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Get to Know your UB Coaches: Coach Jeff Quinn

UB Athletics was kind enough to make the coaching staff available for an interview with Bull Run. I sent each coach five to ten questions and took questions from readers. Right now the coaching staff is busy getting ready for spring ball so I am very grateful for the time they have taken to answer these questions.

If you want some background check out Coach Jeff Quinn's UB Athletics Profile:

Bull Run: You were the only coach on UB's radar who has actually been a collegiate head coach at a sport other than football. Do you feel that your time as a head wrestling coach gives you something that other coach’s lack?

Coach Quinn: I have a perspective from two different sports and athletes now; a wrestler and a football player! I did both sports for 12 years and wrestling definitely made me a better football player. Aside from the sport and strategy aspect of coaching what are the biggest differences between being the head coach of a football program versus a wrestling program? The biggest difference is that I now supervise a much higher profile sports team. There are 105 student athletes and approx. 30 staff and support staff.

Bull Run: Given that you are inheriting a team build to run the option and not the spread how much success can the team expect, offensively, given that every player is going to have to learn a new system?

Coach Quinn: I expect our coaches and players to work on winning every day! We have talented young men who have a competitive passion to be successful. I know it will take all spring, this summer and fall camp to implement the offense, defense and special teams. We will be ready for Rhode Island at home on September 2nd.

Bull Run: How much harder is it to promote a mid major when talking to recruits than ancAQ school like Cincinnati?

Coach Quinn: I see it as a challenge to find the RKB’s ( Right Kind of Bull’s). Is it any easier to recruit at this level or is it measurably more difficult? Each year there are more good talented d1 players out there than there are scholarships. We have to seek a larger pool of prospects at the mid major level than the BCS.

Bull Run: In 2007 UB went 5-7 and despite dropping several close the fan base was thrilled. In 2009 UB again went 5-7 and especially because the team dropped several close games the fan base was not pleased. When coach gill arrived the expectations of UB fans had been very low for a half decade, it's easy to succeed early in those cases. Now you inherit a team that was being built to, if not compete for the conference, be a bowl team year in and year out. What is a realistic expectation for UB fans this season? What would need to happen for you to consider this season a success next year.

Coach Quinn: In my 26 years of collegiate coaching my expectations are the same; compete for 4 quarters. Play as hard as you can for as long as you can! Anything less will be unacceptable.

Bull Run: Not too long ago you were taking over the offense for Cincinnati after coaching a bowl game for another team, how does being a head coach this time around change the adjustment for you? More responsibilities.

Coach Quinn: The head football coach is the face of the program and must promote and represent in a positive manner. Assistant coaches suggest idea’s, however, the head coach must make those tough decisions. How have the players responded? Team morale is high and the players and coaches know the expectations here.

Bull Run: How much, if at all, does losing Zach Maynard affect the timetable for offensive success?

Coach Quinn: None. We have a motto here; "next bull in"!

Bull Run: Who is a better angler, you or coach Dietzel?

Coach Quinn: I believe coach Dietzel likes to fish for pan fish. I go for the big freshwater fish; pike, muskie, walleye and salmon.

-- Questions from Readers –

Scott: From a recruiting standpoint, what are some of the differences in being a head coach as opposed to being an assistant? Thank you

Coach Quinn: Assistant coaches spend a lot more time on the road recruiting and sorting through all the recommendations. The head coach is the closer and sets the tone for recruiting. It first starts with the recruiter then the position coach, next offensive or defensive coordinator and the final step is all scholarship offers come from the head football coach.

Matt: What is the goal of the 2010 season? Will it be a perfect home record? Winning the mac east, winning the mac?

Coach Quinn: My goal is to graduate our student athlete football players and compete for the mac championship. I am very excited about preparing this team to reach their full potential. Come see us perform in our spring game on Saturday, April 24th at 2 pm.

Ubbulls08: You talk about the program as being as collective effort. What do you think are some effective ways to engage both the student body and the community of Western New York in what you plan to do here at UB?

Coach Quinn: We have a very important development component called "bulls in the community" we want our young men to be "other centered" and engaged in the entire buffalo community. They will be a source of pride on and off this campus.

Brigadier: Have you spoken with Warde Manuel about what you can do to help get construction on the new field house started? Yes.

Coach Quinn: The indoor facility will positively impact the entire western new york community. It’s about getting the administration, faculty, staff, student body, and alumni to support and commit the necessary resources to build it.