Patrick Kinahan One On One With Bronco Mendenhall
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Here are excerpts from an interview I did with Bronco Mendenhall:
How much further along is the program compared to your first two years?
“We’re much further along in terms of expectations. Last year at this time there was some uncertainty as to how it all would come together.”
How has your job changed as far as being the defensive coordinator?
“There really hasn’t been anything changed from last year, other than the coaches are all very familiar with the system we’re running. Their input and their ability to work together collectively whether I’m in the room [or] out of the room, I think, is at a higher level. My input is on a broader perspective; the details are with the coaches.”
Do you still intend to remain defensive coordinator:
“I’ll keep it this year. I still really enjoy it. I think the defense is effective. I think our current structure and staff in the defensive room is managing it really well in my dual role. So I think we’ll do it at least for another year.”
Are your goals for the program on target?
“I think they are on target. The goals never really started with number of wins; they did start with championships, which was in relation with the expectations.
“What unfolded at a much higher level than I ever expected was kind of the embracing of the school’s mission and the integration of representing the church through our program. That part I wouldn’t have expected at such a high level at the beginning, but it really has been a lot of satisfaction.”
What are you shooting for this year?
“What I believe is the program will gain hold of national credibility through consistency. Conference championships are the easiest way to measure that consistency.”
How has that success affected the recruiting? You’ve got a number of early commitments – is that a product of you being aggressive or a product of the program improving its reputation?
“I think it started at the first being very aggressive with a very specific player-type in mind and then not waiting, because it matched our criteria that we established as a coaching staff and the direction we were taking with the program Now, certainly it’s been added with our record over the last two years. That has added more choices to our early and aggressive strategy. Now we’re having more choices and more interest [from recruits].”
How many scholarships do you have left?
“We have three.”
Is the recruiting for those three going to go the end?
With the players we have remaining, I would think so. We obviously have offered more scholarships than we have remaining, because they’re all being recruited heavily. For us, many of the kids we’re recruiting have possibilities of missions [out of high school].”
You’ve had kids come home from missions and make immediate contributions, like Fui [Vakapuna} and [David] Nixon. Is that the plan or do you give it a year?
“We plan on a year. We think that’s the safest and most logical thing to do. It they happen to be ready earlier, than that’s a bonus.”
Do you need another year [of recruiting] to build up the defensive line and secondary?
“From what I’ve seen, the scholarship players coming in at both spots have been assessed right. I think it will take another year at the defensive line, doing the same thing, and then we have some missionary integration coming back. I think the secondary will take another year as well.”
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