Indiana University Athletics
First And Ten With Mike Yeager
3/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 23, 2006
Mike Yeager, who played for head coach Terry Hoeppner at Miami (Ohio), spent five years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III The College of Wooster and most recently served as IU's defensive graduate assistant in 2005, is in his first year as the Hoosiers' safeties coach.
In addition to working with an Indiana secondary that led the Big Ten Conference in pass defense (202.5 yards per game) last season, Yeager coordinated all film breakdown of opposing offenses. In addition, he was involved with Hoosier recruiting efforts in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
Prior to his arrival in Bloomington, Yeager spent five years as an assistant coach at The College of Wooster. He started as the Scots' wide receivers coach in 2000-01 before moving to special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2002 and defensive coordinator in 2003-04. Yeager was instrumental in helping Wooster to the 2004 North Coast Athletic Conference title (its first outright league crown since 1934) and the NCAA Division III playoffs.
A Cincinnati native, Yeager was a three-year letterwinner at linebacker for Miami (Ohio) from 1995-99. During his career, the RedHawks posted victories at Northwestern (twice), North Carolina and Virginia Tech, and as a senior, he was third on the team with 116 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
A 1999 Miami graduate with a bachelor's degree in sport organization, Yeager is pursuing his master's in sport administration at Indiana.
Yeager recently sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to answer questions about his life inside and outside Indiana football.
At what point did you decide that you wanted to pursue a coaching career?
After my sophomore year at Miami University I decided that I wouldn't be happy if I had to leave the game of football completely, so I decided that I was going to get into coaching.
You have the unique opportunity to begin your full-time Division I coaching career working for the same man that recruited you out of high school. Talk about your initial impressions of Coach Hoeppner when you were a high school senior and how he has developed as a head coach.
The first time that I met Coach Hep I was immediately impressed by the amount of enthusiasm that he had. Every time that we talked on the phone it was if it was the greatest day of his life. Fortunately that enthusiasm has stayed with him as the Head Coach of Indiana University. As a head coach, Coach Hep has the ability to give confidence to the entire team through his enthusiasm.
How has your experience at The College of Wooster helped you at Indiana?
I was fortunate enough to take a job out of college that allowed me to have my own position group from day one. That early experience helps me everyday.
If you could give your current players the best piece of advice from your playing career, what would it be?
Believe in your ability, you have no chance to be successful if you are not confident in your abilities.
Who is the toughest player you faced during your career and why?
Chad Pennington of Marshall (and now the New York Jets), he could beat you with his mind or his physical abilities.
Many people compare Miami to Indiana (the size and appearance of the campus, similarities between Oxford and Bloomington, the fact that Coaches Pont, Mallory and Hoeppner have coached at both places). How do you see that comparison?
The two football programs will forever be linked because of the great Head Coaches that have come from Miami. Both schools are great academic institutions that take great pride in their athletics.
Talk about the transition from playing with Joe Palcic at Miami to now working with him
Joe actually hosted me on my recruiting trip out of high school to Miami University. As a player he helped teach me the game. My senior year Joe came back and was my linebacker coach. Now we are working together on the same staff. Joe has always made every transition that we have encountered easy by allowing me to be my own person.
Person I most admire and why
My father, he taught me to be a good person and instilled a work ethic in me.
Three words that best describe Coach Hoeppner
Enthusiastic, Competitive and Winner
What is the one message you have to potential IU football recruits?
Winning is going to become a habit here at IU.
