Staff Chemistry Key At JMU

HARRISONBURG — Much like their players, the coaches at James Madison are a tight-knit group.

Second-year head man Mike Houston said he likes it that way.

“I think that staff chemistry equals team chemistry,” Houston said. “I’ve been on staffs where the defensive guys didn’t like the offensive guys or some of the offensive guys didn’t like the other offensive guys or one guy thought he should be calling [plays].

“I’ve been on staffs where the chemistry was really, really bad. And you know what? They had football teams where the locker room was really, really bad.”

Riding the nation’s longest active winning streak in Division I entering Saturday’s contest at William & Mary, Houston said the cohesion between his JMU staff members has only strengthened since he arrived and hired most of the assistants ahead of the 2016 season.

From last year’s team, the Dukes only had two staffers — specials teams coordinator John Bowers and offensive line coach Jamal Powell — depart the program. Both left to be near family.

Houston replaced them with special teams coordinator Roy Tesh and inside receivers and tight ends coach Fontel Mines, as Bryan Stinespring shifted from tight ends coach to offensive line coach.

Houston said in practice, in meetings and in game situations his coaches, regardless of whether they coach an offensive position or a defensive position, work together for the same goal.

“We’re all on the same team,” defensive coordinator Bob Trott said. “And we all understand how interconnected this whole thing is. When you do understand that, every phase is important. Field position works both ways and it’s so interconnected.”

Offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick said that during games Houston will switch up who he speaks with over the headset. When the Dukes are on offense, Houston chats with the offensive staff and when the defense is on the field, he talks with Trott and the defensive assistants.

“When it comes to fourth down and stuff like that, me and Mike are always talking,” Kirkpatrick said. “But he’s usually telling me, ‘You’ve got two downs here,’ so that we’re not waiting until it’s fourth down [to make a decision]. I know to call third down, knowing that if we don’t make it on that play, but that maybe we get it close, we’ll have another down.”

This past Saturday against Villanova while leading 13-0 a few minutes into the third quarter, JMU was set up with a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Houston elected to send kicker Tyler Gray out for a 17-yard field goal instead of letting the offense attempt to score a touchdown. Gray made the kick.

“You always want to go for it,” Kirkpatrick said. “But [Houston] made the right decision because getting up 16-0, and there’s never a sure thing on a field goal, but it’s more sure than not.

“And we were struggling in short-yardage last week, so that’s why the head coach ... it’s probably best that he’s not calling the offense or defense because if you’re calling the offense, you just want to go for the score. But sometimes it’s not the right decision, so one guy that’s the head of both of [the offense and defense], he has the clearer head and can make that decision.”

Kirkpatrick is one of two assistants on staff with head-coaching experience. Kirkpatrick led Chattanooga from 2000-02. Inside linebackers coach Byron Thweatt was the head coach at Division II Virginia State in 2015.

“You don’t see Donnie doing things on offense that is putting us in really, really bad positions,” Houston said. “He understands how to manage a football game because he’s not only been a coordinator, but he’s been a head coach, so he understands how the whole thing works together.

“And that’s the same thing, defensively. So all that stuff works together and the most important thing is the chemistry because that equates to the consistent performances that you’re seeing.”

Trott said he’s seen the contagious solidarity trickle down to the players.

“We talk about it all the time and we talk about the importance of that even on a defensive play,” Trott said. “Interceptions are caused by the front and sacks are caused by the back end, and team-wise, if you get a punt return or pin someone back it helps the offense or the defense. Turnovers are key and our main goal is to get the ball back to the offense as close to the goal line as we can.

“So the players are very aware of it. We talk about what causes us to win and lose, and that’s how we approach everything.”