Rick Minter hates to lose, but the University of Cincinnati football coach is resigned to the fact that there are losses he simply can't avoid: losses of assistant coaches.

        Minter replaced five coaches during the offseason. He replaced six after the 2000 season.

TCU at UC

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. Monday     Where: Nippert Stadium (35,000).     Records: Season opener for both teams.     Last season: UC (7-5, 5-2 C-USA), TCU (6-6, 4-3).     TV: ESPN.     Radio: WCKY-AM (1360).     Series: First meeting.

        He said he holds no animosity toward those assistant coaches who have left the Bearcats. He called their decisions to leave, as well as his decision not to let others return, a part of the business of college football, where coaches — like players — are always looking to move up in the ranks.

        “We all chase stars,” Minter said. “We all want that next level.”

        New coaches can make for a rougher transition for younger players. The main downfall is felt in recruiting, unless the new coach already has regional connections.

        So part of Minter's job each offseason becomes a hunt for coaching talent that is as good or better than what he has lost.

        This offseason, he lost offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin to Baylor, where he's now offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, as well as defensive backs coach Charles McMillian to Indiana.

        Minter did not renew the contracts of receivers coach Tyrone Dixon (now running backs coach at Kansas), linebackers coach Andy Hendel (high school assistant in Charlotte, N.C.) and defensive line coach O'Neill Gilbert.

        New to the UC staff this year are offensive coordinator Rusty Burns, linebackers coach Mark Criner, cornerbacks coach Dino Dawson, tight ends/recruiting coordinator Phil Dorn and defensive line coach Tracy Rocker.

        Experienced players adjust more easily to new coaches. With this season's addition of Dawson, cornerback Zach Norton has been tutored by three different defensive back coaches.

        “An older player, you're looking more at what you can learn from a new coach, where a younger player might find it harder because it's a different person,” Norton said.

        Dawson said one of the first things he did at UC was ask his players if there was anything McMillian did that they'd like him to continue.

        “All you want to do is not mess a guy up,” Dawson said. “A guy like Zach, I'm not going to change him. I'm only going to try to refine him.”

        Dawson's attitude makes it easier for players to adjust.

University of Cincinnati football coach Rick Minter during practice at Nippert Stadium Tuesday afternoon. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        “People say, "Coach, you must know how to pick them,”' Minter said. “But is that a feather in the cap? It doesn't help us to lose good guys. What should I do, pick bad guys so we can keep them all?”

        Larry Zierlein is an example. Zierlein, who was the offensive line coach at UC from 1997-2000, helped the Bearcats set a Conference USA rushing record with an average of 215.5 yards a game in 1997.

        “Sure enough, (Cleveland Browns coach) Butch Davis calls me a year and a half ago,” Minter said. Zierlein is now the offensive line coach for the Browns.

        Another example is Mike Tomlin. He was the UC defensive backs coach from 1999-2000. His unit ranked eighth in NCAA DivisionI interceptions in 2000.

        Tomlin is entering his second season as defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

        “I think I picked a star,” Minter said of Tomlin. “I was lucky to keep him for two years.”

Coaching changes more of same for UC

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