Football Culture First: Trust, Teams, and Roster Building

A coaching hire can look like a headline, but the real story is what happens behind closed doors: the late-night phone calls, the risk of starting over, and the trust that makes a staff function as one. We’re joined by Arkansas State Red Wolves offensive coordinator Garrett Altman and running backs coach Kenny Hill for an honest, funny, and detailed talk about how their careers took shape and why relationships are the first “scheme” any team needs. 

Garrett walks us through his path from TCU to New Mexico State to Vanderbilt, including the moment he nearly chose dental school over football, and what he learned from building programs with Jerry Kill and Tim Beck. Kenny shares what it’s like transitioning from player to coach, how being candid about mistakes builds credibility with athletes, and why relatability matters in modern college football. Along the way, we unpack leadership, recruiting mindset, quarterback development, and the behind-the-scenes reality of big stages like Heisman weekend with Diego Pavia. 

We also get practical about the job: what changes when you become an offensive coordinator, how to manage time and install plans, how to keep staff ideas flowing without “too many cooks,” and how to simplify the message so players can play fast. If you care about college football culture, building trust, and what it takes to create real momentum at Arkansas State, this one delivers. 

Subscribe for more Red Wolves Saturdays, share this with a coach or player who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. @Arkansasstatemedianetwork.com.

00:00 - The Reality of Coaching

01:45 - Dental School or Football: Altman’s Choice

04:30 - Moving Up: From TCU to Vanderbilt

07:15 - Player to Coach: Kenny Hill’s Journey

10:40 - Heisman Weekend with Diego Pavia

13:50 - Transitioning to Offensive Coordinator

17:10 - Designing the Install Plan

20:30 - Managing a Coaching Staff Room

23:15 - Simplifying the Playbook for Speed

26:40 - Building Trust with Modern Athletes

29:55 - Red Wolves Recruiting Mindset

Transcript

Welcome And Why These Two

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Okay, thank you for tuning in again with Red Wolf Saturdays. We've kind of started this journey. The first session you heard from Chauncey Cobb, who's a current wide receiver for us. And then we kind of ventured into the former player. It's hard to believe Corey Rucker is actually a former player, but we spoke with Corey Rucker and now current member of the Las Vegas Raiders. It's amazing how a few days changes everything, kind of changes your life. And now in the third edition, we're going to do something a little bit different. We're going to introduce everyone to our new offensive coordinator, Coach Altman, Garrett Altman, who comes with us from Vanderbilt. And then our running back coach, Coach Kenny Hill, who obviously was a great quarterback back in his day. And so I think these two have a great story from a personal standpoint, from an individual coaching standpoint, but also from a personal relationship as well. And, you know, that's the thing when you're going through changes and you're bringing people into your program, how can they elevate your program? You know, the different experiences that they have, but everything also is about relationships and trust. And these two definitely have each other's trust. So, Coach Albman, let's start off with you. First of all, first coaches, coaching staff members on the podcast. So welcome. Oh, yeah. Oh yeah, appreciate it. Is this your first podcast?

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Uh this is no, this is my second one. I did one uh a couple weeks back with the local podcast, the Dunis Radio Show. And okay, and they were also Coach Hill, is this yeah, this is pretty much my first podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Okay. So taking a we're just we're just sitting in the staff room and we're just we're just chatting it up. But Coach Aldman, kind of take us through your journey, young

Altman’s Path From TCU

SPEAKER_01 1:50

coach, where you played um and your journey to kind of Arkansas State.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Yeah, so I'm originally from a little small town, Burnham, Texas. Uh bluebell ice cream, that's all we got.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

But what's your favorite flavor?

SPEAKER_02 2:01

Oh, homemade vanilla. Homemade vanilla. Now I say we're close. That and Rocky Road. That and Rocky Road, that's it. All right, so their Rocky Road, what is in there? Like it's chocolate, it's got marshmallows, it's like got some chocolate, dark chocolate chunks in it. So it's big time. Have you had bluebell?

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Oh, if you live in Texas, you've had okay. So what's your favorite two staff? See, he didn't even hesitate.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

No, he don't hesitate, but like look at him. He used to be a bigger kid, now he's slimmed down. So coming from you, that's crazy. He's all right. So I'm from Burnham, Texas. Uh went and played my uh college ball at TCU for uh Gary Patterson, and then two years into my career there, Kenny transferred in, and then we got close from there. And then right after I got done playing, started uh being a GA, um, Gary asked me to GA, and I I was on track to go to dental school, medical school. That's what I wanted to do. Um, he asked me if I really, really wanted to go to more school, and I was like, no, no, like I'd rather take a break and coach football for a year, and then here I am a couple years later.

SPEAKER_01 3:04

What was your family's reaction when you gave up dental school to be a coach?

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Uh they were they were pretty shocked because like my dad had a practice in Brennan, and then um all my like family like had done something in the medical field. So were you planning on maybe eventually moving back there and taking over your dad's practice? Ish, ish. I was between that. I wanted to do more of the oral surgery stuff, like like that stuff interested more. Like I wanted to be on call. How far is Brennan from TCU? About three hours. Okay. About three hours. Uh about three hours, depending on who's driving. But you know, get up north. But so I went straight from there and then uh got hooked up with Jerry Kill and Tim Beck. Um, they were analysts there. And then we went out to New Mexico State for two years. We're there for two years, had some success. Um, got the opportunity to go to Vanderbilt. Um, we were there for two seasons, and then you gave me the opportunity to come here and and it was great.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

And don't don't plan on looking back. Well, let's circle

Kenny Hill’s Player To Coach Story

SPEAKER_01 4:00

back a little bit to talk about that experience. And Kenny, let's talk about you and kind of your journey here as well.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

Yeah, so I'm uh I'm from South Lake, Texas. Um played baseball and football growing up and uh got the opportunity to go to Texas. What'd you play in baseball? Third base. Third base. What was your batting average? I hit like my senior year was over 500. Ask him what happened in Round Rock. Well, no. So we had a tournament in Round Rock, and we had, you know, like in those early season tournaments, like you don't always play the starters and stuff. So we just had to be playing Brenham. We don't play the starters, and I didn't play in the game, and he wants to he hit a home run.

SPEAKER_01 4:39

He said he got my foul ball for me. So that's what you know him at the time. No, we didn't know. Did not know each other at all. But like did you remember his home run? I'm sure he brought it up.

SPEAKER_00 4:48

The only the only thing I I remember going and getting the ball because it was it was a way for me and uh Tyler Alexander, who pitched for the Rangers now. It was a way for us to get out of the dugout and go do something. So like I do remember I let them both know because Tyler, we saw you as well. How many home runs did you have?

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Uh my senior had like 10. How many did you have? One one night.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Yeah, I wasn't that good, man. You know, it was just funny, you know. Then they go into so like when he transferred into TCU, like first thing he brought up. First thing I brought up.

SPEAKER_00 5:17

I was like, Yeah, you remember did you actually remember it? Like, not fully. It took me a while to remember what he was talking about. And then I was like, Oh yeah, I do remember going again.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

You know, like you know, because he big time transfer from AM. I'm like, oh yeah, you're gonna get humble come around here, you know. So it was it was always some some good brotherly life.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Oh, yeah, it was a good time. But no, I went to uh AM out of Texas AM out of high school. Uh played there for I was there for two years, 2013 to 2014, uh, and then transferred to TCU. Who was the head coach at the time? Kevin Sumlin. Okay. Kevin Summan, and then um where did Johnny Manzel fit in this time frame? He was uh his last year was my freshman year. So his last year at Texas A was my freshman year. Uh, and that was, I mean, just a wild experience.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

What was the cool who was in the quarterback room from a player standpoint?

SPEAKER_00 6:07

My freshman year was Johnny Manzel, uh, Matt Jokel, myself, and then we had a uh walk-on quarterback, Connor McQueen, who's one of my best friends too. But uh Matt Davis was in that room and transferred out before my freshman year. Um, and then my sophomore year was me, Kyle Allen, um and Connor McQueen, actually, still in that ring. So uh I was around some good ones because kind of Kyle's still playing in the NFL. So we were around some good ones, but we um got done there, transferred to TCU. Um that was pre-portal. Pre-portal. So you had to sit out a year, but like I kind of lucked out in that situation because I I didn't redshirt at AM. So that year I sat out was my redshirt year. So then like I didn't who was the quarterback at TCU at that time, Trayvon Boykin. So like crazy, I mean crazy for me because arguably the two best quarterbacks in both schools' history, uh, and I followed both of them up. So like big shoes to fill whenever I'd had my time to step in there. But um no, I got done at TCU, um went to a couple rookie mini camps, um, and then went out to the CFL for a little bit. And then Were you on a team in the CFL? Uh Montreal Alouettes. I was there for about a month, got sick one day, and next day, knock on my door. Here's your last check-in, here's your playing ticket. Uh, came back home, didn't really know what I was gonna do, but I hadn't graduated from school yet. Um, so I called Gary Patterson and was like, hey man, like I get to graduate as any way I could come and just help out with the team. And he said, Absolutely. Uh, and that's kind of how I got my start into coaching, and then coached there for GA there, like we all uh G, I was a GA for two years, and then QC for a year, and then got the quarterback coaching job in 2021. Uh when Patterson got fired, went out to Cal for a year, um, been at Incarner Word for the last three. So, and then you he gets this job, I get the call, and it's like, yeah, no-brainer.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Let's go. So, how did y'all's like friendship really start to grow and kind of evolve?

How Their Friendship Took Hold

SPEAKER_02 8:20

Well, I mean, you know, like it was like one of those deals, like, you know, I lived with four different dudes, you know, three old linemen, and weirdly enough, a linebacker that we were from the same area of Texas, and then so Kenny transfers in, and then all of a sudden it was just random, I guess. Want to be a quarterback around the old lineman. And so he would just show up at the house, don't really know anybody, you know, trying to show food. Yeah, yeah. He would show up, and then like we'd have a couch and a different living room or whatever, and and he would just sit there and finally we got tired of him, and he would just hang out in the living room, and everybody else would go do their own thing. And but he was just constantly over at the house. And then then after we got done playing, we shared an office when uh he came out. As G A. As GA. So were you one year together as GAs? No, we're two years together. Two years together as G. We were there for four years as coaches together. Yeah. And uh, so actually it was me, Kenny, uh, Michael Downing, and Charlie Reed. We all shared an office together. We were all seniors together in 17, and GP hired all of us.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

And so we all shared uh like a Q. I don't know if that was the uh smartest. Looking back on it, but he hired all of us.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Okay, so then you venture off and you go to New Mexico State. Okay, New Mexico State. Where all right, so when you split up, yeah, so then where do you go? I went to Cal. You go to Cal.

SPEAKER_00 9:40

So I go to Cal for the year for the one year and then went to Incarnate Word, but it's because it's like like is it like in I would think you know this as well, just coming up like in the coaching ranks, like the guys you GA with, and you I mean you spend so much time like cutting your teeth together, you know what I mean, like trying to build your way up, and all you talk about is oh man, will we make it? Will we make it when we get to get that coaching job when we get to coach together? Like, and when we separated, it was like, all right, one of us is gonna get a job at some point, and we're gonna make sure that we're back together. Like we talked at least once a week for the whole time.

SPEAKER_02 10:17

It was one of those deals, and it was like the defensive guys, and we were all like, one of us gotta make it, one of us gotta make it, and you know, like we got the opportunity, now we gotta go make it.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

Like, you know, your story kind of reminds me when we were at Central Michigan, our two GAs, they're on opposite sides of the ball, offense and defense, was Matt LaFleur and Robert Salah. Yeah, and uh to this day they're still best friends, but they talk about sometimes we'll get on a call together and they talk about having to shovel the driveways. And we used to, you know, we'd get three feet of snow on an official visit, and they'd have to go actually on midfield and shovel the logo for a recruiting visit when we showed the field. Oh, yeah. All right, so you go to New Mexico State, kind of take us through the journey and then your journey going to Nashville.

New Mexico State Turnaround Lessons

SPEAKER_02 11:05

So our first year in New Mexico State, we signed a kid um out of Norman, Oklahoma. His name's uh Gavin Frakes, he's in the quarterback battle at Northwestern now. Um, we signed him and then obviously Diego from New Mexico Military and you know Coach Beck and Coach Kill uh obviously know they went to the semifinals game and watched Coach Pitt because Coach Pitt, our D-line coach, played for Coach Beck. And so they went to watch Pitt play in the JUCO semifinals and stumbled, and and Pitt was like, I'm just telling you, you need to take this quarterback. And so that's how the process started. And, you know, from there we signed him, and we're in a we're in a dilemma. We're one and five our first year in the Mexico State. Um, which like, do you play the young freshman who's got a lot of potential, or do you play the older guy? At the time we only thought had two years left. And um, you know, right, wrong in the world of college. We know that right, wrong, indifferent. We decided to go with Diego, we play in a bowl game and then play bowling green that year and win. And then the next year we play in a conference championship. And then we get the opportunity, Coach Beck comes to me and goes, Hey, uh, Vanderbilt has called me to be their offensive coordinator. You want to go with me? I'm like, Yeah, my wife was six months pregnant at the time, and Coach Kill I knew was in limbo about not doing it and retiring. So I had the opportunity to go, and Coach Lee was great, gave me the opportunity to coach the quarterbacks, and and Coach Beck, you know, just letting me take those reins and he run with it, and it was phenomenal. And then we were able to our first year kind of up and down, but it's the epitome of a of a team that what was your record your first year? Seven and six at the end of it. We started, we beat Virginia Tech, who at the time was preseason ranked high. Then we beat Alcorn State, the FCS team, and then we roll into Georgia State. Um I remember that. Georgia State that year. They went three and nine, and one of their wins was us at Vanderbilt. It was the definition of uh we were smelling the roses. Um then we got back on track, lost the double overtime to Missouri, had a bye week, and then we beat Alabama and then started to roll from there. Um, then played Georgia, a good Georgia Tech team in the bowl game, and then follow up the next year, like it was different. Diego was on a mission. At the time, we didn't know if he was gonna get another year, and he did. And uh sent the whole world into JUCO frenzy and added years for players, and it was got an opportunity for him, and then he's been great, and then just signed with the Baltimore Wreck.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

I think you always tell, you know, the great thing is our lives are a byproduct of our experiences and the wisdom. And you always talk about the outside persona of Pabia, but with you explaining to our players, you know, for the listeners, you know, what makes him who he is when you really look at changing a culture, a mindset of a program, and peer pressure. Um, I don't know if there's ever ever a better story in all of college football than his.

SPEAKER_02 14:07

No, and it's all credit to him. He him being super, super competitive is where it starts. And then him not being afraid to like to say what he wants and what he believes. Like in our minds, like, right, wrong, and indifferent, like I believe we were gonna win the national championship of Vanderbilt, and I believed he could win the Heisman. And running through that, like on the road recruiting, I'm telling coaches that, and it's okay, whatever. Like, you laugh, and people laugh outside, and I get it. And you know, for him, like that was everything, it it was all team success because we always talked about like team success breeding, individual success, and no different than we do here. And it's like when you explain it in the way of like if you go 0 and 12, there's not gonna be many NFL scouts that should show up, but we go 12 and 0, there's gonna be all 32 teams and scouts and all that that are gonna show up, and just understanding that and his belief in himself and confidence, yeah, and then it bled over to the offense and then bled over to the whole team, and then we got the

Vanderbilt Belief And Heisman Week

SPEAKER_02 15:10

whole city behind it, and it was like, well, maybe they can do it, and then once you get any momentum rolling like that, you just set it momentum.

SPEAKER_01 15:17

So, what was it like going through the Heisman Trophy, um, festivities, right? Kind of all that experience, and you really look at it, you know, those opportunities very rarely come around multiple times. They will. Um, but just what was that experience?

SPEAKER_02 15:35

Like it was it was I'll never forget it. So we fly in on a Friday and we actually fly into Baltimore because he's getting the Johnny Unidas award. So we fly into Baltimore, um, we do that Friday night, and then fly actually back to New York Friday night to get ready for the Heisman, and I'll never forget it. Like you show up, and it's from at from Doug Flutie's there to like you name it, everybody's there. And and it was cool because Vanderbilt actually got like the starting alignment there, and they actually made it like a whole experience, and just because it doesn't happen often, and just trying to get everybody there, and it was really cool in credit to Coach Lee and and Candace Lee, just getting awake and all that happened because all the other contestants were like, How did you get all these people in here? Because we take the picture with the Heisman Trophy, and it's all of Diego's family, and uh starting the line and a couple running backs, and it's just like like we had a walk-on quarterback from the year before get in as a media member. Like he dressed up as a media member and started asking questions, but he got in. And it was just cool to see how electric he was. Where did you sit during the ceremony? So I sat up in the in the room, and it was uh Coach Kill, Coach Beck, me, Theo Vaughn, and then a recruiting guy, Kendall Lawson. And so we're all sitting up there and just watching it happen. And were you nervous? I was nervous, and then when they started to open the thing, I was sure he was gonna win. Like at that point, like I was just like, oh, he's winning it. Like I just felt it in my stomach, like he's gonna win it. And then he didn't, and he handled it, you know, at the time, right in the moment. Well, and then obviously after, but he he what he what makes him different is he he puts on this persona, but when it comes to the work, he's in the building at 6:30. He doesn't like he puts on this persona of a party guy or whatever, and he has a good time, but like when it comes time to work, like he's in the building before everybody and he's gone after. And if if the the reps say 40 push-ups, he's gonna do 50. And that's just him, and that's how he felt that he was gonna get and bring others along with him. Correct. And because and in his mind, and and it's what you know we talk about in our program, the Rollingless Will to Win, like people saw that and were like, I can't let him down. And that's how like he ultimately was able to connect and be a leader because when he showed up, he was in a quarterback battle. Like he showed up and wasn't the guy right away. He actually missed spring ball, our first year, because he had to graduate from New Mexico State still. So he had opportunities to go places he actually committed to Nevada because they could get him in right away. And then um, Coach Kill, Coach Beck, myself, Coach Lee, and talking to his mom. And his mom actually was the one that was like, No, you're gonna go play for Coach Kill. And uh, so it was just he took 21 credits that spring to graduate so he could get into Vanderbilt because they they don't just let anybody in. And so he did that and then didn't show up until the summer um full time, and so just working like that's how he became a leader. It wasn't and because you're in a quarterback battle, it's like you can't just always give lip service, you gotta show people what it looks like.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

So, Kenny, coming from your great career, yeah, how have you been able to take the player aspect and everything

Relating To Players And Earning Buy In

SPEAKER_01 18:45

that you've experienced along the way in your journey? Now, how have you really been able to apply that now as a coach?

SPEAKER_00 18:52

I think the biggest thing is like the relatability with the guys. Like I talk about the y'all go out or y'all have a good time. Like, I did all of that, and like there's I think I'm in a place now where like one, like when they look back on my career, they're like, okay, this guy was a pretty good player. Like if what he's saying, like holds weight, you know. Um, but then two, of look, I did all this and I could have been XYZ. Like, maybe I would have made it to the NFL, maybe I would have done whatever. Um, but I kind of messed it up, you know. Uh, and so just being able to be open and honest and tell them exactly what I did. So like hopefully they don't make the same mistakes also that I made, um, just to try to further their career and make them make them better players, make them better people. Um, that's always been something that's huge to me. But like I always feel like like as a coach, like how do you get your players to play for you, you know? Um, and to be able to be open and honest and have like a real relationship with those guys. I like the coaches that I wanted to play for the most, those are the kind of coaches I had. So it's like I want to be that same way for them. So they'll run through a wall for me the same way I wanted to run through a wall for my coaches.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Well, funny story, if y'all weren't at the spring game, we did have a quarterback challenge. And so we're sitting in the staff meeting that morning, and I'm like, hey, how about let's have a staff representative to represent the coaching staff? So everyone says, Coach Hill, Kenny, you gotta do it. And he starts looking at his arms like I don't know if I can do it. They're like, we got to do it. So all he does is he goes out and he wins the quarterback challenge. We're trying to give these guys confidence that they're competing for a starting job. Kenny gets in there and nails just about every target that we had on point, and he ends up taking over the spring game.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

Yeah, I had I told those guys beforehand, I said, just so you know, I'm gonna come in here and I'm gonna whoop y'all in this quarterback competition. I and then I saw the first guys kind of go. I was like, man, they're kind of leaving the door open for me. I might be able to do a little something here. And then sure enough, sure enough. I uh it was like the first couple throws, uh, they were a little shaky coming out the hand. Like I hit the targets, whatever. There's a little shaky, and then I started to feel comfortable. I was like, oh yeah, that's a wrap now. Your confidence.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

Oh like it's real quick. It's that fourth quarter mentality where you're like, okay, we got him in the deep end of the pool now.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

Let's go. It's one of those things like when the lights come on, like you don't forget that moment, you know, like how you were as a player, like you're on like it's center stage. I'm the only person out there, you know, and it's like that. This is you miss that kind of stuff, you know. Like once you get done playing. So, like to be in that environment for as like silly as it is, like a quarterback competition, but like to be back in that environment, like once you start going, it's like, okay, yeah, I'm back.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

Okay, so now we're switching coaching. So the experiences that you

Coordinating An Offense Without Overthinking

SPEAKER_01 21:55

have at Vanderbilt, now you get a great opportunity to come here and be the offensive coordinator. What are the things that you've taken throughout the course of your career that you're applying here to Arkansas State? And then what have you learned in a short period of time about actually coordinating an offense?

SPEAKER_02 22:12

Yeah. So, like some things that like we talk about, like, and you when you called me the first time, we talked about just the alignment, like and by the way, he ruined my Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 22:24

So we're sitting at home and we're going through the negotiations and everything's great. And I fall asleep on Christmas Eve, and his representative sends me a message, and I don't get it till like 1:30 in the morning, and it says, Call me ASAP. So I've been there done that before. So I'm trying to call him. It's Christmas, now it's really Christmas morning, and I can't get a hold of him. So then I get up at six o'clock in the morning, call the representative right away, and he didn't really want anything. He just wanted to say Merry Christmas. So uh we were able to get that wrapped up. Um could actually enjoy Christmas at the end. But it's funny when you're going through different life-altering changes, whether it's you know, a new job, leaving a job, all those things. But sorry to interrupt you, but keep keep the process going with the with the coordinator and the things you've learned along the way.

SPEAKER_02 23:19

Well, like to be real honest with you, it was all like like you called me, and so immediately like I was at uh lunch with the quarterbacks, and uh, we were out to eat, and and uh so you called me and and I I went back home and then we spoke again that night. But I turned on the Arkansas State film, and the thing that stuck out to me was how hard they played, how hard the kids played. Um, because like him, he and I talked like I was in a good situation. Um, but at the same time, like I have goals that I want to achieve. And like this is this was the opportunity that I had been waiting on and talking to my wife, and it was a no-brainer, especially because like the foundation was set. Like we weren't going in there and having to to change a culture at that point, especially not being my first opportunity. So you take that, and then I watched like what Coach Patterson built at TCU and how he built that, and then go with Coach Kill to New Mexico State, where not only did we they not know how to win, they didn't know how to lose. And and like example being like we lose 38 to 3 to Minnesota, and and as coaches, we're all like it's a homecoming for Coach Kill. We got to get this done. And we didn't, obviously, but kids were laughing after a loss and just not knowing how to win, but then also not knowing how to lose and handle that and apply that and watch how he put the program in place to build that. Then we go to Vanderbilt and a combination of what Coach Lee was building, and then enhance with Coach Kill and all of that, and then to give Coach Lee a lot of credit, like he took back over the defense and understanding like to be to listen, because I think that's that's sometimes really hard, especially for me, is to like when you've got something in your mind you want to do, and then actually listening it outside input. So, like taking those experiences and then applying it to what you guys already had culture foundation-wise here, and just trying to just enhance that the best I can. On the flip side of being a coordinator, like the the thing that we talk about that that I had to learn was when you're a position coach, like you you've got this guy to worry about. This plan, you plan development for him, and and that's it. And really, and and the to make the coordinator's vision come to life. Well, now I am the coordinator and planning out months and weeks in advance of like drills, um, development, like what do we actually need to get in? What are we actually good at in spring ball that will help us in the fall? Like, what things do we actually need to get in now versus the what can wait? And so just time management and how to invest your time, and then also like the development of the staff and trusting of the staff and and all that stuff. And I think we've got an unbelievable staff here, and I think they do a great job, and and just having them help me as well, having some older coaches around that also like have been at the highest level, and then and just calling and always constantly like growing, but at the same time not having too many like cooks in the kitchen. Yeah, just like what we what we know and what we believe, and then and know it and execute it and give it to our players in the simplest form so they can go play fast.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

And then Kenny, what's some of the things that maybe you've been able to bring with you that's obviously helped him? You have the trust and the respect of each other, but what are some of the things maybe that you've been able to bring in to kind of help ease in the transition as well?

SPEAKER_00 26:50

I think the biggest thing is just like a sounding board for, you know, like you you make fun of us all the time because I'm always in the office with them. But like, I think that's like a big thing is like having somebody you know no matter what, like you can bounce something off of and like, is that dumb? Like, what are we, you know, like how what is the best way to go about this? Like, how is it the best way to talk to these guys? Like, what should what should that message be today? And it's obviously not just me, it's the other guys on the offensive staff, which um like in this program, like we talk about connection all the time. And it's I think the coolest thing about coming here for me was like the connection from the staff, like not just the players, like just the full program connection. I think is something that's really cool, but um just trying to be there for them and like hey man, like I know my like what I came from is completely different stylistically, like thought process-wise from what you y'all did at Vandy and what you did at New Mexico State. But like, these are some of the things that I think are good that do fit what we do. Um, like how does it fit? Could it work? Like, is it something that we want to do? Just little things like that. Um, but I think too, just being like adaptable. Like I was a quarterback and like I'm coaching running backs, you know. Um, and so trying to call as many people as possible. Like you talk about it all the time, is like trying to be an expert at what we do, right? And it's uh putting that work in and that time in to become an expert in our craft. Um, and I think that's something like you talked about, like we're trying to make the coordinator's vision come to life. So, like, what how can I do my job the best to make his vision come to life? Like, what is it that I can do if it's calling somebody and getting an idea for low red plays, or if it's uh just figuring out different ways to pass pro for a running back or a drill that might help, you know, plus two, like he's coaching quarterbacks. Like, if you need a drill, like I like I'm here for it, you know what I mean? So like demonstration.

SPEAKER_02 28:43

Oh, yeah, oh yeah, no. Well, now that he beat him in the competition, it's great. Like, but isn't it no? But it seriously goes back to like all of that and just bouncing things off and like the Ostaph from like everybody's got ideas, and I don't want anybody, and because this is the way I was taught, like nobody's too small, there's no idea too small. Like, like I want people, it's gotta be like a place where like we can put ideas on the board because ultimately it comes down to like players, formation, then plays. Like who is actually have holding the ball, who is running the ball, what does that actually look like? And make sure our top players are targeted, and and because that's what really matters, and can they execute it?

SPEAKER_00 29:24

That's the cool thing, too. And it like goes back to the connection of like everybody's say matters, right? And everybody's ideas matter, uh, because like we've all been around people where it's like you come up with an idea, it's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, all right, all right. You know, like they're not actually deploying that idea, but like you never you never know, like someone might have an idea, and that's the play that you hit at the end of the game to go win it, you know. So it's like you can't just blow off everybody's idea, like as much.

SPEAKER_01 29:53

But your biggest challenge as a coordinator now is you know, from suggestions to decisions. Oh, yeah. And that's where you know, I think there's a learning curve sometimes, and you're doing a great job with it. But, you know, everyone, you want them to speak up and have that freedom to be able to do it. But at some point in time, it's like, okay, no, I'm gonna trust what I do, my background. Hey, that's a great idea. We'll save it for later, or hey, we're gonna go with this, we'll put everything else on the shelf for right now. Right.

SPEAKER_02 30:23

And then that's like where we talk is like like the buck stops with me now. And like before, like I was always the guy like throwing a bunch of ideas out, like that's fun. You know, like as a position coach, like you're able to do all that. And it's like, you know, and even though I wasn't a lineman, like even at Van Day, like, and I love Coach K and Coach Nady there, and I would throw out a bunch of ideas and be like five man pro, double, you know, whatever, just a bunch of stuff.

SPEAKER_01 30:46

And now that I'm calling it, I'm like, Well, we need to talk to them, they're probably like, Gary, you've changed.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

Oh, I know that's exactly what happened. But now that everybody's like bringing it up, I'm like, uh, yeah, like that's great. But if we get sacked and I'm in second 12 or whatever, and like it's different now, like I'm having to call it, like, and so it's like risk reward management and stuff like that, and how aggressive we want to be, and and all of that stuff, that all dives into like the game and all that, but but just being a sounding board and and taking and morphing what all our ideas are into something that we collectively because we talk about one thing as an offensive staff, is like we may argue and go back and forth, but when we walk out that door together, no matter what, we're on the same page, and building a uniqueness that's only common to us, correct?

SPEAKER_01 31:31

Of course. All right, we're coming full circle here, finishing up here real quickly.

Jonesboro Surprises And Family Life

SPEAKER_01 31:36

Can you give me one pleasant thing or two that coming here sight unseen, Jonesboro, Arkansas, Arkansas State, University of Arkansas State football? What's some of the things which you were like, oh my gosh, I had no idea?

SPEAKER_00 31:52

I mean, you the first thing was like I pulled up on campus, and like you drive through the campus, like for me personally, I'd never I've been to Arkansas twice in my life, and it was both two play at Arkansas. So the only time I've ever been in the state is in Fayetteville. Um, and so like pulling up, not really knowing what to expect as far as like the campus goes and how the facilities are gonna look. And I'm playing that, like, it is mind-blowing. Like, we talk about it all the time of like we probably have some of the best facilities for a G6 program in the country. And so, like walking in, it's like you're looking around, like, oh my goodness, like I tell him all the time, like, I think this place is but like when we were playing at TCU, like this stuff that we have here is better than what it was at TCU, like, and that you would never know that without coming out here. So that part was unbelievable. Then obviously, like, just the people here, like, there's just great people. And obviously, you don't get to know that without coming here and like meeting everybody, but like, even like in my neighborhood, like everybody coming up, introducing themselves, like, oh hey, I work at A State too. Like, I have two professors here at the school that live in my neighborhood that are neighbors to me. Um, and so like it's just it's a real family type environment, which is great for me because I got two little boys. So Gary, how about you?

SPEAKER_02 33:17

It was, you know, I came here on my interview and I didn't really drive around the town. I was blown away with the facilities, to be honest with you. And then like I showed up, and you know, Vandy's in the process of building new facilities. But what was there, like this blows it out of the water, and you know, obviously they're rebuilding and all that, but you know, and then the town, like uh, I get it, I'm old lineman, but like, shoot, there's a ton of restaurants here and a bunch of good food. A lot of food, like you would never know it, like coming like people are saying like Jonesboro, but like you drive through here and it's like really everything you need. And then obviously, like the slow-down life for my family. I know I've got a daughter that's gonna be two in June, but and just where I was from, you know, Brenham is a small town, and you can get a small town feel here, but you can also get it to get you to venture away from vanilla ice cream.

SPEAKER_01 34:06

Although there's nothing wrong with vanilla, you know.

SPEAKER_02 34:09

You know what you know, that's go with it. You know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It's better for you.

SPEAKER_01 34:13

Kenny, I got a question for you. Who

Big Backyard Stories And Competitive Culture

SPEAKER_01 34:15

has the biggest backyard of any of the assistant coaches?

SPEAKER_00 34:20

Coach, I don't know if it's just the assistant coaching. He might have you be now, but uh coach all definitely got the biggest backyard. Yeah. I ain't trying to hear that.

SPEAKER_01 34:27

I ain't trying to hear that. That's been a pretty prominent conversation about so you know, one Sunday, Barbara and I are like, okay, let's drive around and see everyone's houses. So you guys, you know, we talked about maybe doing a uh team uh woofball or softball in his backyard and have some competition.

SPEAKER_00 34:48

Now, yeah, let me let me explain. We could have our whole walkthrough, we could run our whole spring ball practice in his backyard.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

So here's here's the biggest question who cuts the grass?

SPEAKER_02 35:01

Uh right now it ain't been growing enough, so we're gonna have to pay somebody to cut it. Because I don't want to buy, I don't want to buy a lawnmower, to be honest with you. We didn't have a big yard in Nashville, so I didn't have to have it. Um, but no, we're gonna have to pay somebody to cut the grass. Or I'm gonna get one of the players to do it, make somebody on the side.

SPEAKER_01 35:17

Okay. That's probably that's probably the move. That big yard comes with a cost of thing called maintenance, no doubt. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:24

Oh, believe me, we know. But it's cool though, because we got to like for Easter, like the running backs and the quarterbacks all went over to his house, and we had our Easter dinner over there uh with both of our families and stuff. So, like it's it's not to be fair, it's really cool for that.

SPEAKER_02 35:39

The quarterbacks were going through spring ball and they were, you know, at the beginning, and so they got ham, you know, like normal Easter. Uh Kenny butt all the back steak, ribey's. So like, yeah. So the they show up and the quarterbacks are like, Coach all, I'm like, Well, he must like you guys more. I don't know. It just shows it just shows who takes care of their players more.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

I even started to think whatever. You guys always constantly compete against each other.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

Oh yeah, always, oh yeah, always it's in everything, but I think like it wouldn't be as bad if he wasn't an old lineman. So he thinks he's like the dirty, grimy, like work hard kind of guy, and I'm like the pretty boy, and I got everything in it. See, Silverspoon, Southwest. See, yeah, so like I think that's kind of it stems a little bit from that as well.

SPEAKER_02 36:27

Like we'll everything we do, we'll go in the team room, and you know, right before the team gets in there, we'll be playing basketball. Yeah, and it's on every time. Or like we used to like, you know, play baseball in the GA office with like those like hint waters, you know, they were like funky shaped and ball up uh like a like a piece of paper, yeah. Play again, oh yeah. We get the whole office in on it. So yeah, it was it's competitive.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

Yeah, no, always competitive. Well, I think it always starts with the connection of the coaching staff. And I think once the players feel that the coaches are connected, it just builds the culture. And obviously, we're fortunate to have both you guys here. Um, excited, I think, coming in here. And I think you set it the ability to relate to your players. No, um, you have credibility, you could kind of almost anticipate things before they happen. Um, so I think that's really, really important as well. So uh really appreciate you guys being here. Hope everyone has enjoyed the third edition of Saturdays with the Red Wolves and look forward to seeing everyone again here next week. Tune in, wolves up. Thank you. Appreciate you.