Midwestern State announces defensive line coach

Lage takes over defensive line coaching duties at Midwestern State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Monday, March 10, 2008

MSU Website

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Richard Lage didn’t want to be caught looking on a third strike.
So much that he drove 22 hours with much of it coming through last week’s snow storm just to be at 5 o’clock workouts as Midwestern State’s new defensive line coach on Friday.

“I told coach (Bill) Maskill, ‘You tried to hire me twice, if I say no a third time, you won’t offer again,’” Lage said. “I’m happy to be here. I’ve known coach Mas a long time and have a great relationship with opportunities in the past.”

The two met in 1991 when Lage served as a defensive graduate assistant in charge of linebackers at Wake Forest, but he wasn’t assigned to Maskill, who was the team’s secondary coach.

“He is a coach’s son,” said Maskill, whose own father coached 39 years and became the winningest prep coach in Michigan state history. “I feel he has a bright in front of him. He’s a team player and a loyal guy who has been a coordinator for three different programs.”

Lage has logged 16 years of coaching experience since serving as a graduate assistant on the same staff with Maskill in 1991. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as a GA at the University of Richmond in 1989 and 1990.

Most recently, he was tapped interim head coach at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C. in February after serving as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2004-07.

“Chowan is still in the state of building from a D-3 and D-2,” Lage said. “This is chance to walk into a position in a better program with a man that I know and respect.”

He will take over the defensive line which was handled by the recently promoted Rich Renner for the last two seasons.

“Rich is an accomplished coach in this conference,” Lage said. “I’m looking forward to stepping and trying to help. We’re not going to change much, but it will be interesting to see how the kids react with me.”

Lage has spent four seasons at Elon (N.C.) University, two seasons at Gardner-Webb (N.C.), four seasons at Georgetown (Ky.) College and a season at Davidson (N.C.) College.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Villanova University, where he was a four-year letter winner as a tight end for the Wildcats. He later earned a Masters of Sport Management from the University of Richmond in 1991.

“I’ve been in the East, but I’ll have a chance to make new friendships and get involved in the area,” he said. “The talent is a lot better here than there. This is a bigger, better deal.”