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2008 Football Preview
By Dave Parker
Jeremy Richardson does not feel any pressure taking over
as the new Joliet Junior College football coach.
The 29-year-old Richardson takes over for Tom Minnick,
who accepted the head coaching job at Arizona Western College in Yuma.
Minnick, an assistant at JJC for eight years, was the Wolves' head coach
the last two years, leading them to a 17-6 record an No. 10 national
ranking last season.
"Sure, there's always pressure when you step into a head
coach's shoes," said Richardson, JJC's quarterbacks coach in 2007. "But
much of the pressure, I think, can be self-inflicted. You have to remain
yourself and trust your judgment."
"Athletic Director Wayne King and the entire Athletic
Department have been tremendously supportive of me."
This will be the first head coaching job for Richardson,
a 1996 Bloomington High School graduate, who was a tight end/wide
receiver for JJC in 1997 and '98. He played for King at JJC in 1997 and
for Matt Kalb in the following season.
"Probably the toughest part of coaching at this level is
getting an understanding of everything," Richardson said. "I have a good
grasp of junior college football, but getting a grasp of issues off the
football field is another thing."
"I became a full-time counselor at JJC last January.
That has made my transition as head coach much smoother. We want to make
sure our players are going through the proper academic procedures to
move on and go to four-year schools."
Richardson says the Wolves return about eight or nine
starters from last season's 10-2 team which won its final nine games.
JJC concluded that nine-game streak last November with a 28-21 victory
over North Iowa Area Community College in the Graphic Edge Printing Bowl
in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
"Believe me, the cupboard isn't bare, and we're highly
excited about our prospects for 2008," Richardson said. "We return some
solid sophomores and good-looking redshirt players."
"There's a good nucleus to build around. Again, we're
excited."
Returning for the Wolves is Bolingbrook standout 6-5,
285-pound P.J. South. He is a defensive linemen. Also back on the
defensive line is 6-2, 250-pound Trey Jackson. Jordan Delegal, a 6-1,
205-pound transfer from Division I Marshall University, will bolster the
secondary.
Halfback Tim Huguley (5'9, 190 pounds) returns, as does
6-6, 250-pound tight end Kyle Weber from Herscher.
Richardson did his graduate assistant coaching at
Northern Michigan University for two seasons (2004-2005). He earned his
master's degree in training and development from Northern Michigan.
Before coaching at JJC, Richardson was the wide
receivers/special teams coach at Lake Central Community high School in
Belle Glade, FL. Lake Central won the 2006 Class 3A state championship.
Richardson is a two-time all-conference tight
end/wideout at Fairmont State University (W. Va.). He hopes to run a
balanced offense.
"Right now, it looks like we'll run a West Coast spread
type of offense," Richardson said. "But we will probably incorporate
more run than pass in our offensive scheme."
"We'll probably throw some short patterns which
hopefully will open up our longer passing game."
Wayne King coached Richardson in 1997 at JJC. The
Wolves' athletic director believes that Richardson is the right man for
the job.
"Jeremy's very energetic," King said. "We're staring a
new era with him. He has a JJC background as a players here and then an
assistant coach. I think he knows what's expected of him. Now, he'll go
about keeping the tradition going."
King knows that Richardson, a full-time employee, will
work closely with the players on the academic side of the ledger as
well.
"Jeremy worked in the Project Achieve Office last year,"
King said. "That was another plus, along with being on campus, that he
will carry over to this season."
"He has several things going his way. Now he has to get
it done on the field." Back to Top |
