Spring is here to stay.
The Hoosiers are getting psyched for our upcoming race this weekend in Indy against Purdue, Notre Dame, and Eastern Michigan. We are in the heart of training, toning physically and mentally to stay consistent through each weekend. This week we were able to set-up our 2K course on Lake Lemon, and it will be used a lot over the next couple months. With each high-rating piece, our fleet of crews look increasingly confident and sharp. While there is no such thing as a perfect practice, our student-athletes never run out of fight and push from the warm-up to the cool-down row to the dock.
We are also getting ready to sign up for Fall classes, which seems years away, but in reality that time is right around the corner. Speaking of the Fall, there is a welcome addition to the Indiana Athletics family that deserves some recognition. Coach Kevin Wilson is IU's new Head Football Coach, and he is exhilarated for next season! A few weeks ago, I was involved in a meet-and-greet where Coach Wilson introduced Offensive and Defensive coaches, answered questions, and shared with IU students that he expects Hoosier Spirit at every football game. This is very exciting, as we have a really great incoming recruiting class.
I was pumped to have had the opportunity to ask Coach Wilson a few questions for the blog. As the IU Athletics motto is "24 Sports One Team," our Rowing Team welcomes you to the Hoosier family Coach Wilson!
Regarding athletics, what do you look for in terms of leaders on a team?
"Someone that is a great example guy. Leadership is best coupled with performance. Not necessarily a verbal guy, but someone who is doing things right all the time, on and off the field."
What is something you enjoy about coaching Division I football?
"The opportunity to work with some great, young kids. Guys at the age where you try to finish off their growth process and teach them to be disciplined, hard working and structured. And putting that together and having a team that can be the best it can be. One, you get a chance to finish the individual growth of a young man and help develop him as a man on and off the field. Collectively, putting all those guys together to formulate the best team you can."
What are some Team Building Activities that you do?
"Our team building focuses on how to create a competitive environment. A lot of things we do we have a winner and a loser, with consequences. We try and build every exercise in a confident way. If we are doing team-building activities, we carry ourselves in a very positive manner with high expectations."
How long have you been coaching for?
"I knew I wanted to coach as a player. As soon as I finished playing, I started helping out with the team at the University of North Carolina. I became a student coach and spent three years as a student and graduate assistant after four years of playing. Then I spent a couple years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities working in smaller settings, primarily African-American environments which was a good learning situation."
From your overall experience as a coach, what do you think are some valuable lessons you've learned?
"The last two guys I have worked for - Randy Walker and Bob Stoops - were leaders who were very humble and grounded with high morals. They had high integrity and were extremely honest. I learned to hold players to a very high standard, don't back down from that standard but also treat them with a lot of respect."
- Gayle Lewallen, Freshman, Exploratory Major
The Hoosiers are getting psyched for our upcoming race this weekend in Indy against Purdue, Notre Dame, and Eastern Michigan. We are in the heart of training, toning physically and mentally to stay consistent through each weekend. This week we were able to set-up our 2K course on Lake Lemon, and it will be used a lot over the next couple months. With each high-rating piece, our fleet of crews look increasingly confident and sharp. While there is no such thing as a perfect practice, our student-athletes never run out of fight and push from the warm-up to the cool-down row to the dock.
We are also getting ready to sign up for Fall classes, which seems years away, but in reality that time is right around the corner. Speaking of the Fall, there is a welcome addition to the Indiana Athletics family that deserves some recognition. Coach Kevin Wilson is IU's new Head Football Coach, and he is exhilarated for next season! A few weeks ago, I was involved in a meet-and-greet where Coach Wilson introduced Offensive and Defensive coaches, answered questions, and shared with IU students that he expects Hoosier Spirit at every football game. This is very exciting, as we have a really great incoming recruiting class.
I was pumped to have had the opportunity to ask Coach Wilson a few questions for the blog. As the IU Athletics motto is "24 Sports One Team," our Rowing Team welcomes you to the Hoosier family Coach Wilson!
Regarding athletics, what do you look for in terms of leaders on a team?
"Someone that is a great example guy. Leadership is best coupled with performance. Not necessarily a verbal guy, but someone who is doing things right all the time, on and off the field."
What is something you enjoy about coaching Division I football?
"The opportunity to work with some great, young kids. Guys at the age where you try to finish off their growth process and teach them to be disciplined, hard working and structured. And putting that together and having a team that can be the best it can be. One, you get a chance to finish the individual growth of a young man and help develop him as a man on and off the field. Collectively, putting all those guys together to formulate the best team you can."
What are some Team Building Activities that you do?
"Our team building focuses on how to create a competitive environment. A lot of things we do we have a winner and a loser, with consequences. We try and build every exercise in a confident way. If we are doing team-building activities, we carry ourselves in a very positive manner with high expectations."
How long have you been coaching for?
"I knew I wanted to coach as a player. As soon as I finished playing, I started helping out with the team at the University of North Carolina. I became a student coach and spent three years as a student and graduate assistant after four years of playing. Then I spent a couple years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities working in smaller settings, primarily African-American environments which was a good learning situation."
From your overall experience as a coach, what do you think are some valuable lessons you've learned?
"The last two guys I have worked for - Randy Walker and Bob Stoops - were leaders who were very humble and grounded with high morals. They had high integrity and were extremely honest. I learned to hold players to a very high standard, don't back down from that standard but also treat them with a lot of respect."
- Gayle Lewallen, Freshman, Exploratory Major
