OCF Ask The Coach...Denison's Nick Fletcher
Friday, June 26th 2009 @ 8:13 AM
Ask The Coach…
Name: Nicholas Fletcher
College: Denison University
1) Who were your three biggest influences in your career?
a. Jack DuBois-Former Head Coach Siena College
b. Gary Barnett-Former Head Coach Northwestern University
c. Bill Cowher-Former Coach Pittsburgh Steelers
2) What advice would you give to young coaches?
Never stop learning. There are always ways to improve. When you think you know it all it is time to find another line of work.
3) What has been your favorite memory from your coaching career?
The many outstanding young men I have had the privilege to coach-too many to list here.
4) If you had to coach another sport, what would it be?
Golf-Much less stress (and I hate golf)
5) Who do you think will be the surprise team in the NCAC in 2009?
The Denison University Big Red
6) What is your offensive philosophy?
All else being equal I would like to be a dominant running team (we did lead the NCAC in rushing last year) but in Division III you never know what kind of talent you are going to have so you have to adjust your philosophy to fit your talent. If you can run the ball you can control the clock and help dominate time of possession-this will help your defense by limiting the opponents opportunities with the ball.
7) What are some of the trends you see in college football?
I think more and more teams are getting back to trying to have a great running game and getting away from the spread offense.
8) If there was a part of the game of football you could change, what would it be?
Football is the best game on the face of the earth as it is-I really can’t think of anything I would change. If it were possible to eliminate injuries I would be for that as long as it did not change the physical nature of the game-that is its great appeal to the guys who play it and to the fans.
9) Should NCAA I-A have a playoff system?
No-I am probably in the minority here but I like all of the controversy about who is #1. People are still arguing about who was number one from seasons long since past. It helps keep college football in the conversation and adds a certain mystery that doesn’t exist in the sports with playoffs. I have no doubt it would be a big money maker but that is secondary to other considerations. I like all of the bowls and other than our own season Bowl Season is the best two weeks of the year. Some of the “lesser” bowls would no doubt be eliminated if we went to a playoff system and that would be a shame for fans and for the guys who get to play “one more game”.
10) Who are some of your favorite players you have coached?
I would prefer not to answer that question. Either the list would be too long or I would end up leaving someone off that I would rather not.
11) One word to describe yourself?
Driven.
12) What is something very few people know about you?
I love reading American History.
13) What was the last book you read?
A Glorious Cause-a book about the American Revolution.
14) If you could invite anyone, dead or alive, to dinner, who would it be? And why?
Former President Ronald Reagan-the greatest President we have had in my lifetime. He got me interested in politics and made me even more proud than I was to be an American. He was not a perfect man but who amongst us was or is.
15) What do you do in your spare time? Hobbies?
I play a lot of racquetball, I still enjoy lifting weights and I love to spend as much time as possible with my wife.
Favorites
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Place to Eat: Ocean Club
Favorite TV Show: O’Reilly Factor
Favorite Holiday: Christmas-I love the spirit of the season.
Favorite Quote: “We can not ensure success but we can deserve it”-George Washington asking the Continental Congress for the money and equipment he would need to train the army to fight the British.
Favorite Movie: Robin Hood-the original with Errol Flynn
Favorite Music: Classic Rock
This or That
Morning or Night: Morning
Grass or Turf: Turf
Steak or Fish: Steak
Run or Throw: Run
Text or Call: Call
Email or Mail: E-mail
Golf or Fish: Neither
Day Game or Night Game: Either
