By Tom James
INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Shanahan can’t explain it. But the recently hired coach of the Washington Redskins acknowledges that there must be something in drinking water at Eastern Illinois University that has led to several members of that school’s alumni having success as head coaches in the National Football League.
Shanahan, a former quarterback and assistant coach at EIU, registered two Super Bowl wins while he was in charge of the Denver Broncos’ fortunes in the late 1990s. Another former Panthers signal caller, Sean Payton, led the New Orleans Saints to a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV earlier this month.
But it doesn’t end there. Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, who directed his team to the NFC title game this past season, is another Eastern Illinois alum. As is Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger.
“There’s got to be something in that water,” Shanahan joked Friday after speaking to reporters at the National Football Scouting Combine. “It’s been great. But things like that [winning a Super Bowl title] don’t happen very often. I think everybody’s proud of Eastern.
“Not only did i play there, but I coached there. It was a fun year when I coached there because we won the [1978 NCAA Division II] national championship. I’ve got a lot of allegiance to the university and I follow them closely. To have the number of [NFL head] coaches to come out, but there are a lot of [NFL] assistants who are out there coaching that are doing a great job. [Colts defensive line coach John] Teerlinck, Heimerdinger and [former Cleveland Browns defensive line coach] Randy Melvin. We’ve got a number of guys out there that are doing a great job. It’s fun to watch their careers.”
• Good coaching staff — Darrell Mudra was Eastern Illinois’ head coach when the Panthers won the national title. Shanahan ran EIU’s offense while Teerlinck was the school’s defensive coordinator. Melvin, meanwhile, was a starting defensive tackle on the team.
“I hear from some of the [players] from that team every so often,” Shanahan said. “I’ll be on the road someplace, at a game or whatever, and somebody that is connected to that team will show up.”
• Glad to have Turner — One of the first assistant coaches hired by Shanahan in Washington was Indiana State alumnus Bobby Turner.
The pair had worked together in Denver as Turner — a former player and assistant coach for the Sycamores — had been the Broncos’ running backs coach and will now be the assistant head coach/running backs coach for the Redskins.
“I’ve coached with him for 14 years. He’s a heck of a coach,” Shanahan said. “I was hoping that I was going to be able to get him. Initially they wouldn’t let me talk to him. And then we were very persistent to talk to him and [the Broncos] finally let me. I was very happy for our football team that I got him.
“Not only is he our assistant head coach, but he’s the running back coach. He’s one of the reasons why Denver has had so much success in the running game.”
The Redskins coach wants to take advantage of Turner’s years of coaching, both in the NFL and in the college ranks.
“[He adds] his years of expertise. And he’s a man’s man. Just the way he handles himself, the way he works. He’s a worker, he’s a no-nonsense guy and the players love him,” he said. “They perform for him. They respect him because he wouldn’t ask anything of those running backs that he wouldn’t ask of himself. He’s very well respected.”
• Sauter moves up — Former Colts backup quarterback Cory Sauter has been named as the interim head coach at Southwest Minnesota State. Sauter had been the school’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
He replaces former head coach Eric Eidsness, who has resigned to accept the quarterbacks/passing game coordinator job at South Dakota State.
