Indiana University Athletics
New Offensive Line Coach Is ‘Ultimate Pro’
1/25/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Let’s start with non-negotiable. It’s a key to Bob Bostad’s quest to build a difference-making Indiana offensive line.
Bostad, hired as the Hoosiers’ new offensive line coach and run game coordinator, will work closely with offensive coordinator Walt Bell to produce a diverse, up-tempo attack that can succeed against Big Ten defenses. Specifically, that means run better, pass protect better, and generate more explosive plays.
It starts with the non-negotiables, things that must happen to ensure success. It means work hard, train hard, and have high energy -- all the time.
Bostad emphasizes high-intensity practices, efficient practices, practices where lots of guys get lots of reps. Fundamentally sound foot-and-hand work are key elements.
“Systemically, you feel you’re working harder than somebody else,” Bostad says. “Technically, based on the schemes, this is the way it has to be.”
Bostad’s 33-year college coaching career includes a pair of stints running offensive line at Wisconsin, plus time at San Jose State, New Mexico, and Cal State Northridge. He even spent four years coaching linebackers at Wisconsin. He also was an NFL offensive line coach for four years -- two at Tampa Bay, two at Tennessee.
This is exactly the background head coach Tom Allen wanted after a challenging season.
“(Bostad) is the ultimate pro at what he does,” Allen says. “He’s an elite coach, and an awesome person. He’s one of the best in the country. We’re fortunate to have him.”
What’s Bostad’s coaching style? It starts with a running emphasis.
“We have to run the ball,” he says. “Teaching the techniques and systems that work and that are sound. Put in a system from tackle to tackle and be a more effective unit. I have a pretty good track record with that.
“We have a lot to put together to figure out what are we going to be and who we are.”
Bell’s fast-paced attack is different than what Wisconsin ran. Bostad doesn’t see that as a problem.
“I have always been a high-tempo coach on the practice field. We get a lot of reps. We’re efficient. We don’t waste time.
“Whether or not we get in a huddle, I don’t know that it makes much difference.”
Up-tempo or not, Bostad says, the offensive line must process the information and do its job.
“Those are necessary. We have to have those things. We’ll find a way to get it done.”
Elevating offensive-line recruiting is also crucial.
“He’s a great recruiter,” Allen says. “He understands his position and what he needs at the spot.”
IU is bringing in four offensive linemen -- three three-star high school prospects in William Larkins, Tyler Jeffries, and Austin Barrett, plus three-year UMass transfer Max Longman (24 career starts).
“I didn't have to re-recruit them much,” Bostad says. “Their relationship with Coach Allen was strong.”
Recruiting now includes the transfer portal, which has dramatically changed college football. The portal opened Dec. 5 with 1,200 players. That requires an enormous amount of evaluation in a short period of time.
Bostad says he is used to signing a high-school class and watch it grow, so that by the time players were juniors and seniors, they were difference-makers. He’d still like to do that, but recognizes “those days are gone.”
“My ideal plan is get high school guys and have a chance to develop and teach them. Is that possible? I don’t know. It takes time for guys to get to know each other, trust each other. Your job depends on that guy next to you.”
Returning veteran linemen include Matthew Bedford, Mike Katic, Zach Carpenter, Kahlil Benson, and Joshua Sales Jr.
Bostad is starting to learn his players’ strengths and weaknesses. He’ll get more time once recruiting ends and the focus shifts to spring-practice preparation.
“I’m not at the point where I can say, 'It's Day One of spring ball and here is how we are lining up and here is the starting five.'”
For now, Bostad says, it’s, “Who do we have? Who are our players? What do we do well? How are we built and what do we have that allows us to do certain schemes well?”
The ultimate goal is developing a consistent lineup with everyone in tune with what needs to be done.
“Continuity is huge,” Bostad says. “I don’t like to play musical chairs and move guys around a lot and experiment. You’d like to have the answers in place before the first game.”
Why did Bostad join the Hoosiers? It came down to one major reason:
Tom Allen.
“You get to a point where you want to work with high-quality people, and he is absolutely that,” Bostad says. “That was a big part for me. Working for Coach Allen is huge for me.”
