Coaching nomad wanders to NU

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

BYSTEVENM. SIPPLE

One thing is certain about Phil Elmassian.

He can handle change.

When Elmassian joined the Nebraska football staff Jan. 19 as secondary coach, it marked his 14th coaching stop in the past 22 years, including his fifth in five years.

The 52-year-old Elmassian also notes he played for three head coaches in college.

"Imentioned to our players here that I don't think anybody, really, in this building, can appreciate what they went through last year better than me," Elmassian said in an interview at his South Stadium office. "I've walked in everybody's shoes here."

Elmassian (pronounced Ell-MAY-shun) refers to the fact Nebraska head coach Frank Solich and seven of his assistants were fired despite the Huskers' 10-3 record in 2003. In 1986, Elmassian recalled, he found himself out of work despite the fact Virginia Tech had finished 10-1-1.

As it stands, Nebraska fans hope the hiring of head coach Bill Callahan and a revamped staff push the Huskers back into annual national championship contention.

If that type of success is to occur immediately, Nebraska players will have to take to the new coaching staff. Elmassian said he understands the players' feelings.

A native of Cambridge, Mass., Elmassian played at Ferrum (Va.) College before transferring to William & Mary, where he was a defensive back under head coach Lou Holtz.

Holtz was exciting and charismatic, and Elmassian liked him. However, he played only one season for Holtz before Holtz took a job at North Carolina State.

"I was truly devastated," Elmassian said. â€"When he left, man, there were guys wanting to transfer."

Elmassian wanted to leave, but there was a problem.

"Nobody would take me," he said. "I wasn't good enough."

Elmassian stayed at William & Mary and his focus quickly returned to winning.

"You have to win games, man,"he said. "They ain't canceling the season. The way I looked at it back then was, I hated losing more than anything else. So I figured we'd better go back to work.

"You get about a 10-day pity party, then that's enough. It was time to move forward."

So, Elmassian moves forward at yet another school. He believes in the philosophy that change creates opportunity.

Last week, Elmassian gave an interview while taking phone calls. At one point, new Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove entered Elmassian's office and drew up a formation on the dry-erase board.

Elmassian and Cosgrove worked together at Wisconsin, with Elmassian coaching defensive backs from 1997-99 when Cosgrove was defensive coordinator. In 1998, the Badgers led the nation in scoring defense while finishing 8-3 and in 1999 they ranked fifth in scoring defense while finishing 7-4.

"I can anticipate what Coach Cos is going to want, and that makes for a very smooth transition, as opposed to, 'Oh, gee, what are we going to do today?',"said Elmassian, who coached the secondary last season at Purdue, which finished 9-4 and ranked 13th nationally in total defense.

"Phil's very good at a lot of things, but he's particularly good with man-to-man coverage, and he has very good knowledge of the blitz game," said Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack. "And he's very organized."

Elmassian understands he inherits a strong Nebraska secondary. The Huskers last season led the nation in pass-efficiency defense, and free safety Josh Bullocks, a junior-to-be, was second nationally with 10 interceptions.

"We have to see if we can go to another level," Elmassian said. "Can we do it with consistency? Will we do it again this year? The focus is making sure every player becomes a better player than they were the year before."

In addition to Bullocks, Nebraska returns starting left cornerback Fabian Washington and starting strong safety Daniel Bullocks, both juniors-to-be.

Sure, there's talent at NU, "but the most important thing I've seen in my interviews with the players is their character," Elmassian said. "It's excellent. They have tremendous purpose, and they're very unselfish people."

Elmassian said he's optimistic. He has settled into his new job, but not necessarily his new life.

"I know where the office is, and I know where the Holiday Inn is," said Elmassian, who in the past five seasons has coached at Purdue, Marshall (outside linebackers), West Virginia (defensive coordinator) and Louisiana State (defensive coordinator).

Elmassian plans on an extended stay in Lincoln, his track record notwithstanding.

"I'm hoping people feel so good about me that they don't want me to leave," he said. "You know, if we win, it'll take care of itself. If we lose, we'll all be gone.

"That's how it works."

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@;journalstar.com.