New running backs coach speaks with media

For the second time, Brad Salem is replacing Dan Enos.

Salem was hired to be the running backs coach for the MSU football team on Feb. 19 after Enos took the head coaching job at Central Michigan. Along with taking the reins of the running backs, Salem will have to fill the recruiting void left by Enos, who was widely considered one of the best recruiters in the Big Ten.

Salem received a letter from Enos recently letting him know that Salem replaced Enos as a graduate assistant 16 years ago, something that Salem found humorous.

Salem comes from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. He compiled a 31-26 record in five seasons as the head coach at the Division 2 school, including back-to-back 8-4 seasons in 2008 and 2009. The eight wins tied a school record.

Salem was a graduate assistant under former MSU coaches George Perles and Nick Saban in 1994 and 1995, working primarily with quarterbacks and wide receivers.

He was made available to the media before Thursday’s men’s basketball game against Penn State to answer questions.

Question How excited are you to be back at MSU?

Answer It’s been a very quick turnaround. It’s been chaos in the last couple weeks. I’m just excited to be back. It’s obviously a place (I’m) passionate about. I was here 15 years ago and it seems like some things haven’t changed. There’s very good people and it’s an exciting staff to be a part of.

Q What are your assignments going to be in recruiting?

A We’re mapping it out. We’re in the process of that. Each of us will take part of Michigan or how we’re going to divide that up. It will continue to be the team approach of a primary recruiter and then the position coordinator and obviously coach Dantonio will close the deal. We’ve done a very good job, obviously we’ve had success working in that capacity of working together. I’m just excited to get going in that process also.

Q What do you remember about your days from the first time you were here and what memories have come back?

A It feels like home. There’s not the foreignness of just coming over here to a basketball game or the people (here). For me, it was a great experience working for Coach Perles. He coached against my dad when my dad was at Minnesota. It was great to be here 15 years ago. Those are the things that shape you as a coach.

Q Have you had a chance to evaluate film of your running backs and what are your impressions?

A I’ve been watching a lot of film. That’s what we’ve been doing the last week and half is a lot of the cut-ups. It’s interesting that it’s the same in some spots with protection calls and stuff like that has not changed since … 1995. They’re very talented backs. When you look at (freshmen running backs Edwin Baker and Larry Caper), two guys that have pretty special abilities for freshmen. There’s little nuances but part of that is them developing and growing in the next couple years. It’s not significant, it’s just becoming better runners and understanding schemes and the big picture of the offense. That’s a pretty tall task for two guys that were true freshmen straight out of high school to accomplish what they did. (I’m) excited to have to opportunity to coach them.

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