Tom Allen: Back Home Again

By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen had just concluded his comments to appreciative Bloomington Rotarians at their Tuesday luncheon and, when the applause abated, an audible observation arose from the audience:

"There is a lot of Bill Mallory in him."

That dovetailed with something Indiana's first-year head football coach had said during an interview at his office the previous week.

"I've had several people say, between Coach Mallory and Coach Hoeppner, there is a little bit of me in both," Allen said then. "There are similarities in personality with those two guys."

If Indiana fans are pegging Allen somewhere between Bill Mallory and Terry Hoeppner -- well, from an IU football perspective, that's a pretty doggone good place to be.

Mallory won more games than any football coach in Hoosier history. Hoosier native Hoeppner had his home state hopping before cancer tragically intervened.

Allen hails from New Castle, which harbors the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and is most definitely Hoosier hinterland.

He clearly relished bringing his family back to his home state when erstwhile IU head coach Kevin Wilson hired him as Hoosier defensive coordinator for the 2016 campaign.

And then there was Allen's extended family. Allen told the Rotarians that his father was one of 10 kids and his mom was the second-youngest of eight. And there were 32 aunts and uncles.

That had prompted Wilson to quip that bringing the Allen family into the Hoosier fold would automatically increase attendance at Memorial Stadium.

Allen's son, Thomas, has joined his dad's team as a true freshman linebacker. And Allen got into coaching because he saw his own father impact young lives through the profession.

A family man and "relationship guy," Allen is interested in establishing and enhancing communities. He emphasizes accountability, toughness and love.

Hoosier values. He elaborated on those during the interview, excerpts of which follow in the first article of two culled from the interview:

AG: After almost a full decade at Indianapolis Ben Davis, initially under the auspices of the great Dick Dullaghan, and then beyond, you're a Hoosier with extensive connections to the high school coaching community here. How have you tried to make that work for the program so far?

TA: "First of all, it's just connecting with all those coaches and making them feel welcome, feel a part of it. And I think they feel that I'm one of them. One of their guys made it to this position. And I represent them.

"A lot of guys would love to do what I've done, but it's hard to do and things have to go right. Your family has to move a lot. There are a lot of variables that affect careers. But there are a lot of guys who can see themselves in me and are really behind what we're doing here. I'm one of them.

"Another big part is the accessibility of our staff in helping them feel welcome. I get it. I've been in their shoes. I've wanted to go see the college coaches and get ideas and talk ball and watch film and watch practice. And sometimes you don't know how to get that accomplished. But I want to facilitate that here and make them feel welcome.

"And another big part of it is recruiting. Just building those relationships. We don't have a huge state. Our numbers are small. We have a small number of high schools compared to, say, Ohio and Illinois. So we have to make sure the guys we have in this state who are Big Ten players, that we have a shot at getting them here. That comes through relationships and trust. Who do high school coaches and parents want to send their kids to get impacted by? And getting them to help them to help us convince some of those young men to come here and help get done what hasn't happened in a long time.

"Alumni (players and staff) and high school coaches have full access to everything we do here, as far as I'm concerned.

"That's one thing we've done differently (from the Wilson era). Every single coach has an assigned recruiting area in-state. Before, just a few of us did. But I want all nine coaches involved. Every one of them has his own pocket of schools they are responsible for. And they're going out and visiting. Now, they can't get to every single school (in one offseason), but they've made connections and have said, 'I'm your guy.'"

AG: Talk about the importance of the Indianapolis market, not just for personnel in terms of recruiting, but also for drawing media coverage and fan support.

TA: "It's huge. New Castle is my hometown, but Indianapolis was my second home because I spent all those years there and have so many connections there. That's the biggest pocket of coaches that I know the best.

"I went to the Region 7 coaches meeting when I first got hired, and Ben Davis was always part of that region, and so it was just like a homecoming. That is, I think, one of our strengths. Because there is no question that's where we came from.
This whole Indiana, that's where we came from.

"We need to own that city for Indiana football. No question. I totally get that. And there is no doubt my relationships there can be a huge plus.

"Most other schools that come in and recruit just focus on Indianapolis and that's all they recruit. They hit that I-465 loop and can get to about all their schools in a couple of days. It makes a lot of sense. I know when I was at Mississippi (as linebackers and special teams coach), that's the pocket I recruited. Because it was efficient.

"And we've got to get those fans to come down here and watch us play. Winning is the key, but it's also them wanting to support people that they know, people that they trust, people that they connect with. And that's another reason I've spoken all over the state as much as I can, and will continue to do so, because I want them to want to support what we're doing.

"I've had so many people come up to me in so many places and say, 'I've been an Indiana basketball fan all my whole life, but now I'm going to be an Indiana football fan, too, after hearing (you.)' That's a part of getting people to come and watch us play."

AG: "Have you found Bloomington much different from what you knew before?

TA: "I spent most of my time here when I was a high school coach and Coach Hep (Terry Hoeppner) was here, and Coach (Bill) Lynch. So I came here a bunch.

"Everything was all over there (beneath the east stands of Memorial Stadium). The offices, media room, team room, everything. And I didn't come up here to visit or interview on campus when I was hired here. Everything was on the phone and then (Wilson) came to Tampa to see me down there.

"So I literally had never seen this facility till I walked on campus after I got hired, and I was blown away. I couldn't believe the weight room. I mean, I'd seen pictures, but I was blown away. It's impressive. I knew they'd done all this, but hadn't seen it with my own eyes. And I was impressed.

"It just kind of confirmed everything I believed, which was there is an investment here like none I've ever seen. And I was really excited about that … I'll tell you, there isn't anybody who walks in here who isn't impressed by it.

"Just being transparent, I don't know how important football always was in the past, in terms of that. People cared about it, but they didn't necessarily put money into it. It had looked the same for all the years I'd come down here before. They used to host the Indiana All-Star Game. Back in the 1970s, we'd come for the All-Star Game. It looks a lot different now.

"We've moved (the family) a lot and they always talk about different places. But they really enjoy Bloomington. My daughter (Brittney) really enjoys Bloomington South. And I think it goes back to being around a lot of similar families to us, who care about the things we care about. It helps you feel comfortable."

AG: I think Indiana people generally would feel comfortable with your approach. Let's talk about your catchphrase, 'Love Each Other.' I'm no scholar of scripture, but if I had to distill the basic message of most major religions to a single phrase, that might be it. Do you find your faith feeds right into your philosophical approach to football and coaching young men?

TA: "It does. What I do, it's all woven together. By faith, by family, by coaching, by the way I motivate, by what I believe is really important, it's all there together.

"And I also think it's a choice. It's a commitment … I was talking with (IU radio legend) Don Fischer about my past, about the stops along the way, and something tying it together, and I'd say it's my faith. That's a big part of it. And also resonating with the players by just being genuine and real. I think it's a part that people don't always talk about, but it's a cornerstone.

" 'Love each other' is taken from John 15:12 ("My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.") And God says that is the greatest commandment of all … if you care about somebody else, and it's real, then that's powerful. You can count on that, depend on that, if things don't go your way. Because love never fails."

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