Man's Best Friend Coaches Interview Pt.1

Tonight in the first edition of the Man's Best Friend interview by BigKeithDog, I have Coach Strieffman from Texas A&M Kingsville University.

This series of interviews is to get the Wilkinson world familiar with some of the coaches in the D-2 Division.

Coach Strieffman has been coaching in Wilkinson for 14 seasons with 12 being at Texas A&M Kingsville. He does have another team in some other world but we only care about Wilkinson. Strieffman has amassed a 140-39 record as of June 5th, winning 5 Conference Championships and making the playoffs every year since arriving. Even though he's still looking to advance past the 2nd round of the playoffs, he finished Season 130 as the #2 ranked WIS team. With all of the coaching movement in the Lone Star Conference, he's the so to speak "Marshall" of the LSC holding it down.

BKD: So Strieffman, first things first.....thank you for agreeing to do this. The first question I have for you is how did you come up with the user ID?

Strieffman: Back a few years ago, a co-worker of mine added the word "man" frequently when he talked. My last name is Strieff, and he would say Strieff, man this or that. I started calling him by his last name and adding "man" to it. I liked the way it sounded, so I went with it.

BKD: Name?

Strieffman: Bill

BKD: Age?

Strieffman: 58

BKD: Residence?

Strieffman: Michigan

BKD: How did you find out about WIS?

Strieffman: I think I was playing fantasy baseball and was offered a free season of Hardball Dynasty. Then after that, a free season of GD was offered and I really saw some potential for enjoyment there.

BKD: Did you have any mentors when you first started that helped you out a lot?

Strieffman: Not really at the beginning. I learned a tremendous amount of stuff from reading the forums.

BKD: Why did you decide to shack up at Texas A&M Kingsville?

Strieffman: I looked for a school that I could build into a contender. I looked at the school's history (TAMK had won titles in seasons 79, 81, and 95) so I knew it could be done there. I had just left a D3 school in Texas (Trinity) and it looked like a decent area to recruit.

BKD: What has kept you from moving up to D-1AA? Any thoughts of moving up to D-1AA?

Strieffman: I don't think my job at TAMK is done. At this point, I don't see myself leaving until a NC comes my way. So I'm probably stuck here forever! I would have stayed at Trinity in D3 if I didn't dislike D3 so much.

BKD: Is/was there any coach that, when you beat him, you get extra satisfaction?

Strieffman: There is one coach in Wilkinson currently that I want to beat more than any other. I will choose not to name that person at this time. There was a coach in Rockne, at Michigan, Hypnotoad, that I never defeated. I have great respect for him and his game planning ability.

BKD: I love running the NDB at Tuskegee, without spilling your secret ingredient what made you decide to use it and what about your NDB is so effective?

Strieffman: I know this isn’t real football, but in real football I tend to appreciate a good running attack. Control the time of possession, wear down the opponent. After playing for a few seasons I also noticed there are always a number of tight ends available late during recruiting.

BKD: How many hours a day do you spend on WIS?

Strieffman: Probably an hour, except during recruiting, of course. My wife would say way too much time.

BKD: Are there any hobbies other than GD you would like to share?

Strieffman: Camping, drinking craft beer, good conversation with friends.

BKD: Do you have any family you want to mention?

Strieffman: My wife and I have been married for 30 years this year! That is perhaps my proudest accomplishment. I have 2 grown children.

BKD: If so how do you get time away to build such a strong program?

Strieffman: I get up extra early every day and plan from there.

BKD: Prince or Michael Jackson?

Strieffman: Michael Jackson in a landslide

BKD: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Strieffman: Grew up on Star Trek but love the bar scene in Star Wars

BKD: Favorite pizza topping?

Strieffman: Italian sausage

BKD: Cat or Dog?

Strieffman:

Cat

BKD: And finally…….. If you could change anything about GD, what would it be?

Strieffman: The ability to see the next year’s recruiting class. In other words when recruiting begins you would see the juniors in HS, but not be allowed to recruit them. It would enable you to plan out your future a little better.

Thank you again Strieffman for taking time out of your busy day for this.