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Bennett finalizes SMU football staff
Latest addition is offensive line coach from Middle Tennessee


09:50 PM CST on Monday, January 12, 2004

By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News


UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU made the final changes to its football coaching staff Monday when Ronnie Vinklarek was named offensive line coach, replacing Blake Miller.

Vinklarek, a native of Flatonia, Texas, was the offensive line coach at Middle Tennessee State last season. He also coached at Buffalo and Tennessee in the NFL and at Valdosta (Ga.) State, Houston and Oklahoma State in the college ranks. He also coached the CFL's Birmingham franchise.

Vinklarek, 45, recruited the Texas area while at Middle Tennessee State.

Larry Edmondson, who was the offensive coordinator last season, will coach the wide receivers.

Clarence James, the wide receivers coach last season, has been moved to running backs coach.

Jerry Bennett will become the director of high school relations. He also will coach the tight ends and inside receivers.

Eric Roark is the recruiting coordinator and defensive ends coach.

Austin Adami has been named the offensive graduate assistant.

"All of the coaches feel good about what they're doing," SMU head coach Phil Bennett said. "Jerry knows every high school coach in the state, and it gives him more time to set up our camps. Ronnie is a great story and an excellent coach with experience."

I hope that these coaching/administrative assignments will eventually establish that Phil Bennett is developing as a head coach.

Jerry Bennett, in the position of director of high school relations, will be very effective and productive. Phil was right when he said that there is not a high school coach that Jerry doesn't know. On the other hand, there are very few who don't know Jerry and they LIKE him and RESPECT him. It's a plus for the overall program. I think it is a terrific move. I think all of the moves play to the strengths of the individuals and will make us considerably better.

"Ronnie is a great story and an excellent coach with experience."

Well... What's the great story? Typical DMN coverage (or lack thereof).

Not sure you will find the "great story" here, but here is his bio:

http://www.smumustangs.com/coaches_bios.asp?sport=football&ID=235

OK- What's the catch? A guy who used to be the O line coach fro the Bills and the Titans then takes a job at some small colleges? Now he takes the same job at SMU. This is a very impressive resume but what is he doing at SMU. Does he owe Bennett money? Does Bennett have dirty pictures of him? What is going on?

He went to Middle Tennessee State when another NFL job fell through at the last minute. He was among the candidates last year when the Bills' job opened up. He's a very good hire.

The are about a gazillion jobs open in the NFL this year too with 7-8 new head coaches being hired. There are also a lot of colleges which are changing. Nebraska fired all most all of their assitants. I repeat my question.

And some of those new head coaches have preferred people they worked with before. Joe Gibbs chose Joe Bugel for offensive line. No surprise there. The Bills former head coach became DC with the Redskins who already had an OL coach. We don't know what if any offers he had when he accepted us, and quite frankly might have gotten if he had waited for these coaches to fill their positions. He had a job offer here, that probably had a short acceptance fuse. Bennett landed an experienced line coach with Texas recruiting ties. You can't ask for much more than that.

Is this a sign that perhaps our pay scales for assistant coaches is on par with the big boys now? I would assume that NFL pays quite a bit more but maybe not. Would this be a sign of The Commitment?

Naaaaaah. :no:

<small>[ 01-14-2004, 06:45 AM: Message edited by: PlanoStang ]</small>

How 'bout the idea that he wants to be at SMU. Phil explained the status of the program and outlined his goals. Obviously, the offer and the opportunity was attractive enough to merit his coming on board. We don't have much to show in the way of wins RIGHT NOW, but we will. And SMU is not a bad place to be. You chose it and so did I. I hope he is part of the staff that produces a winner!