With only one win against rival Navy this century, Army alumni put extreme pressure on the administration to bring in new coaching blood. Typically West Point leadership considers coaches with prior ties to the Cadets but with the lack of recent success many felt a drastic hire was needed.
After a lengthy search for the right canidate, new head coach Shaun L. Mason was introduced this week. A graduate from Division III school Ohio Northern University, Mason has no prior coaching experience. However, he was recommended for the post by former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who's family is from Ada, OH where Mason attended college.
"Shaun is an extremely gifted football mind. He has been successful at every other facet of his young life, and I don't see this being any different. Remember Mike Leach was a lawyer and look at his success at Texas Tech." said Tressel.
Coach Mason looks to improve recruiting at West Point, where he feels previous coaches have failed. "West Point is an amazing experience, it is an incredibly challenging place to attend. Everyone is impressed with a graduate from here, and we need to impress that upon the recruits." When asked about top ranked recruits and the NFL. "One of the big things I wanted to get done here was eliminate the assinine requirement for military service. The average NFL career is short, and there is no reason someone talented enough to get drafted shouldn't get the opportunity to play. They can give service back post NFL. That is the agreement I have reached with the Army before accepting the job."
For the first time in a long time, there is excitement in West Point.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
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