N.C. State: New assistants make mark

Chuck Amato's first losing season at North Carolina State didn't leave him hitch-hiking along Tobacco Road.

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The three most prominent members of his coaching staff left Raleigh, N.C., in the off-season, though, perhaps reading the tobacco leaves of what an expanded Atlantic Coast Conference means to the Wolfpack program.

North Carolina State's 2004 season would drive off many coaches. The Wolfpack featured the nation's top-ranked defense and the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-leading passer, yet still went 5-6.

Following the season, which ended with four losses in five games, defensive coordinator Reggie Herring decided to take his expertise to Arkansas. Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone returned to Ole Miss, where he worked earlier in his career. And assistant head coach Doc Holliday joined Urban Meyer's staff at Florida.

Amato went outside his coaching staff to replace his coordinators, and his hires reveal much about the direction he wants to take his team.

He hired an old-school college coach for his defense, former Syracuse defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap, who will keep the same scheme that allowed only 221 yards per game last year.

On offense, Amato recruited 20-year NFL passing-game guru Marc Trestman as offensive coordinator.

Both impressed players in the spring: Dunlap for his flexibility; Trestman for his attention to detail.

Halfback Tramain Hall said Trestman made a lasting impression early in spring practice. One of the Wolfpack receivers came off the line of scrimmage with the wrong foot first. The drill was just a warm-up, but Trestman stopped it anyway to correct him.

The new coordinator's motto: Don't give lip service. Go out and do it right every time.

"He makes you responsible for what you do," Hall said. "He'll say 'You're letting your teammates down. You're not letting me down. I'm the coach. You're letting your teammates down.' That really makes a difference."

Dunlap, meanwhile, took a low-key approach to the defense. With all four defensive linemen and two of the three linebackers returning, he resisted the urge to tinker with a scheme new to him. That earned him instant respect with players, linebacker Oliver Hoyte said.

"It's easier for one guy to learn the scheme than for 50 guys to learn a new scheme," Hoyte said. "I feel this defense can be better actually, or at least just as good, as last year's."

Wolfpack fans think so: Season tickets sold out within a few weeks of going on sale this summer, and the spring game had 15,000 fans.

"They're loyal," he said. "We need to reward them."

Reach Adam Van Brimmer at (404) 589-8424 or adam.vanbrimmer@morris.com.