68 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5, 2001
Student excited dad got head job
By Brent Briggeman Kansan sportswriter
Samantha Mangino opted for independence when she chose a college two years ago.
With her family still living in Manhattan, but her father recently hired as an assistant coach at Oklahoma, the logical choices were Kansas State and Oklahoma. But Mangino wanted to get away from familiarity.
"I wanted to be on my own and get the whole college experience," said Mangino, a sophomore at Kansas and a student assistant in the Athletics Department media relations office. "Now I get the best of both worlds."
After she spent a year and a half away from home, Mangino's parents are coming to her.
coming to test.
Her father, Mark Mangino, was named as the 35th Kansas football coach yesterday. The rest of the family, including her 17-year-old brother, Tommy, and their mother, Mary
Jane, plan to move to Lawrence immediately.
Despite Mangino's choice to move away from home two years ago, her father knew she wanted him to take the Kansas job.
"I was excited to call her and tell her, and she was too," said the new Kansas coach. "I think all along she wanted me to come here. She didn't come out and say it, but quietly I know this is where she wanted me to end up."
Though Mangino had his own experiences when his teams played against Kansas in his 11 years in the Big 8 and Big 12 Conferences, he said his daughter's praise of the University of Kansas helped him make up his mind.
"One of the things that was considered when I was offered this position is, 'What does my daughter think of the University of Kansas?'" he said. "It's been a very positive experience for her and she's been a great ambassador for the University."
Mangino struggled to hold back her emotions after yesterday's press conference.
ference.
"I got really teary-eyed because my dad is finally a head coach and I go to school here," Mangino said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "It's just a special time in our lives. I don't think anyone will ever understand how cool it is. It's overwhelming."
overwhelming.
Al Bohl, Kansas athletics director, noted the new coach's dedication to family as one of his attractive attributes.
attributes.
As for his daughter's privacy, she said her parents assured her it wouldn't be an issue.
"I don't know how excited she is, but I'm very excited," Mary Jane Mangino said. "She said, 'Mom, I have my life,' but we do too."
we do too. Mangino said she would continue to work in the media relations office.
Contact Briggeman at 864-4858
J. E. WILSON/KANSAN
Samantha Mangino, Norman, Okla., sophomore, shares her excitement with reporters at the press conference naming her father as the new Kansas football coach.
Coach brings commitment, experience
By Brent Briggeman
Kansan sportswriter
Within 30 minutes of being introduced as the new Kansas football coach, Mark Mangino experienced his first tense moment.
moment.
In his introductory press conference, reporters began focusing on Mangino's weight and whether it would affect his ability to command respect with the football team. He tried to jokingly dismiss the topic, saying he spent more time in the projection room than the weight room. But the questions persisted.
question questions.
Finally, when newspaper columnist Jason Whitlock, himself known for his bouts with weight problems, popped a question about weight. Mangino quipped a perfect response.
At that, the room full of reporters, Athletics Department staff and supporters erupted with laughter. The tension was gone and the topic was dropped.
"Did the Kansas City Star ask you these questions when you were hired?" Mangino asked Whitlock.
Al Bohl, Kansas athletics director, who noted that Mangino's weight was never an issue in the coaching search.
pointed to the coach's handling of the situation as an example of his character.
"We talked to a lot of people and everybody told us he was an A-plus person," Bohl said. "You could see that right there, he knows how to handle himself when things are going well and when things aren't."
when things are there.
During the past 11 seasons, Mangino has learned from two of the best coaches in football. He worked with Bill Snyder at Kansas State for eight seasons and helped the Wildcats transform from one of college football's doormats to a perennial national contender. While with Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, Mangino helped turn a 5-6 team into national champions in just two seasons.
two seasons.
"I've been very fortunate to work for two of the best football coaches in America, I don't know if there's anyone in this room who would dispute that," Mangino said. "The only thing I can tell you, I took good notes in the meetings."
meetings.
Mangino said that he learned from Snyder the importance of organization, work ethic and being honest with players. Like Snyder, Mangino prides himself
MARK MANGINO COLLEGE COACHING HISTORY
1985-86 Youngstown State,
assistant coach
1987-89 Geneva (Pa.) College,
offensive coordinator
1991-98 Kansas State, running
game coordinator, assistant
coach
1999-01 Oklahoma, offensive
coordinator
on being the first one at work in the morning and the last to leave at night.
"If it wasn't for my eight years at Kansas State, I wouldn't be sitting here today talking to you." Mangino said. "I owe him a lot."
Mangino said. From Stoops, Mangino learned about character, he said. He learned that there was a time to be tough, but there was also a time to smile when everyone around was frowning. He said that most importantly, he learned to keep the game in perspective.
"Football's not life or death." Mangino said. "It's your family, your faith and the people around you that you believe in."
search committee wanted to find a coach who knew how to win and motivate those around him. In Mangino, Bohl found the best candidate, he said.
Mangino's excitement was infectious yesterday. Sophomore running back Reggie Duncan couldn't stand still as he talked with reporters. Duncan said he was thrilled to have a coach who had expertise in offense, especially after the team's lack of offensive success last year.
When Mangino was at Kansas State, he tried to persuade Kansas senior receiver Harrison Hill, then a high school recruit, to come to K-State. Hill never forgot the impression that Mangino left with him.
with him.
"I didn't want to go to K-State at all, but I almost went there after I met him," said Hill, who is expected to receive a medical red shirt and return next year. "As soon as his name surfaced I wanted him to get the job. He doesn't want to be 6-5, he wants to be the best. That's an attitude we haven't had around here for a while."
Contact Briggeman at 864-4858
Coach: Challenges motivate new leader
CONTINUED FROM 1B
game.
"He is very intelligent and a good worker," Snyder said in a statement. "Mark knows what it takes to develop a successful program, hav-
things," Duncan said. "You got to know how to win, and he knows how to do it. Everything starts from scratch now."
ing been a part of that both here at Kansas State and Oklahoma."
Mangino's résumé also impressed Kansas players. Sophomore running back Reggie Duncan raved at Mangino's ability to win.
Mangino realizes the task that sits ahead of him but he relished the challenge.The challenge for
his team to win and for him to be its leader motivates Mangino.
"He's going to change a lot of
"There is always a solution to every problem," he said. "Sometimes you have to work a little harder."
Contact Denton at 864-4858.
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