Ball State University Athletics
Q & A with Football Assistant Coach Chad Wilt
May 25, 2011 | Football
Ball State assistant football coach Chad Wilt sat down with the school's media relations staff and answered a few questions about his time at Ball State.
Did you achieve the level of results you were hoping for with the defensive line during spring ball?
Any coach is always looking for better things. You are never content with the results. Do I think we made progress, absolutely. I am pleased with our growth and development but never content with what we've got right now, because honestly we got to be a lot better come the first game of the season.
Talk about the incoming freshmen coming in the fall to play the defensive line?
I was real pleased with the group we put together as a whole with the freshmen class, particularly the defensive line. We addressed some specific needs, we needed some bigger bodies which we got and we also needed some athleticism in a couple spots. When I look at young men like Nick Miles, who brings a bigger more athletic body to defensive end than maybe is here right now. A guy like Anthony Kukwa that has a skill set unique for the position, particularly when you watch his film from high school. He does a lot of dynamic and explosive things as an athlete in general.
Tell me about your seniors and how they will contribute heading into the 2011 season?
I look at our group of seniors we have -- Andy Puthoff, Ryan Hartke, Adam Morris, Lorren Womack -- they all have different skill sets and tools. A good defensive linemen and a good defensive line coach is kind of like a carpenter. He has a tool belt with players that have different skills sets and different tools he can use. Whether it's Womack as a pass rusher or Morris as a plugger nose guard inside or Puthoff, who is the rugged six techniques over a tight end. They all bring leadership and experience and an attitude of work every day with which I have been pleased.
How has recruiting gone this summer?
I have really been pleased with where we are recruiting across the Midwest and Midatlantic regions. I have seen some great prospects. We always want to find guys that can run better. We are trying to find guys that are athletic, can run and be tough and rugged.
Has the transition to Ball State been easier due to the fact you grew up in the state of Indiana?
It has been unique for me having gone to high school and college about 30 minutes from here. We used to go to movies in Muncie and we even had our prom here. I know people from my community that work at Ball State and that has been a unique experience for me.
Our defense has struggled the last two seasons. What is your plan to change that situation?
The first plan is the attitude and the expectations. The level of work we are going to put in it and expecting to win but I follow that up with you can never expect to win without earning the right to win. Good defenses play hard, they play fast, they play smart, they execute and most importantly they hunt the football. Good defenses get the ball back for their offenses.
You are one of a few coaches on this staff that has coached in a Football Bowl Subdivision program. Do you believe that gives you an advantage?
It doesn't give me an advantage, it gives me different set of experiences. I would never say it gives me an advantage. I am just taking my experiences and relaying them into Coach Lembo's program and how he wants to do things and what I can add in that brings value from my past experiences.
How has it been working with Coach Lembo?
I've really enjoyed his organization and administration levels. I consider myself to be a fairly organized person and detailed oriented and I think that fits in line with Coach Lembo and how he wants to run this program. So the transition has been pretty easy. He allows us to do our jobs as coaches so it has been a pretty smooth transition.
