First, can you let us know what you are doing now and how you got started in this new coaching venture?
The opportunity came up when Herman Edwards reached out to me – we talked about what I wanted to do in the future. I did some TV work and enjoyed it and committed myself to that, but no one offered my something substantial for the rest of this year.
So, when Herm offered me the chance to help work with the coaches at Arizona State, it was a very exciting opportunity for me. Herm and I worked together before and we have a good relationship..
What is the major difference for you in coaching at the college and professional levels?
I haven’t coached at the college level since back when I was at Pitt in ’90 and ’91. At that time, everyone expected to go to the NFL, but no one really talked about it. We didn’t talk about it as openly as we do today. It’s more acceptable – more open to discuss it now – so it’s different. That is a change for me. The model here still is to first promote the opportunity to get a degree, then if you’re good enough, then you can get a chance at the NFL too. That’s the setup here, but I know it’s not the same everywhere.
I talked to guys like Tim Lewis, Dick LeBeau and Willie Anderson to name a few who talked about your ability to relate so well to players. What made you so good in that department?
I appreciate those kind words from those guys. I learned a great about coaching and how to deal with players at a professional level from Dick LeBeau, Dom Capers, and Bill Cowher. My time spent in Pittsburgh helped me a great deal – Dick especially was a great role model for me as a coach.
How hard is it to divine that line between being good at relating to players but still holding that respect and discipline?
The one thing to remember about players at this level is that they all want to be the best. And the best players strive to be coached up. As a coach – especially a new coach – you can’t lose sight of that. You have to understand that the players really want to be coached. That means they expect you to be great at preparation so you don’t disappoint them. This is their career – their livelihood. You have to be prepared – they’ll know when you aren’t and you’ll let them down. That’s when you lose their trust and respect.
You started off as a linebackers coach with Pittsburgh in 1990 – how did that opportunity come about and why did you take it?
I actually played against Bill Cowher in high school and knew him well. I interned with the Chiefs when he was coaching there under Marty Schottenheimer. When the opening for the linebackers coaching job opened up, Bill called me and it was an easy decision for me.
When you look back – what is the thing you feel most proud about in terms of your impact there?
Hopefully, like I was saying earlier, it was getting guys prepared day in and day out. That’s what you hope to do as a coach. I enjoyed all of the players I worked with there. I was fortunate to have a great group there, My first years there I had Hinkle, Nickerson, Little, Kirkland….it was a tremendous group. And Jerry Olsavsky who is coaching there now, and of course Greg Lloyd!
I understand Lloyd gave you a hard time early on?
Ha yes. The first time Greg finally introduced me as his coach I felt 12 feet tall. Greg wanted to be great – like a lot of the guys. He wanted to know why things were the way they were about everything – why we did what we did. He just wanted to be right all of the time. I have great memories of working with him and all of the players there.
You move on to two rival division teams. How strange was it looking across the sidelines at the Steelers?
That’s what coaching is. I received paychecks from every team in that division at some point, .You do what you have to do. I was fortunate though to coach for a family owned organization like the Steelers and for the Rooneys. I grew up in Pittsburgh so that was a dream for me.
As for rivalries – what about those AFC North rivalries create such physicality and sometimes anger? Was that always there from your perspective and the game has just gotten less tolerant?
Well, they were always competitive and physical. I heard a lot of stories about Greene and Lambert when I was there, and I remember the experiences I had going to Cleveland stadium as a kid. I don’t think the rivalries and game has changed that much. I just think the way it’s now portrayed on TV is very different.
How do you keep it from going overboard as a coach?
It’s a physical game with physical people. It’s not the WWE and the players should know that. They need to understand there are consequences for when they break the rules and as coaches we have to keep reminding them of that.
Lastly, you came up through the NFL monitory coaching internship program yet it took too long for you to find a head coaching position . Do you think the league is doing enough there?
I think the thing is you have to try to bring guys to the forefront that are the prepared candidates. That’s the challenge. How to help them with that process – to make it an ongoing process. Not just about a person here or there. But it’s never a one-line solution. Good coaches come in every shape and color, as a way to say it. They should be hired on their merit. That’s what I imagine everyone is interested in seeing.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
