New Football Coach Brings No Nonsense Approach

 “Be where you’re supposed to be. Do what you’re supposed to do.” These simple orders are heard by the Avila Football team after every meeting, workout, or practice every day. This is what newly hired Head Football Coach Kevin Porter plans to instill in these student athletes. “Go to class. Go to class. Go to class!” It doesn’t take much to see what the main priorities for Coach Porter are right now. Kevin Porter is looking to install a toughness and accountability not seen before here at Avila. His no nonsense policy is one he hopes to use to turn around this struggling program in the HAAC conference.

            Coach Kevin Porter is a native of Warner Robins, Georgia where he was a standout high school football player. He accepted a full scholarship to Auburn University and was a starter at safety and cornerback all 4 years he was with the Tigers. He also earned second team All-American honors during his stay at Auburn. After his college career was over he was drafted in the 3^rd round of the 1988 Nation Football League Draft and played 6 years in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets. His coaching stints involve 10 years in the Arena Football League, most recently with the Kansas City Brigade and  as Mid-America Nazarene University’s defensive coordinator last year. As if his resume wasn’t impressive enough, Athletic Director Anthony Hall had this to say at Coach Porter’s press conference, “Coach Porter brings the passion, experience, and focus on hard work and discipline that we believe will move our program to be competitive year in and year out. He has played and learned from great coaches like Marty Schottenheimer,  Pete Carroll, Bill Cowher, Pat Dye, Tony Dungy, and Herm Edwards and will share that expertise with our student athletes.”

            It seems Avila has finally gotten the quality coach it deserves in Porter. His resume and the fact that he has won everywhere he’s been pushed him above all other candidates. Coach Hall knew this and made a big push to ink him down a deal to be Avila’s next Head Coach. And Coach Hall isn’t the only man in Kevin Porter’s corner, “Coach Porter, through his own expertise as a student at Avila, will be able to articulate and contribute to the distinctive nature and value of the educational experience at Avila for our student-athletes who play football. We look forward to him being a part of our team,” says Avila University President Ron Slepitza. The fact that Coach Porter finished his degree and graduated from Avila University in the fall only made this hire make that much more sense for the administration.

            So he’s got a great resume and is favored by the hierarchy here at Avila. But that doesn’t mean much anymore. I mean, it got his “foot in the door” yes, but he really coach? Can he win in this conference? All odds point to a resounding YES and we will soon find out.

            Spring practice will start at the beginning of next month and he already has his goals in mind. He’s looking for the players to take a lot of “mental reps” this spring. He’s not looking to see who hits the hardest or who runs the best routes. And rightfully so. Coach Porter plans on totally revamping the offensive and defensive schemes here at Avila. Last year our offense switched from a Power I offense to the more modern Spread offense. While the numbers and results improved, the offense was still the weak link of the team the philosophy wont be kept for next year. Porter retained Offensive Coordinator Dan Scheible, but will convert to a more Pro Style offense with a lot of 2 back and tight end sets. Porter ran a 3-4 defense (3 down lineman and 4 linebackers) and Mid-America and plans to do the same here. Standout Defensive Coordinator Marty Stewart was also kept on the staff and will convert this year’s defense to a 3-4 compared to the 4-3 used the last few years here.

            Big changes are coming to this team. Big changes that will hopefully translate to more victories in the Fall. From a firsthand experience I can tell you Coach Porter isn’t messing around. Already 6 a.m. workouts are harder than they’ve ever been with a stress of focus and discipline no matter how hard it gets or how fatigued we become. All he asks for is effort and discipline and the players will try to meet his standard and expectations. Coach Porter is also out recruiting intensely, so anyone who isn’t willing to meet those expectations will most likely be replaced or left behind come fall training camp.