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Football players vary from fast and elusive to strong and powerful, but first-year SIU coach Dale Lennon said there is only one type of athlete he will coach - the one who keeps the student in front of the athlete.

Lennon's coaching accomplishments off the field resemble his successful accomplishments on it. Academic excellence was the norm for the Fighting Sioux as they managed at least a 3.0 team grade point average in eight of the nine seasons Lennon served as head coach.

More than 50 North Dakota players finished with academic all-conference awards during that time.

"The thing you feel good about is helping them graduate," Lennon said. "There is no greater feeling for a coach than going to graduation and seeing your players walk across the stage. At that point in time there is a satisfaction that you did a good job."

To achieve that level of success every season, Lennon said he developed a simple pyramid of goals.

The first step is to finish with a team GPA of 3.0. The second is for the seniors to graduate.

The final goal is one that has eluded the SIU football team for the past 24 seasons - to win a national championship.

Lennon said he always thought academics would be in the forefront during his coaching career because he planned on being a high school coach. Once he was offered a graduate assistantship at Northern State University in 1986, he took it and carried his emphasis on academics with him the rest of his career.

Lennon said academic success is just one part of preparing his players for life after football. Community involvement is something Lennon stresses and expects from his team, he said.

Director of Athletics Mario Moccia said Lennon's community involvement was a reason he was selected as coach in December.

"I think part of the criteria we were looking for was someone who could fit in and wanted to fit in with the community," Moccia said. "We were looking for someone who had been in a smaller town but was a big part of the community."

Lennon said though most community involvement takes place in day-to-day operations, he did participate in major events.

One activity his old team took part in every year was "Holiday Magic for Marcus," where the team raised money and wrapped gifts for children with life-threatening illnesses. On an off day, the team traveled to a nearby community that was devastated by a tornado and helped remove and rebuild destroyed homes.

Lennon said the Saluki squad has impressed him so far, and it's clear former coach Jerry Kill instilled in them a sense of pride for Carbondale.

Lennon said Carbondale's relationship with SIU was a main reason he was attracted to the job.

"In college towns, the people involved with the college have to be involved with the community and that's what I am comfortable with and what I want to do here," Lennon said.

While Lennon has been away from Carbondale on the recruiting trail, he said he has enjoyed the community and that his assistant coaches are excited as well. Lennon's coaching staff includes six of his past colleagues.

Lennon said reuniting with his old staff in a community like Carbondale has sparked new life into him.

"I am 47 years old, but coaching here makes me feel young again," Lennon said. "I feel like we reunited the band for another tour."

Jeff Engelhardt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 269 or jengel@siu.edu.

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