Ball State University Athletics
Q&A With Football Assistant Coach Jay Bateman
January 27, 2011 | Football
Ball State assistant football coach Jay Bateman sat down for a question and answer session with the athletics media relations office to introduce himself to the Ball State and Muncie community.
Q: How are you adjusting from Elon to Ball State?
A: We are adjusting great, Ball State has great student-athletes. Our coaching staff really likes the people on the team and recruiting is going well. We just have to finish up strong this next week.
Q: You helped Elon to 35 victories in five years after arriving at a program that posted a 14-42 mark in the five years prior. Do you feel like you are in the same situation here?
A: No, I believe we are much closer as a football team to being successful here than we were when we got to Elon. Our first year at Elon our quarterback was a tight end the year before. At Elon we had to change the culture, we had to find players and Coach Lembo did a great job by getting the community involved and building support. We are much closer here to where we need to be than we were at Elon.
Q: How has the recent hiring affected recruiting?
A: It has made it better to be honest with you, we brought guys to the table that have come from very diverse areas and have added some names we wouldn't know of if it wasn't for the change. We've been able to maintain a lot of the student-athletes who were verbally committed. We feel really good about the players we have coming in to be a part of the Ball State family. This staff is working well together and working really hard. People will be impressed with the class we are putting together and the future is good for the Ball State football program.
Q: As the defensive coordinator what is the next step for this program?
A: If you look back at three or four years ago at the success Ball State had, I believe the next step is to get back to that level. As the defensive coordinator my job is to get our defensive play back to that level. We have some players here that are talented, that have played a lot and we need to add some more to the mix. We have to coach these kids. We know we have some really good kids if we can keep that going and have them play hard and smart, we will be in good shape.
Q: At Elon you tutored All-American linebacker Chad Nkang, who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Do you plan on having that same success with your players here?
A: Chad was a great player. Whoever coached Chad was very fortunate. I was very fortunate to coach him, and in fact I am still close to him and he will probably visit during spring football. I certainly think we have some young men on this team that are NFL caliber athletically. After watching them on film and in workouts, you can see the talent. With the help of the coaching staff and with the weight program, we look forward to having a little more success. With that comes the chance for players to play at the next level.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a coach?
A: I am a players' coach. I believe kids like playing for me, and that is important. I try to get close with the players. I want them to know my wife and my little girl. I just think when you build that relationship with a kid and its third and one -- they are going to find a way to make a play for you sometimes. I think I am pretty aggressive. My personality comes through with the way we play defense. We forget sometimes football is still a game. We want them to have fun and I like having fun with them, but we need to get the work done and produce.
Q: What is your coaching philosophy?
A: My coaching philosophy number one is that they come here as student-athletes. Nothing makes us prouder than when a kid graduates. That is the first thing, and that is always the No. 1 thing. We are going to do everything we can to make sure they are successful in the classroom. On the football field, my philosophy is its fun. I want them to have fun, but at the same time I want them to understand that fun starts with winning. When you win, you have more fun. So we are going to do whatever is necessary to win. We are not afraid of hard work. We are going to work with our kids to make sure they are successful and have an enjoyable career at Ball State.
Q: Tell me about your relationship with Coach Lembo since you've been a member of his coaching staff for the last six years?
A: I have been with Coach Lembo at four different schools now, we know each others' personalities and we trust each other. He is more of an offensive minded coach so he allows me to handle the defense. We have been successful that way and I hope that continues. He is a great head coach and I think the Muncie and Ball State community are going to find out how great of a head coach he is and how involved he will be with the community. Our student-athletes will realize how great of a job he will do with them, more so as students and people than as athletes, making sure they are as well rounded as they can be and have an outstanding college experience. He will prepare them to go out in the work force just like any other student. Coach Lembo is going to be successful because he has been successful everywhere he has been.
