Grid Insider: Meet Don Treadwell & Pat Narduzzi
12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2006
Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Don Treadwell
Don Treadwell, who recently completed his 23rd season as a coach, has been an offensive coordinator at four schools, including the past three years on Mark Dantonio's staff at Cincinnati. Along with Dantonio, he also has experience in East Lansing, serving as the Spartan receivers coach from 2000-02.
Upon becoming Cincinnati's offensive coordinator in 2004, he put together a balanced offense that produced a 2,500-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver, while topping the 2,000-yard mark in both rushing (2,201) and passing (2,666), only the second time that feat had been accomplished in UC history.
In 2006, Treadwell mentored two quarterbacks in Dustin Grutza and Nick Davila. Grutza ranked among the national leaders in passing efficiency (123.86 rating) and total offense (168.09), while Davila orchestrated the offense in Cincinnati's 30-11 upset over then-No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18, as he completed 11 of 15 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.
Treadwell has also worked at Ball State, North Carolina State, Boston College, Stanford and Miami (Ohio).
Treadwell worked with the wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks at Youngstown State (1986-91) when Dantonio was the defensive coordinator at YSU. While serving as the offensive coordinator in 1991, Treadwell helped guide the Penguins to the NCAA I-AA National Championship.
Treadwell recently met with the media and talked about his offensive philosophy, the coaching staff and returning to Michigan State.
On starting at Michigan State . . .
It's been exciting, and we've hit the ground running. We're all very connected with Coach Dantonio and for him and me, we're unique because this is a homecoming for both of us. For us to come back, we had an idea of where we were at and we hit the road recruiting, spreading the gospel of Michigan State University. We at least had some background on the content of what we were sharing with the prospective student-athletes and their families.
On having the same staff . . .
I think that lends itself to strong foundation, without question. Just from a standpoint of getting the team up and running here, we don't have to establish that among ourselves as well. We have been together for three years now, so the terminology, the lingo, and certain things you just know when you have been with someone for that time. That will be an asset to us as we hit the ground running with this program.
On getting a fullback . . .
That will remain to be seen as far as in-house. One of the things we certainly will do is evaluate the young men we have at the positions they're already in and then work with what we have. We have had that flexibility at Cincinnati.
On what he tells the coaches that are new to East Lansing . . .
That it is a special place and the people are special. That's how any foundation is laid; there is a quality group of people throughout this area. The Spartan family is a special situation, and you really have to be here to appreciate it. I think that helped them with comfort level. It also helped knowing how strong Coach Dantonio and I felt about coming back.
On what Big Ten football means to him . . .
Offense in the Big Ten is physical and tough. I'm probably old school in that way, but that's certainly going to be the building blocks for this program, and we will follow through from the head coach on down on that matter.
On his offensive philosophy . . .
Everything starts at the top, there's no question about that. When we first started at Cincinnati, one of the things Coach Dantonio wanted to be sure we would do is have a balance between run and pass, and that's always been a part of the staffs I've been on.
On the response from recruits . . .
We've received a tremendous response so far. As Coach Dantonio has said, we obviously want to do a great job recruiting in our own backyard in Michigan first, and then there are some other areas we've been in the past. One thing we know is that there is a tremendous alumni base, so there's a lot of areas throughout the country with a lot of Spartans, so we're slowly but surely trying to venture into all those areas as well.
On the importance of having ties to the Midwest . . .
It's a tremendous asset, there's no question about that. Coach Dantonio's name is so well known and seen in the Midwest. First, when he was an assistant, he had some strong areas in Michigan, Ohio and other various states. When he went on to be a coordinator at Ohio State and became a head coach at Cincinnati, those ties just became stronger. He has always carried a positive outlook among high school coaches, so his name is very well received and obviously, we're excited now that it's connected to Michigan State.
On what qualities they evaluate while recruiting . . .
You're looking to see as much as you can through the evaluation process. We'll certainly do as much as we can to get a feel for the character of the young man. The more you've been in a particular high school, you typically have developed a relationship with that head coach. For the most part, if the head coach says here's the kind of player you're looking for, then that's going to be an asset because of the homework we did and the relationships we had already established.
 Pat Narduzzi outlined his defensive philosophy during the media roundtable session.  | |
Defensive Coordinator Pat Narduzzi
Pat Narduzzi comes to East Lansing after serving as Coach Dantonio's defensive coordinator for the past three years in Cincinnati. Defense was the strong suit for the Bearcats in 2006, as Cincinnati ranked among the national leaders during the regular season in tackles for loss (No. 21 at 6.8 per game), pass efficiency defense (No. 23 at 109.30 rating), rushing defense (No. 27 at 107.5 yards per game), total defense (No. 31 at 304.3 ypg.), scoring defense (No. 34 at 19.3 points per game) and sacks (No. 34 at 2.3 pg.). In his first season as defensive coordinator at UC in 2004, Narduzzi constructed the defense which led the Bearcats to a runner-up finish in Conference USA and a victory in the Fort Worth Bowl.
Prior to his arrival in Cincinnati, Narduzzi was the architect of the Miami (Ohio) defense in 2003 which helped the RedHawks to a No. 10 finish in the national polls, a Mid-American Conference championship and a win over Louisville in the GMAC Bowl.
Narduzzi previously helped Northern Illinois to a pair of MAC divisional titles during his three seasons in DeKalb (2000-02) as linebackers coach. He also coached at Rhode Island from 1993-99.
Narduzzi recently met with the media and talked about recruiting, the coaching staff and what people can expect from his defense.
On what it is like to be at Michigan State . . .
It feels great to be in this beautiful state and this beautiful facility (LaSalle Bank Club in Spartan Stadium) that we've got here. It's just great to be here.
On waiting for the Cincinnati job . . .
To me it was a win-win, but I still wanted to know. The hardest part for me was to be sitting there not knowing where I was going and not being able to help out Mark Dantonio. I knew he was the guy that was loyal to me; I knew that I had a job here. I was thinking, "Gosh, if I could just travel up to East Lansing and start doing some recruiting," because the longer I stayed there, the worse off it was going to be for Michigan State. Honestly, I think your goal when coaching is to be a head football coach; however, I didn't go after it real hard. I felt like I had done my job for three years, and if they wanted me, they would come get me. I didn't push hard though. I just said if it's going to happen, it will happen, and if not, I have a great spot here in East Lansing.
On the continuity of the staff . . .
I think it is great for Michigan State University that our whole defensive staff is all going to be together for the fourth year in a row. It doesn't matter if it's in Cincinnati or Nebraska, we got our people together again. Coach (Mike) Tressel, Coach (Harlon) Barnett and Coach (Ted) Gill, they all know what we want to do on defense, and they know how we're going to do it. I think that is a huge plus, we don't have to coach the coaches. They have already been coached for three years.
On the coaching philosophy . . .
We're going to keep things pretty much the same. We are going to obviously do what our kids can do here. That's why spring ball will be really important to find out what our kids can do and get them in the right position.
On what fans can expect from the defense . . .
Spartan fans can expect to see our defense get lined up, play fast, give great effort and make plays. That's what we expect to do. They are going to know where they are supposed to be, and we are going to give the kids an opportunity to make plays.
On the importance of the defense knowing where they are supposed to be . . .
It's huge. My philosophy in coaching has always been our kids will play faster if they know what to do, and we are going to try and keep it simple on defense so they can. And maybe the first year we keep it real simple. I think the most important thing with a defense is that if they know what to do, they'll feel more comfortable on the field and they won't be thinking about what they're supposed to be doing; they'll be reacting.
On picking up the defense . . .
In my opinion, whether we have a great defense or an average defense here at Michigan State, it's my job to get it as good as we can. I'll take the weight on my shoulders because that's what we do as coaches. We want that challenge. I would much rather have a challenge. I feel like there would be more weight on my shoulders if they were a great defense and I had to keep it up.
On his coaching style . . .
I am intense and I like to have fun on the field, and I want the kids to have fun. I think that is important that we get them to know what to do, and we have fun. The kids that have fun will be successful.
On building up talent at Cincinnati . . .
We did that from day one there. A year ago, we took a freshman corner - a true freshman corner - and turned him into a second-team All-Big East player. I think we can have success right off the bat.
On his feelings toward the returning MSU players . . .
I have not had an opportunity to watch any tapes on Michigan State. I have not looked at it, and I do not plan on looking into it until recruiting is over and we have more time. Right now, we are focusing on bringing in the guys for recruiting.
On his defense philosophy . . .
You are going to see a 4-3 defense, playing a lot of quarter coverage and a lot of Cover 2 and we'll get into a lot of zone blitz.
On if it will be difficult for the players to adjust . . .
It is hard to say just because I don't know what they have done on defense in the past. It may take a little bit. In our first year at Cincinnati, it took our kids a little bit to adjust to it, but they caught on to it pretty fast.
On his recruiting outlook . . .
We are just going to talk about the aggressive style of defense we have and having fun. I am not so sure it's about the type of scheme we're going to have as it is about the type of people we are. People will be more attracted to the people we are and how they are going to be coached.