Q&A with Lumberjack Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek
4/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 24, 2008
Q: From the moment you arrived at SFA, you've hit the ground running going right into the recruiting part of the job, to preparing for spring camp, and then spending the past three weeks in spring ball. Now that spring workouts are behind you do you feel like you have the opportunity to catch your breath, and get begin the process of preparing for the 2008 season opener?
A: When we got here as new staff members, they had already targeted a lot of kids that we continued to recruit. We ended up signing a great class, which included 26 high school kids. The spring gave us a great opportunity to evaluate our players that are already here, as well as working on our offensive and defensive schemes. It has gone really well, and the thing that has made it go well is the fact that our kids are really hard workers. They were excited about installing new schemes on offense and defense, and they have made it an easy transition for the coaching staff.
Q: What SFA the right place for you to continue your coaching career?
A: I previously worked with Coach (David) Gibbs at A&M-Commerce. My goal in coaching was to move up, and I saw a great opportunity to be at an NCAA Division I university. SFA has a great history with all the great players that have come through this program. I know David Gibbs' defensive scheme is one of the best in college football right now. I saw SFA as an opportunity to move up in my coaching career. I also like challenges, and I saw this as a challenge to help return SFA football to its great teams of the past.
Q: In your short time in Nacogdoches, what is you favorite part about the campus?
A: When I was getting recruited out of high school, I wanted to find a place that wasn't too big and not too small. I also wanted to be in a real college town. I chose to go to Lubbock, Texas, and I see a lot of the same characteristics here in Nacogdoches. I feel the town is built around Stephen F. Austin. This place has a real college atmosphere.
Q: What can Lumberjack fans expect to see from a Kris Kocurek coached defensive line?
A: The one thing that I always try to get my players to do is to play extremely hard. When other people watch our defensive line on film, I want them to see guys who are attacking the line of scrimmage, playing with good fundamentals and playing extremely hard for four quarters. When you watch our defensive line next year we are going to be physical, we're going to attack and we're going to play hard.
Q: Now that you've had a chance to evaluate spring camp, who were some people that really stood out on the defensive front?
A: A few guys that really stood out this spring were Kenneth Charles (defensive tackle), Tim Knicky (defensive end) and Andre Hicks (defensive end). Those three guys are going to be the leaders of our defensive line. They are coachable players. They take what you give them and try to apply it during practice. I'm excited about the opportunity to coach those three guys.
Q: The Lumberjacks are going to have a young team in 2008, which by some would be considered a negative. But do you see it as a positive having the majority of your guys around for at least two years?
A: I'm glad that I'm not stepping into a place that has five or six seniors on the defensive line. I'm a guy who likes to build relationships. I believe that if your trying to build relationships with your players, the teaching process needs to last more than one year. If you look at our defensive line, we've got everybody coming back for two years. As a team, we are going to be very young, but our guys are eager to win. It has been a really exciting time since I've been here.
