Defensive line coach Brett Diersen coaches the Owls through a drill during spring practice. (OwlAccess.com photo)
Near and Diersen
Meet the new coaches: Brett Diersen left Indiana to coach the defensive line and the special teams for former Nebraska colleague Carl Pelini.
Originally published on
7/17/2012
by
Chuck King
After working with Brett Diersen while at Nebraska, Carl Pelini knew Diersen possessed the work ethic he was looking for on his staff.
What he didn't know was whether Diersen would leave Indiana and the Big 10 to help rebuild the FAU.
“I don't know if I would have even tried, but he contacted me,” Pelini said.
Diersen, who had been working with current FAU wide receivers coach Jeff Sims as the defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the Hoosiers, couldn't have been happier to be back with Pelini.
He accepted the job as the Owls' defensive line coach, then set about shaping the Owls' first line of defense, which is switching back to a base 4-3 after spending last season with only three down linemen.
During the spring trying, Diersen made it his goal to toughen the Owls.
“We have to be physical with the O-lineman and be able to, basically, attack them,” Diersen said. “You have to earn the right to rush the passer. A lot of kids want to rush the passer, but if you can't stop them from running it, they are never going to throw.”
Along with worrying about opposing offenses running and throwing the ball, Diersen is also charged with managing the kicking game.
Despite it often being considered a job without much of a reward, Diersen made it a point to ask to coach the special teams.
“I've always enjoyed being able to coach the offensive and defensive guys,” Diersen said. “I think that's the biggest thing about special teams – you get to be on both sides of the ball. It's a weapon that if you have the right mindset on the team it can be real important to you.”
Having seen Diersen work with the special teams at Nebraska, Pelini readily agreed to turn special teams duties over to Diersen.
“That's a hard position to fill - I was able to hit two birds with one stone,” Pelini said. “The guy is an amazing worker. He'll work 24 hours a day if you let him. I've got to tell him to go home.”
BOCA RATON - After working with Brett Diersen while at Nebraska, Carl Pelini knew Diersen possessed the work ethic he was looking for on his staff.
What he didn't know was whether Diersen would leave Indiana and the Big 10 to help rebuild the FAU program.
“I don't know if I would have even tried, but he contacted me,” Pelini said.
Diersen, who had been working with current FAU wide receivers coach Jeff Sims as the defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the Hoosiers, couldn't have been happier to be back with Pelini.
He accepted the job as the Owls' defensive line coach, then set about shaping the Owls' first line of defense, which is switching back to a base 4-3 after spending last season with only three down linemen.
During the spring trying, Diersen made it his goal to toughen the Owls.
“We have to be physical with the O-lineman and be able to, basically, attack them,” Diersen said. “You have to earn the right to rush the passer. A lot of kids want to rush the passer, but if you can't stop them from running it, they are never going to throw.”
Along with worrying about opposing offenses running and throwing the ball, Diersen is also charged with managing the kicking game.
Despite it often being considered a job without much of a reward, Diersen made it a point to ask to coach the special teams.
“I've always enjoyed being able to coach the offensive and defensive guys,” Diersen said. “I think that's the biggest thing about special teams – you get to be on both sides of the ball. It's a weapon that if you have the right mindset on the team it can be real important to you.”
Having seen Diersen work with the special teams at Nebraska, Pelini readily agreed to turn special teams duties over to Diersen.
“That's a hard position to fill - I was able to hit two birds with one stone,” Pelini said. “The guy is an amazing worker. He'll work 24 hours a day if you let him. I've got to tell him to go home.”