Oct. 15, 2001
By Marianne Stoess – Host Communications
Kentucky defensive ends should be forewarned. New defensive ends coach Chris Lancaster has high expectations for his Wildcats this season. And his expectations aren’t limited to the football field.
“College is a time to prepare you for the real world,” said Lancaster. “I don’t know how many ball games we are going to win or how many championships we are going to win. I know that we are going to work hard to win a lot of those.
“The kids that I coach (defensive ends), I want them better in three areas when they leave here: physically – I want them to be better football players than they were when they got here, mentally – I want them to be as smart as they can be and to be ready to handle whatever the real world has to offer, and spiritually – I want them to be ready to take on the world professionally and personally, whether it be running a business or raising a family.
“My most important job is to be a cheerleader and a guidance counselor for these young men. And that is a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
His expectations may be high, but Lancaster knows they won’t be hard for the Wildcats to meet and exceed. Having a chance to get acquainted with the players during the off-season and preseason practices, Lancaster likes what he sees from the Kentucky squad.
“This team can do a lot of things,” said Lancaster. “I see how these kids believe in themselves. They had a great off-season and continue to gain confidence. As they work hard and learn more, their potential continues to increase.”
While Lancaster may be new to the Kentucky football coaching staff, he certainly isn’t new to coaching college football. He is a well-traveled assistant coach, with 13 years of coaching experience on his resume. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Clemson, as a student assistant in 1988. During his five seasons at Clemson, the Tigers won three Atlantic Coast Conference championships and participated in five bowl games.
In three season with the Big 12’s Baylor Bears, Lancaster worked with the offensive tackles, tight ends and special teams, earning a trip to the 1994 Alamo Bowl. Lancaster then moved on to the Division I-AA ranks from 1997-2000, making stops at Sam Houston State and McNeese State. He helped McNeese State earn a trip to the 2000 national playoffs, guiding an offense that led the conference in rushing and total offense.
When presented with the opportunity to coach the defensive ends at Kentucky, Lancaster jumped at the chance to coach in the Southeastern Conference and to take advantage of the long-awaited opportunity to coach with his father-in-law. “It was an opportunity to coach in the SEC,” said Lancaster. “I am in a unique situation where my father-in-law is the defensive coordinator, John Goodner. We have been trying to coach together for the last 10 years. Opportunities came about, but the timing wasn’t right. The opportunity presented itself here at Kentucky and everything has worked out well so far.”
In addition to getting to coach alongside Goodner, Lancaster is also thrilled to be a member of first-year head coach Guy Morriss’ staff. Without question, Lancaster admires Morriss and his work ethic and feels that everyone, coaches and players, can learn by his example.
“When you look at Guy, you see confidence,” said Lancaster. “I respect what he has been through in his career, playing in the NFL and working as an offensive line coach. But what I really respect is the way he handles these kids. They know they are dealing with a genuine person.”
Lancaster reflects Morriss’ attitude in his own outlook on football, encouraging his charges to give their full effort each time they take the field, whether it be in practice or in the game. “There are going to be mistakes but our overall goal for the defensive ends is a complete effort. That is my philosophy – whatever we are going to do, let’s do it full speed, 110 percent effort. We can always correct the mistakes, but we can not make up for a lack of effort.”
With the 2001 football season under way and the Wildcats opening SEC action today against the Florida Gators, Lancaster is ready to face the challenges that lie ahead. He has complete confidence in the abilities of his defensive ends. “I am very enthusiastic and positive about this team and the future of Kentucky football,” said Lancaster. “Let’s have fun and do the best we can do and good things are going to happen.”
