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| Mark Stein is making an unusual transition: from the admissions office to the sidelines. Martin Luther athletics photo |
A coaching change can be a tumultuous event for a college football team. But incoming coaches can use the offseason to prepare, introduce themselves to the players, implement their system and put their style on the program.
However, that was not a luxury afforded to Mark Stein at Martin Luther College.
Stein took over the football program in early August and got to work right away. The players rewarded their new coach when Martin Luther dealt Maranatha Baptist a 35-0 victory in Week 1 of the 2015 season.
“It was a great team effort – a lot of energy in the locker room, and it was a fun day,” said Stein, who has 15 years of experience coaching at the high school level, including 12 years as a head coach.
Stein was serving as MLC’s director of admissions before being named head football coach. The school said small changes to his job description have been made to comply with NCAA regulations, but his primary duties will remain the same.
Stein replaced Doug Lange, who will be filling some teaching positions at Martin Luther as well as serving as the head track and field coach. Lange was 45-52 in 10 years as the Knights’ football coach, winning the UMAC championship in 2009 and earning the league’s coach of the year honor in 2010.
“We would have preferred a better timing for this coaching shift, but it was decided an opportunity presented itself for a change that was in the best interest of all parties,” MLC athletic director Jim Unke said in a news release announcing Stein’s appointment. “(Stein’s) experience and successes in coaching football at the secondary level will bring a fresh look to our program.”
Senior quarterback Matt Olson said that he and his teammates were surprised by the change, but they have been supportive throughout the process.
“It was super-recent – I would say three or four weeks ago, so everyone was a little shocked. But along with that shock, came the excitement,” Olson said. “We didn’t really know how it would go at first. But we all bought it into his system and we all feel like one unit. I think that’s the main thing.
“Some people felt a little nervous that maybe it wouldn’t mesh, but everything has meshed better than we could have asked for,” the quarterback added. “That’s been nice.”
Olson aid that everyone has rallied around their new coach, which he believes played a big factor in winning Stein’s debut. But Stein said the team’s attention was not on him.
“We didn’t really talk about it being my first game that much. Our focus was really to trust our buddies – do our jobs and trust each other,” Stein said.
Stein said more energy went into learning the new system that he brought to the team. Last year the team ran a single-wing offense. But since assuming the head coaching position, Stein has installed a split-back veer system.
“We run a lot of option. We are able to throw the ball more than they did last year, so that was a drastic change offensively,” Stein said.
The defense is similar as coordinator Randy Cox remained with the team. However Stein calls special teams, with assistance from Steve Pearson, which brought additional changes.
“So two out of the three phases are brand new for the kids,” Stein said. “Without having any spring ball and without much time to prep, we were very happy as a coaching staff that the kids bought in.”
With the coaching change and “whirlwind month” behind them, Martin Luther kicked off the season with a 35-point victory over Maranatha Baptist, which also served as the team’s first shutout in six years – to the day.
Olson threw for 104 yards and two touchdowns in addition to rushing for 102 yards and another score. Meanwhile the defense limited Maranatha Baptist to 141 total yards of offense.
“It’s a great learning experience for our kids,” Stein said, calling Saturday’s triumph a good team win. “I think the guys did get some confidence. I think they do know what they need to clean up and get better at. And if we can do that every week, it will be a pretty fun year.”
Because of the recently change, Stein said the team hasn’t had much time to set season goals. Rather they have daily and weekly goals, which the Knights believe will lead to season-long success.
“We’re just going to focus in on this next game,” the coach said.
Olson echoed his Stein’s thoughts, adding the team will try to go 1-0 each week and see what that mentality brings. Getting a win right off the bat though has the Knights optimistic moving forward.
“Starting anew with a new coach, it automatically brings an excitement to the team and the campus. But starting off with a win really boosts our confidence,” Olson said.
“I definitely think the (change is) going to lead to bigger and better things,” he added. “We just have to follow Coach Stein’s lead.”
Platteville’s efficient passing
In his debut as the starting quarterback, Tom Kelly completed 21-of-25 passes for 277 yards to lead UW-Platteville to a convincing 49-13 win over visiting Buena Vista.
Kelly had more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (4), slinging scoring passes to Patrick Sheehan, Mitch Munda, Seth Kaufman and Dan Arnold. Sheehan had two TD receptions.
Nick Saul and Jack Eddy also saw time at quarterback for the Pioneers, combining to go 4-for-5 on drop backs. All told, Platteville’s signal-callers completed 83 percent of its passes en route to winning their 17th straight season opener.
Number of the week
8 – as in the number of MIAC teams to earn season-opening victories over the weekend. Bethel got things started with a 35-20 victory over UW-Stout Thursday. St. John’s topped Dubuque 45-9 on Saturday while St. Thomas rolled UW-Eau Claire, 62-7. Concordia-Moorhead defeated Jamestown, 41-17, and Gustavus Adolphus handled Crown, 56-13. Carleton took down 2014 Midwest Conference champ Macalester, 27-12, St. Olaf knocked off Northwestern (Minn.), 16-13, and Hamline downed Minnesota-Morris, 40-7.
Augsburg was the only MIAC team to fall in Week 1, but went toe-to-toe with 2014 national quarterfinalist Wartburg. The Knights needed to rally to beat Augsburg, 35-27. Brandon Domeyer’s scored his third touchdown to put Wartburg in front with five minutes to play. Then the Knights’ defense registered three interceptions, including a pair by James Garlock, to thwart Augsburg’s final three drives.
The rest of the West
Pacific won a nail-biter at College of Idaho, 32-31, scoring 20 straight points in the fourth quarter and surviving a missed field goal attempt. … Davey Jergens scored three touchdowns to help Simpson top UW-River Falls, 28-21. … La Verne turned a George Fox fumble into a Kason Kennedy touchdown and won its season opener, 27-23, at Ortmayer Stadium. … LeAnthony Reasnover rushed for 160 yards and two scores to lead Eureka past Knox, 32-21. … Trent Cummings threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns as UW-La Crosse defeated Luther, 26-19. … Puget Sound scored 13 unanswered points to end regulation, and then Sawyer Petre shook off two missed field goals and two unsuccessful PAT attempts to kick a game-winning 24-yard field goal in overtime as the Loggers defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 22-19.
Rank ‘em
Nine teams from the West Region are ranked in the Week 1 Top 25 poll.
Defending national champion UW-Whitewater, which kicks off its season Saturday, is ranked No. 1 after receiving 19 first place votes. Linfield collected two first place votes and is ranked No. 3.
Defending IIAC champs Wartburg comes in at No. 6 while last year’s MIAC champion St. John’s is ranked No. 8 – four spots ahead of rival and 12th-ranked St. Thomas. Fellow MIAC contender Bethel holds the No. 19 position.
Chapman, the 2014 SCIAC champion, is ranked No. 22. WIAC rivals UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville are ranked Nos. 24 and 25, respectively.
Pacific Lutheran (13) and Concordia Moorhead (3) received votes in the Week 1 poll.
Be heard
Do you have a story idea for the Around the West column? Contact me about approaching milestones, broken records, break-out players or any other storylines in the West. Or just drop me a note to let me know what you think of the column. All ideas and feedback are welcome. Email me at josh.smith@d3sports.com or follow me on Twitter @By_Josh_Smith.
