Carlson faces a whole new challenge
New Crusaders coach feels he can turn team into a
Pioneer contender January 16, 2010
BY JOHN MUTKA, POST-TRIBUNE SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
www.post-trib.com/sports/1993618,fbc-valparaiso_0116.article
VALPARAISO -- Dale Carlson has jump-started programs at Tri-State (1995) and Ohio Dominican (2004) in his 21 years as a head football coach. Now the NAIA pioneer faces a different challenge as Valparaiso University's new coach.
Introduced by athletic director Mark LaBarbera on Friday, VU's 16th football coach in 90 years can claim a brief history with the school. His Tri-State (now Trine) teams split with the Crusaders, winning 20-17 in 1998 and losing 32-12 in 2000.
Carlson inherits a team coming off a 1-10 season, a non-scholarship program which is in sharp contrast to his previous positions.
Valparaiso chose him after a national search. More than 100 candidates expressed an interest after coach Stacy Adams resigned.
"Dale has 21 years of experience as a head college coach, a proven record of success on the football field," LaBarbera said. "He's won numerous awards for his success and leadership. He created programs from scratch (Tri-State, Dominican)."
At Ohio Dominican, where Carlson spent the last six years, he produced five All-Americans, seven Academic All-Americans and more than 90 all-conference performers. All that came after starting from scratch, going from 0-10 in his first year (2004) to 12-1 in 2007.
Carlson brings a reputation as an offensive-minded coach, which should be a breath of fresh air. Last year, the Crusaders scored only 121 points, their 11-point average bringing up the rear in the Pioneer Football League.
While serving as an assistant for Tom Beck at Elmhurst College and the legendary Red Vaught at Franklin,
Carlson became a disciple of the spread offense.
"Tom's a Hall of Famer and Red was way ahead of his time, throwing the football all over the place," Carlson said after meeting with returning members of VU's football team. "Their eyes lit up a little bit when I talked to them about the spread offense."
Returning quarterback Matt Upshaw, who was on the search committee, came away impressed with VU's new leader.
"I think he's a very strong-willed person, who will make an impact very early," said Upshaw, who was redshirted last year, sitting out the season because of a wrist injury.
Of course, Carlson's offensive flair appeals to the aspiring senior.
"Definitely, at the meeting he started throwing out numbers ... 50 points a game ... 500 yards," said Upshaw, referring to Carlson's track record at Ohio Dominican. "I got a little bright-eyed and bushy-tailed listening to him because he's such a strong speaker."
Carlson will assemble a staff as quickly as possible to play catch-up in recruiting. How many coaches he will retain from last year's VU staff is uncertain.
At least one member of his former staff is likely to join him. VU grad Bob Muckin served as his offensive coordinator and line coach at Ohio Dominican. "He worked with me at Tri-State, too," said Carlson, who recognizes the need for haste. "I hope to get the process going and solidified within a week."
Because of his Chicago roots -- Carlson attended Luther North High, then Concordia-River Forest and Chicago State -- he is expected to maintain strong ties in that area, including Northwest Indiana and Milwaukee, another VU stronghold because of Wisconsin's heavy Lutheran population.
Carlson wants to expand VU's sphere of influence. "To succeed we need to really branch out," he said, mentioning Ohio, Michigan and St. Louis as other points of interest. "Ideally you want the core of your recruiting class to be within a three-to-four hour radius.
Defensively, Carlson has relied on the 3-4 scheme over the last three years, the Panthers having to deal with a multitude of pass-minded opponents. He emphasizes being aggressive and creating turnovers.
Unlike his NAIA past, Carlson won't be armed with athletic scholarships. Some might consider that a handicap. Not him.
"The Ivy League doesn't have scholarships," he said. "Neither does the Patriot League. They play at a very high level." Carlson is signed on for at least five years. Will it take that long to reverse a program which has won only 15 games since 2005?
Carlson pointed out that Pioneer Football League rival Butler went from doormat to conference champion over the last three years. He also included VU's recent history, which included going from 1-10 in 2002 to PFL champion the following year.
"I can't put a time frame on it," he said. "We're going to get it turned around. We're going to be competitive pretty quickly."
