With wins over Hamline and Augsburg this week, it appears as if St. Olaf Football is moving up the ladder of the MIAC Conference. One of the reasons for this improvement stems from Head Coach Paul Miller piecing together a talented staff of volunteer coaches.

The staff has three volunteer coaches, Offensive Line Coach Wayne Price, Running Back Coach John Gross and Defensive Assistant Chris Schwartz. Tight End Coach Dick Walker also contributes his time for a $200 stipend, which in years past he has donated back to the program to buy video equipment.

Being an assistant coach on Millerıs staff requires an extensive time commitment. During the preseason the coaches give up almost three full weeks to conduct the three practices every day and to review film every evening. During the regular season, in addition to being there for games on Saturdays, the coaches are on campus weekdays from noon until 6:30 p.m. for film study and practice. In the off-season the staff often attends coaching seminars, conducts recruiting and visits campus to stay in touch with the current team.

"Iım appreciative to the guys who volunteer coach with our program," said Miller. "It is a great sacrifice on their part. The coaches are involved because they enjoy working with the players. I often hear them comment that they like the players at St. Olaf and ultimately thatıs what it comes down to."

The volunteer coaches bring many years of football knowledge to the program. Gross and Walker have a combined experience of 53 years coaching high school football. Both are now retired and can afford the time commitment to help Miller. "Coach Gross and Coach Walker are basically at St. Olaf because I asked them to be here," said Miller. "They have both coached a long time and are doing it because they enjoy it."

Schwartz and Price are new additions to Millerıs staff this season. Schwartz was hired to be the equipment manager for the Manitou Fieldhouse, in addition to having a strong desire to get involved with St. Olaf Football. Price is making a return to coaching after a 12-year absence. Price has been the head first-year coach and linebacker coach at Moorhead State University, the head high school coach at Monticello high school and the offensive line coach at Central Missouri State University.

Price has been friends with Miller since they were young and is excited to be coaching with him. "Paul Miller is the only reason why Iım [coaching at St. Olaf]," said Price. "Iım at the point in my life where he is the only person Iıd be an assistant coach for. He is a great person to work for because he doesnıt have much of an ego and solicits input from all the assistant coaches."

Price has made the time commitment this season with the help of his employees at his insurance agency. "I have two great people on my staff who help me run my business," said Price. "My wife has also been great. She does a lot of the bookwork and payroll to make this possible. Iım lucky to be in a situation where I can do it."

Millerıs staff has a lot of unique situations that allow them to be on campus often enough to make the time commitment necessary to be successful. In addition to the volunteer coaches, Defensive Coordinator Darrell Kluck supplements his coaching by being on campus for summer programs, Linebacker Coach LaRue Pierce is Dean of Students, while Receivers Coach Matt McDonald is also the head baseball coach. "Miller is very well respected in the football community," said Price. "He is the program and he attracts good people."

The situation with the football team having multiple volunteer coaches is common throughout St. Olaf Athletics. "Internally St. Olaf has a lot of students and faculty who want to help out," said Athletic Director Cindy Book. "It is a very common practice in Division III and even Division I programs have volunteer coaches."

Last year St. Olaf organized a task force to investigate numerous factors in athletics and discovered that St. Olaf is in the middle of the MIAC in terms of financial commitment. This places St. Olaf behind schools such as St. Johnıs, St. Thomas, Gustavus, Bethel, and Concordia. "It helps when coaches like Kluck and Pierce can find jobs on campus that allow them to be available to athletes all day long," said Book. "Most schools try to do the same thing with their coaches­ hire the head coach on a full time basis and the number one assistant full time in another capacity."

The amount of financial commitment by the school is obviously determined by their priorities and in the past, athletics hasnıt been near the top of the list. "Athletics are very valuable venue to a college like St. Olaf," said Miller. "This year homecoming was not only a great football experience, but a great gathering for students, parents, and alumni. In addition to the volleyball match and all the events on campus Homecoming weekend was a great thing this year and it is very difficult to put a monetary value on that." Schools like St. Johnıs University have a tremendous pride that stems from their athletics and has served as a rallying point for the school and alumni.

The student-athlete makes up over twenty percent of the student body and plays a major role in the lives of St. Olaf students. "If you are a competitor in the MIAC you want to be on equal footing with the other teams," said Price. "Is it important for the school to be equal with St. Johnıs and St. Thomas? I donıt know."

The task force that was organized last fall was a step towards investigating the schoolıs commitment to athletics. With the hiring of Rev. Dr. Christopher Thomforde St. Olaf might receive another look at those results. "I havenıt been able to talk with the new president, but from his credentials Iım very optimistic that heıll be supportive of athletics," said Book. "As a department Iım sure we will get along fine."