Minnesota: Interview with Vermilion JUCO Defensive Coordinator Antonio McKinney
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
After one season working with head coach Terrence Isaac at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport, La., as a defensive backs coach, Antonio McKinney is now working with Coach Isaac at the college level as a defensive coordinator for Coach Isaac and the Vermilion Community College football program.
Coach McKinney played for Southwood High School in Shreveport then attended and played at both Southern Arkansas and Louisiana-Monroe before joining the coaching ranks after graduating college in 2011. McKinney then held coaching positions at Southwood High School, Minden High School, and Green Oaks before making the move to Ely, Minn., to join Vermilion.
Coach McKinney has built his coaching philosophy around four pillars: trust, accountability, respect, and loyalty.
The philosophy and enthusiasm for coaching has carried over into the collegiate ranks. McKinney is enjoying working with his defensive unit so far this season. Despite losing their first game, Coach McKinney took some positive takeaways from the game and is ready to get back to work with his players as they prepare for the rest of the season.
In an exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview, I caught up with Coach McKinney to talk about his coaching career and what it is like being a defensive coordinator at the college level.
Interview
Coach McKinney, what was your first impression of working with Coach Isaac?
He’s different. He brings good changes and an environment to a program.
What was your first impression of the Vermilion football program?
They didn’t have a season last year due to COVID. We had to address things and start from ground zero. It was a fresh start. Coach Isaac has the opportunity to make it his own and take over every aspect.
What is the hardest to adjust from the high school level to college football?
I approach each level as if I was at the next level.
What is your philosophy on coaching?
Character makes all the difference in the world and it brings trust, accountability, respect, and loyalty. I start with character building. Those four aspects strengthen the football part. Coach Isaac and I gel in this philosophy. Character building is number one and football is second. My roots go deep in respect and obedience.
How did you come up with this philosophy?
Each coach that I know and have worked with has the same personality. I stay in contact with all my former coaches.
What is your greatest strength in coaching?
My greatest strength is teaching. I love to share it and teach it so the athletes understand it. I break it down to the simplest form so my players grasp it.
What is your process of evaluating your defensive players?
I grade my players weekly on performance. I don’t have starters, I have standards. So, if they meet my standard, performance will show.
How do you break down opposing offenses and relay these keys to your players?
Each position on the defense has a breakdown on a film and that’s their responsibility to focus on. For example, our nose guard will focus on the opposing offensive line and find the strongest lineman. Everyone has their own tendencies and that will make our defense come together.
What are your thoughts on the first game of the season?
I was disappointed with how it played out but I was not disappointed with our effort. Overall, our defense was solid but had some minors. This was the first time our defense played together as a unit so I think we came out good.
What positive takeaways can you take from week one and apply them to week two?
We just need to continue to play hard and well together.
How does your Vermilion defense look going into the rest of the season after one game?
We have a great chance of being special. All of our guys are competitors. We know these guys can do the job.
What are some of the strengths of your defensive unit?
Our defense is very fast and they’re able to respond as an athlete. They’re athletic enough to come out on the good end of any situation.
What are your goals for the rest of the season?
We would like to win it all. We have weekly defensive goals and we have a plan to reach those goals every game. Our goals are also to be the better team and compete to the end.
Do you have a favorite quote or Bible verse?
Quote: “You lack nothing so work.” God has given you the ability so work.
Thank you, Coach McKinney, for your time and good luck the rest of the season.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Antonio McKinney