STARKVILLE — Coleman Hutzler's office overlooks the Mississippi State University football practice field, but around the corner is another reminder of how far the first-year defensive coordinator has come. be.
Hutzler can see a glimpse of Dudy Noble Field through the window. The baseball team's stadium holds all but two of the NCAA's all-time top 25 campus attendance records. The former football and baseball player from Middlebury College, a Division III program, takes one look away from his computer to remember that he came to his SEC.
“It's really fun to be able to see it and be a part of it,” Hutzler told the Clarion Ledger.
But within his office, he reminds us that there is room for growth. Other than a few photos of his family, including his wife Koby, his son Micah, and his daughter Layla, it is largely undecorated.
Hutzler is clearly new to Starkville and a newcomer to his role as well. His stint as co-defensive coordinator at the University of Texas in 2020 is the closest he's come to the job, after spending the past two seasons as Nick Saban's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama. He has joined the staff of new coach Levy.
But Hutzler is confident in his ability to succeed with the Bulldogs. His history of working with elite coaches is a key reason.
Coleman Hutzler and Jim Harbaugh overlap
Jim Harbaugh's head coaching career began in San Diego (2004-06), where he added the former Division III linebacker to the staff as a defensive assistant in his final season. That's Hutzler, who followed Harbaugh to Stanford University (2007-2009) and saw first-hand how the new Los Angeles Chargers coach was building the program.
“(Harbaugh's) competitiveness is very important,” Hutzler said. “It's an important trait to instill that in our players, obviously on the defensive side of the ball. I hope that comes through from me, our staff and our players as we go through winter training and into spring practice.” ”
Harbaugh's desire to win wasn't limited to football.
“It's picking up basketballs at noon, playing checkers and tic-tac-toe, which means taking your shirt off and getting a nosebleed,” Hutzler said.
Coleman Hutzler's Nick Saban Surprise
Hutzler was sitting in MSU's defensive staff room working on the playbook when Levy came in.
“You're welcome,” Levy said to Hutzler.
“Well, thank you,” Hutzler replied. “But I don’t know what I’m grateful for.”
“My former boss just got off the phone,” Levy said.
Like you, Hutzler was surprised when news broke on Jan. 10 that Saban, whom Hutzler coached with at the Rose Bowl nine days earlier, would retire after 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide.
“I was shocked,” Hutzler said. “If you get to the situation he was in, that's always a possibility. I wouldn't have been surprised if in another five, 10 years, he was still going strong. I'm happy for him. is excited…I’m sure he’ll play a lot of golf and become a grandpa.”
Hutzler had to learn from one of the sport's greatest defensive minds, but the lessons extended beyond the game.
“Everyone sees the headsets flying on game day, but he has a great personality on and off the field,” Hutzler said. “(Saban's) relationship with the players was a great experience that lasted two years.”
Dak Prescott:Former Mississippi State University star charged with extortion of $100 million from woman
What will happen to Coleman Hutzler's defense?
Mississippi recently installed a simple label to define the system. The late Mike Leach had an air raid incident. Zach Arnette, who was fired midway through last season and then replaced by Levy, served as defensive coordinator under Leach and was in charge of a 3-3-5 defense.
Hutzler tries to avoid the cliché and simply label his defense as “multiple,” but it's hard to avoid that.
“In today's soccer, you can't be one thing,” Hutzler said. “That's why the word 'multiple' is so popular.” Sitting up front can make you have a bad day defensively. On the back end, he can be predictable if he's in one coverage, one structure. Being predictable with today's quarterbacks, today's offenses, and offensive coordinators is a recipe for disaster. ”
Stefan Krajisnik is the Clarion Ledger's Mississippi beat writer. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X Platform, formerly known as Twitter. @skrajisnik3.
