IU Football Staff ‘Zooms’ Its Way Ahead

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Images flicked on selected computer screens across Bloomington.

The Zoom meeting had come to order.

Tom Allen flashed into view. Indiana's head football coach was at home, at work and on video, pushing a message he wanted his assistant coaches to pass on to players.

"It's how you use your time," he said. "How is the rhythm of your time, the structure of your time?"

Welcome to a Hoosier staff meeting in the Covid-19 era, where remote is the new norm and staying safe means staying apart.

It does not mean letting down, backing off or forgetting what's most important, even in Big Ten football's brutally competitive world.

"Make sure your guys are doing well in their personal lives outside of football," Allen said. "Try to find creative ways to take care of your guys. Make sure they're in a great spot.

"This is new territory. Some (players) can flourish. Some can crash and burn. Do not assume anything."

Allen heads into his fourth season as IU head coach determined to ensure last season's 8-5 break-through record was the beginning of long-term excellence.

Change was underway well before the pandemic.

It's a different staff from the one that helped guide the Hoosiers against Tennessee in early January's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Nick Sheridan is the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Jason Jones is the new safeties coach. Kevin Peoples is the new defensive line coach. Kevin Wright is the new tight ends coach. Only Sheridan was on last year's staff, as the tight ends coach.

Retaining their positions are Mike Hart (running backs), Grant Heard (receivers), Darren Hiller (offensive line), Brandon Shelby (cornerbacks), Kasey Teegardin (defensive backs) and Kane Wommack (defensive coordinator and linebackers). Teegardin also now coaches special teams.

Like Allen, assistants work from home, making the best of a tough situation. On this day, Wommack worked through a power outage.

Some players are in Bloomington, but most are at their homes (sometimes in difficult circumstances) across the country, taking classes online. None can use IU's facilities.

For multiple reasons, this is far from ideal.

"For some of these guys," Allen said, "being at home makes it worse. They can't be with us.

"Try to maximize every resource. Follow up to make sure we're doing everything we can do to support them.

"When it comes to health and academic support, do what you have to do. We have a lot of flexibility. Let's maximize that."

Allen is a caring coach, a driven coach, a passionate coach. He demands the best because he gives his best, leading outside the football norm of Xs and Os. He focuses on total development, a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual approach designed for life-time benefits long after cheering crowds disappear. He believes you are what you listen to and read, and who you hang out with.

His meeting message was clear -- what you do, "shapes the trajectory of your character" and that "the mind is a portal to your soul."

"We become what we give our attention to. How we use our time right now to create that balance of physical, mental and spiritual.

"That's how you create high performance."

Allen mentioned the previous day's Big Ten coaches' conference call in which, "There were a lot of questions, but not a lot of answers."

Allen added, "The (upcoming) season was the biggest discussion."

Possibilities amid pandemic uncertainty included playing the season without interruption, delaying it or modifying its length.

"No one knows," Allen said. "Medical experts will decide when and how we come back, and what that will look like."

Allen has staff members deliver what he calls Today's Challenge. It can be inspirational or enlightening or both.

For this meeting, Ryan McInerney took center stage. He's the quality control assistant for defense. He showed a four-minute video by author/speaker Joshua Medcalf that emphasized personal growth as well as visualization. A key point -- real improvement is not a "quick fix" and doesn't involve "tips and tricks," but centers on becoming a better person.

Medcalf talked about working with pro golfer Laura Diaz. She wanted specific ways to improve her performance. He took it to a deeper level. She had come to him because of frustration over her play. He told her she was miserable, and if he could help her become less miserable, growing emotionally and spiritually, "Hitting the ball well will take care of itself."

Diaz bought into it, Medcalf said, and one result was that Diaz hit hole-in-ones on consecutive days during an LPGA tournament and had a "cool year."

As far as visualization, Medcalf said, if you spend five minutes of visualizing something positive and the rest of the time focused on "crap" or negatives, "how will five minutes override 23 hours and 55 minutes of negative influences?

"It can't."

One example was a college soccer player who wanted to improve his heading ability, so for 10 minutes a day for two weeks he visualized that. He went on to score on a header twice, including a game-winner against perennial national power Virginia.

"Visualize it every day for longer than five minutes, believe in what you do and see what's going to happen," McInerney summarized.

Allen was familiar with Medcalf, including the motivational book Medcalf co-authored with Jamie Gilbert, "Burn Your Goals: The Counter Culture Approach to Achieving Your Greatest Potential."

Allen offered prayers for those he knew who needed it, and gave his staff the opportunity to do the same. Shelby mentioned Indianapolis police officer Breann Leath, who was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call last week.

Recruiting remained a top priority.

"I'm constantly on the phone with guys," Allen said. "This is a critical time. Do whatever you have to do. It's about being organized and having a great plan."

The Hoosiers aren't afraid to battle elite programs for four- and five-star players. Sometimes that means Allen and nearly every assistant coach getting involved.

"High-level kids are worth the chase," Allen said. "It's all hands on deck. It will take everybody."

The Hoosiers also are taking hard looks at players in the Class of 2022, and beyond.

"Great job everyone," Allen told his staff. "Continue to do a great job. I know you guys are working hard."

Then it was time to hear what was going on with current players.

Head trainer Kyle Blackman reported on those recovering from injuries or surgeries.

Each position coach gave a brief update on his players as far as academics (online classes are underway for the rest of the semester), football, training and any personal issues.

Players were in good academic shape.

Many players had difficulty finding a place for drills because many fields are closed due to Covid-19. Others struggled to get consistent Internet access (crucial for online studies), sometimes because their families lack the resources to provide it.

Wommack said one of his players from Florida had field challenges. In some places, people can only be in a park or on a field if they're moving. That's a problem if drill work keeps you in basically the same place.

Wommack said one player had been kicked off fields twice, "so he's doing stuff in his yard."

Wommack was especially impressed with sophomore linebacker D.K. Bonhomme, a reserve last season who played in 11 games and recorded one tackle. He's shown dedication and understanding beyond his years, Wommack said.

"I'm really excited about where he's at."

Running backs coach Mike Hart said his players are telling him what he wants to hear, but "We'll see when they get back if they've been doing what they say they've been doing."

Several other coaches asked Allen to reach out to some of their players. Allen said he would.

"We need to follow up with (them)," Allen said. "We need everyone to step up and move in a positive direction."

New strength and conditioning coach Aaron Wellman focused on providing the best workout plan for each player depending on available equipment and facilities.

"We continue to help guys structure home programs," he said. "I've had good talks with them throughout the day.

"We tell them to be careful with free time. Stick with the schedule. Don't have today's workout turn into tomorrow's workout."

With the blessing of the compliance department, director of football operations Mike Doig and director of player development and academic enhancement Mike Pechac sent players "hot spots" to access the Internet, as well as provided additional equipment.

Because of the pandemic, IU won't have a team banquet where individual awards are announced and bowl rings presented. Allen also wants to give each player a motivational book.

Plans are being worked out.

"The process continues," Allen said as the meeting ended. "I appreciate all of your work."

Players Mentioned

D.K. Bonhomme

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