Winston-Salem State Head Coach Connell Maynor is a veteran with more than 20 years of football experience as a player and coach. In two seasons with the Rams he has compiled a 21-4 mark including going 13-1 this past season. Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) anchor/reporter Trevin A. Jones went one on one with Coach Maynor about his team, coaches and being named the SBN 2011 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.
TAJ: Coach Maynor how does it feel to be named the SBN 2011 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year?
Maynor: It's a great honor and a privilege, Trevin, to be named the SBN Coach of the Year. Eddie Robinson meant so much to the game, and being that there are so many other coaches who could have won this award this year, for them to choose me is just an honor for me, my family, the university, and this athletic program. I feel that this is a program award that starts up top with our chancellor, Donald Reaves, and our athletic director, Bill Hayes. He's an ex-football coach who knows what it takes to win and has done everything he can do to help us in that aspect. Of course, if your team does not do good, you can't win coach of the year. So, it’s also a credit to the players and a great coaching staff that got these guys ready to play each week.
TAJ: Coach you've had so much success in such a short time, how do you handle it and what's next?
Maynor: I've won pretty much all my life and the ring we get this season will be my eleventh as a player or coach, so I'm used to winning and I expect to. We just have to keep doing what we've been doing. Get out there and get some more recruits and keep coaching them up. As long as we keep good kids in the program we have a chance to keep this thing going.
TAJ: There's no doubt that you're a confident coach. On the other hand, how do you remain humble and keep your players from becoming over confident?
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Winston-Salem State Head Coach Connell Maynor |
Maynor: Well, for me personally, it's my personal Savior Jesus Christ. I give him all the credit for things that happen in my life because through him I can do all things that strengthen me. That's why I'm so humble and I know that's why I'm successful. For my players, I can't make them go to church or try to make them believe, but they see me and understand my faith and what I believe in. So, I give the Lord credit for what happens. That's why I'm so confident.
TAJ: You played 14 games this season, including the CIAA Championship Game and some very tough opponents in the playoffs. What did you learn from your players and yourself this season?
Maynor: We actually learned from last year when we got off to a 6-0 start and then lost two out of our last four games. So, we learned to “respect all and fear none,” which is now one of our sayings. If you respect the other team and prepare to play a tough game and not take anyone lightly, it goes a long way in being successful. The guys did that for 14 weeks and in that last game we were prepared, but we were just a couple of plays away from doing what we set out to. So preaching to them about the little things and sacrificing to be great, I think they bought into that.
TAJ: You have an outstanding team and four of your players made the 2011 SBN Black College All-American Team. Give me your thoughts on (runningback) Nick Cooper, (lineman) Darrell Billiot, (lineman) Markus Lawrence and (defensive back) Alton Keaton.
Maynor: Nick is our running game. When we give him the ball, we expect him to get yards and he did. He had 18-hundred yards (1808) and was our go to guy. Billiot and Lawrence are the reasons Cooper could do what he did; because, they were up front blocking for him and opening up holes. Those two guys played a tremendous role in what our team did running and passing. Alton Keaton was the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year and is very deserving of that award. He would come off the edge and hit running backs in the backfield, sack the quarterback, and make picks. He was always there to make a play. He was also a coach on the field. He understood the defense and would line people up. In all honesty, if you want me to talk about Keaton, I could keep on going. He's a great player. If I had 22 Alton Keatons I would never lose a game.
TAJ: Your team had an amazing 5900 yards of total offense in 14 games and they averaged 32 minutes time of possession per game. What was the key?
Maynor: To be balanced. With Nick Cooper in the running game and (quarterback) Kameron Smith, who threw for over 30 touchdowns, good wide receivers and of course those guys up front, we were able to be balanced. We tried to be 50/50 and also take advantage of the defense's weaknesses. I think our coaches did a great job preparing our players and the players did a great job executing the gameplan.
TAJ: Any final thoughts on your season, winning the award and what it means to you and Winston-Salem State?
Maynor: It's huge for this community, university, this athletic program, football program and for me. It's my second year and we said we wanted to return Winston-Salem State to glory. And I think we've done that with the players winning conference awards, All-American awards, my coaching awards; making it to the NCAA National Division II semi-finals, becoming the first Black college football team to ever win 13 games in one season and the SBN National Championship. You know this team has accomplished so much and we're thankful for everything that we have received; and to anyone who has voted for us and given us any type of award, especially the Eddie Robinson award. He's a legend and anytime you can win an award with his name on it, it's one of the highest achievements you can accomplish.