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I worked under Francis Schmidt, and he was the biggest influence on my coaching career.

I got to work for some great administrators at great institutions, and I had an opportunity to coach great players. Iowa is no different.

I never brought it up when I coached, but I have close ties at Ohio State. Unfortunately, I even have a graduate degree from there.

I wound up through a wild set of circumstances getting into coaching. I went in and volunteered with Don Coryell, who was a big part of my past, great coach. A lot of people say he was one of the greatest coaches ever. He was very good in high school, college and pro. Another guy on that staff was named John Madden.

I think I'm telling the truth. I sat by Ray Perkins at the Hall of Fame dinner in New York, and at that time he didn't know he was our coach and I didn't either.

I've really gained an appreciation for what coaches do since I returned to the NFL.

I believe we have the best football coach in the country in Urban Meyer. I had the privilege of hiring him, as you know, and I think he is doing fabulous work.

George Perles at Michigan State was the first coach that gave me responsibility as far as being a coordinator. I learned a lot from that experience.

I feel like I've been very blessed to have some great mentors through the years, starting with Don James, who was my college coach, who really inspired me to want to be a coach, which is not something that I really had in mind.