SEMO returns to fundamentals with new-look coaching staff

Coaching staff changes are a natural annual occurrence in today’s college football.

Success leads to new opportunities for assistants to become head coaches and failure leads to them falling on the sword and off their perch.

After following up an Ohio Valley Conference championship season in 2022 with a 4-7 2023 season, the Redhawks entered the spring with new faces on the staff and a new approach to practices.

“When you turnover a lot of coaches you have to start over,” said SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz. “So It’s really important that I do a great job of onboarding them and making sure they understand our culture.”

The Redhawks have added assistant coaches Todd Drury (safeties), Morris Lolar (cornerbacks), Drew Maddox (offensive line), and Madison Bunch (running backs) to the staff. Jeromy McDowell (offense) and Ricky Coon (defense) remain as Matukewicz’s coordinators.

“So far, I was pleased with the hires,” Matukewicz said. “It’s really art. It’s not science. You’re trying to understand personalities, and how it’s gonna affect the room. The most important thing I did on each hire is I asked myself, what does this position need to bring?”

Matukewicz said the goal every year is to win the OVC and defeat Southern Illinois. The Redhawks came up short of both goals because of their inability to avoid penalties, which has led to an emphasis on returning to the fundamentals this spring.

“I didn’t think we played very smart last year,” Matukewicz said. “Fundamentally, I thought we were a poor team.”

This has led to Matukewicz shifting the practice approach this spring from system installs and situational simulation to basic fundamentals.

“At the end of the day, this game is still about blocking and tackling and throwing and catching and stuff like that. That’s something I felt slip last year because I let it slip,” he added. “That’s one of my goals this year is to make sure that doesn’t slip again.”

The Redhawks still have a reason to believe this year because of the return of quarterback Paxton DeLaurent. The senior’s season ended after six games last year due to a shoulder injury. He threw for 1,792 yards and 11 touchdowns against two interceptions.

“I think he is playing at a really high level,” Matukewicz said. “We’re gonna ask him to do more stuff at the line of scrimmage this year. He’s definitely smart enough to do that. Certainly, we’ll do everything we can to keep him healthy because we’re better when he’s out there.”

A major part of keeping their star quarterback healthy this year is an improved offensive line, something Matukewicz believes the Redhawks have this year.

“I think we have the size, strength, and athleticism in the o-line,” Matukewicz said. “I will say significantly better than a year ago.”

The Rowdy Bowl Football Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at Houck Field.