To say Bryan Nardo, a St. John Central graduate and Shadyside native, was completely comfortable serving because the defensive coordinator at Gannon University could be completely correct.
To assume that he actually wasn’t actively in search of or pursuing another teaching alternatives, no matter degree, could be fairly correct, too.
But, sure alternatives — type of like being the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University — nonetheless are merely unable to be ignored.
So, when Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy known as Nardo late final month and provided him the job, it didn’t take a lot time or thought to simply accept.
“This was not on my radar whatsoever when this started,” Nardo stated. “I am very fortunate to be the right person at the right school that had the right opportunity and believed in me. Coach Gundy has proven it doesn’t matter to him where you’ve coached before. He’s hired from (the Division II) level before. I am just very appreciative of Coach Gundy believing in me.”
The means the chance got here to fruition is the stuff you dream about, however very hardly ever yields the outcomes when you get up.
The first contact between Nardo and Gundy got here on Jan. 11. At that time, Gundy questioned if Nardo could be prepared to return out to Stillwater and merely speak soccer and the defensive scheme (3-3-5) that he’d been working with the Cowboys teaching workers.
“I had known (OSU’s linebacker coach) Jim Bob Clemons for a while and we’d become good friends from my time when I was at Emporia State,” Nardo stated. “He and I had spoken about the possibility of clinicing at Oklahoma State because of what we had done on defense.”
So, Gundy was on board and needed to be taught extra in regards to the scheme, which has labored fairly properly at different locations inside the Big 12 Conference, which has all the time been extra well-known for its offense than protection.
“Coach Gundy called me and we talked for about 20 minutes about what we ran at Gannon and Emporia and it transitioned from there to, ‘I would love to meet you in person and learn your defense,’” Nardo recalled.
So, Nardo, on Jan. 15, caught a flight to Oklahoma City and made his strategy to Stillwater.
“I approached this simply as an opportunity to get in front of a Power 5 coaching staff and show them what we do on defense,” Nardo stated. “At no point did I think it would lead to this job. I was just looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and talk football. We ended up talking for five hours and basically went through an entire defensive install.”
Gundy drove Nardo to the airport and advised him, ‘you’ll be listening to from me.”
“Coach Gundy told me I had done a great job and I just thanked him for the opportunity,” Nardo stated. “He texted me when I was on the plane and reiterated that I did a great job and he’d be in touch.”
Per week later, on Jan. 23, Nardo obtained the formal supply to affix the Cowboys workers because the defensive coordinator to take over for Derrick Mason, who had spent one season on the Pokes workers earlier than electing to retire. He didn’t hesitate and accepted the job instantly.
“I was shocked when he offered me the job, but when he started asking me for that stuff, I kind of had a feeling something might be up, but I didn’t have any idea as to what it was,” Nardo stated.
Before he left for Stillwater, Nardo and his spouse, Emma, who’s initially from Kansas and lived slightly below 4 hours from Stillwater, talked about what may occur if Gundy have been to supply him a place of any kind.
“When I flew out there, I was prepared for whatever might happen,” Nardo stated. “If it was just professional development or a chance to enhance my skills in front of these power five coaches, it would be beneficial. Emma and I talked without knowing if anything would be offered, but we decided that if something was offered, I was going to take the job.”
During the week that handed, Gundy requested Nardo to ship him each Gannon sport movie from final season and some extra information.
As it turned out, although it wasn’t a proper interview, Nardo was interviewing all alongside for the job.
“Coach Gundy kept telling me before the clinic session that he just wanted me to be myself, so maybe it was his plan all along … I really don’t know,” Nardo stated. “I was definitely myself, so maybe that was good enough.”
Oklahoma State, through its social media, formally introduced Nardo’s hiring through the afternoon of Jan. 24.
“It’s hard to wrap your head around, but if it’s not a guy like Coach Gundy, it probably doesn’t happen for me,” Nardo stated. “Here’s a guy who played here (at Oklahoma State), loves this place and is one of the most successful coaches in college football. If it’s not him and this timing then I don’t get this opportunity.”
Nardo admitted from the time the news broke to arriving on campus was a whirlwind. Actually, the hardest half was making an attempt to answer to just about 600 textual content messages he obtained that day. The most gratifying half was that half of these messages got here from former gamers and/or fellow coaches.
“It was very, very humbling,” Nardo stated.
Nardo formally began his new job on Sunday, Feb. 5. He and his household flew to Stillwater to go searching the city and have been launched to a realtor the week prior, however since Oklahoma State had signed its class throughout December’s early interval, Nardo didn’t have to right away get on the street recruiting.
He’s already met along with his new defensive unit and is already finding out tape along with his new gamers with the hopes that when the Cowboys start spring follow on March 21 they’ll be capable of mainly hit the bottom working.
“I can’t wait to get on the field and start coaching,” Nardo stated. “There’s a proven track record of success of running this system in this league by multiple teams. We simply have to build relationships and coach our players to believe in what they’re doing and believe in themselves.”
Nardo, whose solely expertise at the Division I degree was at FCS member Youngstown State, isn’t at all anxious in regards to the transition to Power 5.
“The players are bigger, faster and stronger and there is more going on in recruiting and outside of football than at some of the other levels, but at its core, we’re still dealing with 18 to 22 year old young men who want to be coached, loved and cared about. They want to be taught how they can be great. That doesn’t change.”
Another side that doesn’t fear Nardo is the truth that he’s turning into the third defensive coordinator in as many seasons with the Cowboys. Jim Knowles left after the 2021 season to grow to be the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, which led to Mason’s hiring.
“There’s a lot of crossover with what we do and what they’ve done in the past and the kids understand football,” Nardo stated. “The kids have been great and they want to be great (on the field). They just want to win and whatever it takes to experience that success they’re willing to do.”
Nardo has been finding out the 3-3-5 system since 2018 and first utilized it in 2019 at Emporia. He then went to Youngstown, however wasn’t the defensive play caller. After touchdown the Gannon job, he went again to it.
“It’s not always what you do, but how you do it,” Nardo stated. “It’s an added bonus having eight people standing up and running to the ball. Everyone has unbelievable players who play really hard and fast and excellent coaches, so you’re trying to find any type of advantage.”
Even although he’s settling into his new plush workplace and his household is getting ready to maneuver inside the subsequent few weeks, Nardo continues to be in pinch-me-moment territory.
“It was just over a year ago (on Feb. 15) that I was announced as the defensive coordinator at Gannon and now to be in this position proves that everything happens for a reason and the man upstairs has a plan,” Nardo stated.
Though he’s simply trying ahead to spring follow’s arrival, the Cowboys open their 2023 season on Sept. 2 in opposition to Central Arkansas. Interestingly, the Cowboys play at West Virginia on Oct. 21 and host ‘Bedlam’ in opposition to Oklahoma on Nov. 4.
SETH’S SCOOPS
THE OHSAA introduced on Thursday it’s increasing its contact calendar for workforce sports activities through the spring and summer time. Coaches now get 13 days of contact with their groups, which is a rise of three days and the summer time interval now begins on May 15 as an alternative of June 1. The summer time interval consists of: soccer, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball and baseball.
MARTINS FERRY grad Kayla Fogle, who swims at Fairmont State University, loved a powerful displaying at the current MEC/GMAC swimming championship at Canton’s Branin Natatorium. Fogle completed third within the MEC and tenth general within the 200 fly with a time of two:18.44, incomes All-Conference acclaim.
SAD TO be taught that former Martins Ferry head soccer coach Larry Coyer died final Saturday. Coyer, who spent a number of seasons because the defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos. He was the pinnacle coach of the Purple Riders in 1968 and 1969 and compiled a 7-13 file. He was the pinnacle coach when legendary Ferry head coach Dave Bruney was a senior.
WILLIAM TRAUBERT was not too long ago acknowledged by USA Boxing for 50 years as a member of the group.
Staskey will be reached through electronic mail at [email protected]
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