Coaches contrast roles in games

CORONADO, CALIF. — At Utah, Kyle Whittingham hired his replacement, Gary Andersen. Down in Provo, Bronco Mendenhall kept himself as his defensive coordinator.

Will it matter?

New Mexico head coach Rocky Long, who is the Lobo's defensive coordinator, believes it is no big deal — except at BYU where there are more demands on a head coach than anywhere else in the league.

Mendenhall, who doesn't know because he hasn't done it, believes it won't be a problem.

Whittingham obviously has faith in Andersen and said he plans on concentrating on being a head coach and act the role of a CEO during games. But this week Whittingham admitted, when the bullets fly in the game, when the defense comes off the field, he'll be torn to restrain himself from running over to defensive guys to talk adjustments.

"I know my mind is wired to defense and in that first game, yes, that's probably where it will be," Whittingham said.

Both Mendenhall and Whittingham confessed the same spring practice sensation. They stood on the field, and for portions of the session, they felt lost as head coaches.

Long said it becomes easier.

"Look at USC, the head coach is the defensive coordinator and it worked," Long said. "It used to be that a lot of defensive coordinators become head coaches and retain that job. But more and more, we're seeing offensive coordinators keep their jobs as coordinators even though they are head coaches."

Both Long and Mendenhall say there are a lot of teams where the head coach is the offensive coordinator although somebody else's name is listed on the roster. You have to look no further than BYU a year ago with head coach Gary Crowton.

Mendenhall agreed with Long that BYU's job, with demands from church speaking assignments and other community appearances, is more demanding than UNM and other schools.

"I'm getting used to knowing the demands and responding to it," Mendenhall said. "At first, I didn't know what I was getting into. Once the season starts, I'll have to manage it and those (speaking assignments) will be reduced so I can coach."

Long said media demands alone in Albuquerque are less than what Whittingham and Mendenhall face in Utah.

But come game time, who will have more on their plate during a battle? Whittingham or Mendenhall?