and was kind of an athlete, and we really sculpted them into being a receiver.” Henry said. “For me, that is where I got my tenure of experience coaching guys and developing them to play receiver and the technical part of it. For me, having that background and then going to the NFL and having success, for me to come back is just a beautiful thing.”

Allen knows exactly wha he wants as he is continuing to build the program up.

“I want guys to have the whole package.” Allen said. “I really feel like we've attracted guys to come in and fill these spots that really align with the things I care most about and that is catching the hearts and minds of our players and teaching them how to live this life at the highest level and play the game football the right way.”

The Hoosier fans will get their first chance to see Allen’s new staff on the field on September 2nd as IU hosts Illinois in the season opener.