Article

Jamrog: New defensive coordinator is 'high energy, very vocal'

Gordon in charge

April 7th, 2005
By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO Before each play, Ken Gordon went through a series of hand and arm signals, relaying the formation and assignments to the defensive players.

"Run to the ball now, run to the ball," he said.

As the play unfolded, Gordon saw good alignment and technique, but the effort broke down.

"Tag off (on the runner), tag off (on the runner)," he screams at a couple of the players.

It's a new role for Gordon as the defensive coordinator at Minnesota State, a move that has forced him to adapt his coaching style.

"Instead of being in charge of nine linebackers, now I've got 40 players I have to watch," Gordon said following Wednesday's practice, the first of the spring period. "I have to make sure every one of them is doing what they need to do."

Gordon, 32, was named the defensive coordinator last month, the fourth defensive coordinator for the program in the last year. Carl Pelini was hired last summer and resigned in the offseason to take a job at Ohio University. Mike Ekeler was hired from Oklahoma as Pelini's replacement, but Ekeler resigned unexpectedly in late February to move to Louisiana State.

So coach Jeff Jamrog replaced Ekeler with Gordon, citing his assistant's enthusiasm, knowledge and, especially, loyalty. Gordon's promotion has allowed the defense to have some stability amidst all of the changes.

"He's still high energy," Jamrog said. "But now he's very vocal. You hear him on every play, where you might have only heard him on one of every three plays or so last year.

"Now, he's correcting stuff on every play."

Gordon, who coached the linebackers last season, played and coached at Northwest Missouri State, a perennial Division II playoff team. His energy on the practice field is contagious, a trait that the players like.

"Coach Gordon was a great assistant coach, and he's doing a great job (as coordinator) so far," senior safety Kevin Adams said. "He's a little more aggressive (this year), he's going to get his point across."

Gordon said he was happy with the first practice, which always yields the most mistakes. He said he'll watch film with the players and do the corrections before the next practice on Friday.

"I'm an up-tempo guy, and I want to make sure everyone is giving 100 percent all the time on the practice field," Gordon said. "I'm the one who's accountable to coach Jamrog, and I want to make sure we do everything we can for him."

The defense probably had its worst game in the opener last season, allowing 42 points and 460 yards in a home loss to Bemidji State. But with each week, the defense showed improvement.

Gordon said the defense is already well ahead of last season, knowing assignments and alignments.

"I'm happy with what I saw today," Gordon said. "Everybody trusts each other. We have a chance to have a great defense here."

As practice wrapped up, Gordon walked over to the defensive huddle, making sure to slap a few backs. After a couple hours of pointing out mistakes, he wanted to make sure the players knew he was still on their side.

"I wanted to make sure everybody knew they were doing a good job," he said. "They know my style, the players feed off that. If they didn't, I'd change.

"You have to give them some love. They're my kids now."

 

John Cross

New defensive coordinator Ken Gordon directed his squad Wednesday during Minnesota State's first practice of the spring period.

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Notes

Spring practice continues through April 30 when the team will holds an intrasquad scrimmage at Blakeslee Stadium. Sixty-seven players participated in Wednesday's practice, almost double the number on the field last spring.