Midwestern State defensive line coach Richard Lage will join the staff at FAU. (Photo courtesy of Midwestern State)
Lage to join staff
FAUOwlAccess Exclusive: FAU will hire Midwestern State assistant coach Richard Lage to join the Owls coaching staff to replace former defensive tackles coach Rod Payne.
Originally published on
7/13/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
Midwestern State defensive line coach Richard Lage will join the coaching staff at Florida Atlantic to replace defensive tackles coach Rod Payne, FAUOwlAccess.com has learned.
Lage coached the Mustangs, who made the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009, the last two seasons.
“He’s always been a personable guy, and he's always been a likeable guy and as he's gotten more experienced he's become a demanding coach,” said Midwestern State coach Bill Maskill. “He’s very much a ‘player’s coach’ and he’ll help his players on and off the field.”
As of Wednesday morning FAU had no official announcement planned for any additions to the coaching staff, however Lage, who could not be reached for comment, resigned his position at Midwestern State after being offered the job at FAU over the weekend.
“I told him for his sake I hope he gets the job but for our sake I hope he didn’t get it,” Maskill said. “He kept me updated on what he was doing and to get a chance to go to Division I-A is a great opportunity. He’s a guy that is going to be there bright and early and stay late into the night to get it done.”
The position at FAU became open this spring when Rod Payne became the strength and conditioning coach. Originally Payne was going to coach the defensive tackles as well, but that was not permissible by NCAA rules.
Before arriving at Midwestern State, Lage was the interim head coach and defensive coordinator at Chowan University from 2004-07.
Lage was also an assistant at Elon from 1999-2003, at Gardner-Webb from 1997-98 and at Georgetown (Ky.) from 1993-96.
Lage, who also was a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt and Richmond, will join secondary coach Dick Hopkins and receivers coach Jared Allen as new assistants this season.