Posts Tagged ‘indiana state’

We have learned that Utah State assistant head coach Mike Sanford has been named the head coach at Indiana State. 

Sanford steps in at Indiana State for Trent Miles, who departed for the same position at Georgia State. Miles executed a remarkable turnaround at Indiana State, leading a program that went 2-54 from 2005-09 to a 6-5 record in 2010 and 7-4 seasons in 2011-12. Under Miles, the Sycamores played outstanding defense, ranking fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense and total defense and placing third in scoring defense. On offense, they were led by junior running back Shakir Bell, who ranked sixth in FCS with 134.1 rushing yards per game. 

Sanford is a coaching lifer with 35 years of experience spread through 14 different stops. He played quarterback at USC from 1973-76 and began coaching as a graduate assistant a year later with the Trojans. Sanford has spent the majority of his career in the West, with stays at San Diego City College, Long Beach State, another stop at USC, the San Diego Chargers, Stanford, Utah, UNLV and, most recently, Utah State. He has also ventured off the West Coast a number of times, with stints as a position coach at Army, VMI, Purdue and Notre Dame, and as the offensive coordinator at Louisville in 2010-11. 

Sanford was the head coach at UNLV from 2005-09, compiling a 16-43 record. He spent the 2012 season as the assistant head coach and also coached running backs and tight ends. Sanford helped the Aggies post a 10-2 record and win the WAC title. Utah State ranked in the top half of the WAC in every offensive category, and running back Kerywnn Williams led the conference and placed 23rd nationally by rushing for 106.4 yards per game. Williams, a First Team All-WAC honoree, also led the team and ranked eighth in the WAC with 43 grabs for 663 yards and five touchdowns. Utah State tight end Kellen Bartlett earned Honorable Mention All-WAC honors by snagging 37 catches for 261 yards and five scores.

We hear Sanford plans to bring some exciting young assistants to Indiana State. Really like this hire!

We have learned that Indiana State head coach Trent Miles will become the next head coach at Georgia State.

Miles, who had other options, steps into interesting times at Georgia State. Program architect Bill Curry retired following the Panthers' 1-10 campaign. Georgia State, which launched its football program in 2010, just completed a three-season stay in the Colonial Athletic Association in FCS, and will move to FBS's Sun Belt Conference in 2013.

Miles took over a moribund Indiana State program in 2008 and led the Sycamores to three consecutive winning seasons from 2010-12. Miles led Indiana State to a 6-5 record in 2010, its first winning season since 1996. He followed that up with another 6-5 record in 2011 and a 7-4 campaign in 2012. FootballScoop highlighted the turnaround effort executed by Miles following last season.  

Miles played wide receiver at Indiana State from 1982-86 and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Sycamores in 1987. GA stops at New Mexico and Oklahoma led him to jobs coaching wide receivers at Northern Illinois (1991-94), Hawaii (1995-96) and Fresno State (1997-99) before catching on with the Green Bay Packers as a quality control assistant in 2000. He then coached wide receivers at Stanford and Notre Dame and coached running backs at Washington from 2005-07 before assuming the head coaching position at Indiana State in 2008. 

Below is a video showcasing Miles' coaching philosophy taken at an Indiana State practice.

"You're teaching everyday" Miles explained in the clip. "Whether you're on the field, or in the meeting room, or in and around the office, anytime you can, you're teaching".

On Saturday, Indiana State traveled out to the Fargodome to take on North Dakota State, a conference opponent and the #1 team in the FCS rankings, and put together a very impressive defensive performance to get the win.

Despite scoring no offensive touchdowns against the defending national champions, the Sycamores ended up winning 17-14 because of two interceptions returned for touchdowns by defensive back Johnny Towalid. Indiana State recorded three total interceptions the entire game.

Coming into the game, North Dakota State had not thrown an interception all season.

The Bison were looking really good coming off of a big 48-7 win over #3 Youngstown State last weekend, but couldn't get the momentum to carry over against the Sycamore defense (which ranks 3rd nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13 points per game) , The Indiana State defense held the Bison to under 200 yards passing with no touchdowns on the day.

“I don’t think anybody thought that we would win other than our players and us as coaches. Anytime you can beat the defending national champion at their place, it says a lot about our team.” said Indiana State head coach Trent Miles.

“This conference, they are all heavyweights,” Miles said of the competition in the Missouri Valley Conference. “Anybody in this conference can play with anybody. It will be just as tough next week going into Western Illinois.”

Obviously the defensive coaching staff put together a great game plan, and if their guys continue to execute as well as they have been, Miles and his guys are going to be tough to beat.