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| Former Northern Illinois defensive back Melvin Rice (2) is now on NIU's coaching staff as a graduate assistant. (Scott Walstrom – NIU Media Services) |
DeKALB – Melvin Rice made two bowl appearances in three years as a starting cornerback at Northern Illinois. Needless to say, he fondly remembers his playing career.
Yet, there was just one little thing that escaped his grasp: a Mid-American Conference championship ring.
After playing professional indoor football last year, Rice, who played at NIU from 2005-08, is renewing his hunt for that elusive MAC title, this time as a graduate assistant coach for his alma mater.
“It’s very, very heartwarming coming back to the place I played, trying to get the guys better and just trying to get a MAC Championship ring out of it all since I didn’t get one,” said Rice, who is assisting NIU secondary coach Jay Sawvel. “I’m just trying to push them and teach them what I learned from football and implement it in their heads.”
Rice’s teammate, former NIU defensive lineman, Alex Krutsch also started his coaching career this spring as the Huskies video graduate assistant.
Rice may be on the field more, but Krutsch is getting the better workout during practices.
He can be seen sprinting across Huskie Stadium, up to the scoreboard and to the press box, collecting video to cut so the NIU coaches can watch film within 30 minutes of the conclusion of practice.
“It has to be fast, so as soon as we can get in here, they can be evaluated,” Krutsch said. “That’s going to help us win. That’s why I like doing it.”
Krutsch, who played for NIU from 2004-08, had planned to volunteer coach for the Huskies after working a few day jobs. But a graduate assistant position opened at NIU, and the former Huskies lineman was happy to take the gig.
Krutsch had little experience with film editing before the job but said he’s learning on the fly.
“It was tough in the spring,” Krutsch said. “I had no idea what I was doing. I came out and this is the easiest way to learn, well maybe the hardest way to learn, is just doing it.”
The NIU coaches said having former Huskies as coaches helps the teaching process because they’re familiar with the system and are closer in age to the players.
“(Rice has) been here, so he knows more than I know,” senior cornerback Chris Smith said. “That’s just helping me and all the other corners get better every day.”
They may not get paid very much, but Rice and Krutsch didn’t take their first coaching positions for the money.
“If you like doing this, you enjoy it. I really enjoy it,” Rice said. “Every moment, I’m trying to learn something new. I’m trying to do get the team better at all costs. It’s been a good ride so far.”
