Thursday, April 15, 1999

UC steeling its defense through Willis

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Former pro helps rebuild line

BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Former Steelers star Keith Willis is coaching the defensive line. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        Keith Willis has yet to tell his University of Cincinnati defensive linemen that he is a former Pittsburgh Steelers star. But Bearcat players know.

        Word spread quickly when Willis was hired in February as UC's defensive line coach.

        Willis, 39, spent most of his 12-year NFL career with the Steelers in the 1980s and is third on Pittsburgh's career sacks list with 59. Only L.C. Greenwood (73.5) and Mean Joe Greene (66) rank ahead of Willis on the Steelers sacks chart.

        “He's never mentioned his past, but you can really trust a person when you know he's been there and done that,” said UC sophomore Kirk Thompson, a projected starter at defensive tackle. “A lot of people already look up to Coach Willis.”

        Willis played defensive end at 6-foot-1 and 263 pounds and still appears in playing shape. But he is the last person you want to ask about his playing career, and he politely steers conversation to the task at hand — helping rebuild a UC defense that ranked last nationally against the run for most of 1998.

        “I look forward to the challenge,” Willis said before a recent spring practice. “It's a situation somewhat similar to what I faced at Slippery Rock.”

        Willis comes to UC from Slippery Rock (Pa.), where he was defensive line coach for four years. “The Rock” has long been fodder for wisecracking TV sports anchors, but Willis helped the 1998 team reach the NCAA Division II football semifinals.

        George Mihalik, head coach at Slippery Rock, said UC fans will see instant improvement on the defensive line in 1999.

        “You don't spend 12 years in the NFL and not have a great idea of what it takes,” Mihalik said. “Once the players hear Keith talk and demonstrate the techniques, they'll believe he knows what he's talking about.”

        The best thing, Mihalik said, is that Willis doesn't do it with scare tactics or condescending remarks.

        “He's such a great person. He's very unassuming,” Mihalik said. “He doesn't walk around saying, "Look at me, I played in the NFL.' You have to pull it out of him if you want to talk about his playing days.”

        So, let's talk about UC. Head coach Rick Minter, looking to overhaul a defense that ranked last nationally in points allowed (41.5 a game) in a 2-9 season, also has a new defensive coordinator in former Tulane assistant Rick Smith. And since UC had virtually no pass rush in 1998, Minter hired Willis.

        “The kids can literally look up to him. He's a field presence,” Minter said. “And obviously he's done it, he's played the game, so the kids can't help but respect that.”

        Willis won't mention it, but UC players also can take inspiration from his background. He made the Steelers in 1982 as a free agent out of Northeastern, at a time when the Steelers were not far removed from their fourth Super Bowl title.

        Willis led the Steelers defensive line for most of the 1980s and topped the team in sacks three times.

        Willis missed the 1988 season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk. But he returned for a few more years and also played for Buffalo, Washington and the New York Jets before retiring in 1993.

        “I don't live in the past, because what I did on the field is totally different than what these kids are going to do,” Willis said. “... It's all about work ethic and a belief that you can get it done.”

        The believing has begun.

        “We know about him, from people talking about who he is,” Thompson said. “People feel a lot better, just with him being here.”

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