Different paths, same goals for secondary coaches

Zach Williams’ promotion to full-time safeties coach earlier this year didn’t get the attention it deserved.

In fact, it didn’t get any attention. Which is a shame because his football journey to Abilene Christian is one of grit and determination. One that proves you can coach DI college ball even if you didn’t play.

Williams capped his playing career in 2012 following his senior year at Cypress Creek High School in Houston. He then went on to attend Texas A&M to earn a degree in business management but Kevin Sumlin’s football staff twice declined his application to be a student coach.

Undeterred, Williams found his way back onto the football field after graduation by doing anything and everything during the 2017 season at DIII Southwestern University. His primary job was coaching fullbacks in the triple option, but he also painted the field and broke down all the game film.

His responsibilities only increased at ACU. Not because he was asked to do more, but because he wasn’t waiting to be asked.

“I didn't wait for people to tell me what to do,” said Williams, who assisted former Wildcat defensive coaches Ray Brown (2018) and Mike Briglin (2019) before stepping into his current role. “I made my own responsibilities, tried to stay as busy as I could, and stay ahead of the curve on what coaches needed and wanted.  

“The second thing I did was learn a lot during the offseason. I was constantly watching clinics and trying to always improve as a coach from a football standpoint.”

Williams uses part of his story to sell recruits on ACU. Yes, he wants them to be great at football but he also wants to make them better after football, to look at the importance of work ethic, time management and being detailed oriented.

Senior Byron Robinson Jr. appreciate the GA mentality Williams brings to the Wildcat Stadium.

“He’s a hard worker,” Robinson said. “He’s grinding away in his lab, I see him everyday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. He works like a GA because he cares for his players … and a lot of times he’s learning with us. He’s making us better players and we’re trying to make him a better coach.”

Across the office from Williams sits second-year cornerbacks coach Travis Dixon, who did play at the DI level for four seasons as an offensive and defensive starter at UNLV. Dixon began his career with the Rebels as a quarterback but finished as a safety in 2010, a transition which has allowed him to coach offense, defense and special teams at several coaching stops over the past decade.

Dixon started coaching in 2011 as a quality control offensive assistant at Arizona State with head coach Todd Graham and offensive coordinator Mike Norvell. He further polished his coaching resume at schools such as Arizona Western, UNLV and South Dakota Mines prior to joining the Wildcats ahead of the 2019 season.

Even though Dixon’s playing and coaching pedigree differed greatly from Williams’, they’re here to win now and to see their players continue to win in the real world.

“The big focus for me is educating young men,” said Dixon, a native of Chandler, Ariz. “I’m here to improve their knowledge for life after college.”

Much of what Dixon teaches can be applied on the field or in the workplace. Techniques matter as much in-game decision making, self-critique and reflection.

Film sessions led by Dixon include a lot of back-and-forth between coach and players. He wants to know what would they do similarly or differently on a play before offering his own feedback. Sometimes he’s in agreement and other times he offers an alternate.

“Being able to teach a young man to where he understands what he did wrong and being able to coach himself helps create a great football player,” said Dixon. “Push him to make his own adjustments outside of what the coaches have already given him.

“Guys have to make certain tweaks within the game, and that's what I try to emphasize,” he continued. “Ask ‘what is he (the opposition) doing as he's attacking me? What do I need to change or what tool do I need to go to be successful?’ … I think we’ve done a great job teaching these young men the technique that they need to master to where they can make those small corrections themselves. Because that’s what happens on Saturdays.”

Senior cornerback Koy Richardson says Dixon’s passion for the game shows through his coaching.

“He’s a very personable coach,” said Richardson, “He wants to get to know you right away and begin building that relationship, so when he gets mad you know it’s because he cares. He wants us all to be better.”

And for the Wildcats to see an increase in victories, the secondary simply has to be better than it was a year ago as the defense collectively allowed 265 passing yards per game. The secondary only came down with seven interceptions, but were responsible for nine (of 14) forced fumbles with five recoveries and 56 pass breakups.

Richardson and Robinson both agree there need to be ‘more plays on the ball’ within the secondary.

“We’re ‘Top Flight’ … we’re the main guys to take the ball out of the air,” said Richardson, “and last year the cornerbacks came away with only three of our nine picks. That’s not good.”

“Eye discipline has to improve,” added Robinson. “But I know if we do our jobs, do our 1/11th on the field then eventually the plays will come to us.”

Rotational players a year ago, Richardson (26 tackles, eight passes defense) and sophomore Ryan Stapp (three interceptions, 31 tackles) are the two most experienced cornerbacks in 2020 surrounded by young and new faces that have an opportunity to compete.

Dixon says every day is ‘a job interview’.

“We were young and a bit thin,” said Dixon of the 2019 cornerback room, “but now we have more speed, depth and greater physicality. These guys love to compete. They want to be great!

“No one has solidified a starting position,” he continued. “No one here started last year so I think that’s what makes this fall camp so intriguing because guys know it's open competition.”

There are six letter winning cornerbacks on the roster, along with four high school recruits plus transfers Triston Anderson (Arkansas State) and Ty Taylor (Trinity Valley). The safeties, meanwhile, are composed of four letter winners, five true freshmen and transfers Brian Bullock (Northwestern) and Shelby Washington (Northeast Oklahoma A&M).

Braelon Hill, Elijah Moffett, Stokes and Washington are the strong safeties according to Williams, while the free safety spot will be occupied by either Robinson, Bullock, Austin Goffney, Cutter Sparks or Max Gayden, the younger brother of senior defensive tackle Michael Gayden.

“I think there's been some improvement, but we still have a long way to go,” said Williams of his position room. “I think we've gotten a lot better with our run fits. I think we've gotten a lot better with our eyes as far as knowing when we need to have man eyes versus zone eyes.

“And then I think we understand more schematically what our role is in the defense and where we need to provide help and where help is given to us where we can gain leverage advantages.”

Defensive football is all about knowing where your help is, and thanks to a fostering relationship between Dixon and Williams, the corners and safeties have a better understanding of one another’s schemes and techniques.

“We’re constantly talking about scheme and technique,” said Williams of Dixon, “and we watch a lot of the same drill tape. He's been really helpful for me, a new coach. He’s guided me, given me a lot of advice, and we’re always talking out things that we see on the field. That’s been big.”

The Wildcats finally are in their countdown-phase to kickoff. ACU will start its abbreviated 2020 season Saturday, Sept. 19 at UTEP followed by a road game at Army West Point (Oct. 3) and home contest vs. West Texas A&M (Oct. 17).