Paulson and Van Dam enter second years as SIU coordinators

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Saluki Football team is in the second year of the Nick Hill era, and both coordinators are back for a second year running each unit. Defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Kraig Paulson and offensive coordinator John Van Dam made an immediate impact on SIU in 2016, and both units are primed for an even better 2017.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND ASSISTANT HEAD COACH KRAIG PAULSON

When head coach Nick Hill hired his staff, most were young coaches in their first few years of coaching. Paulson was the exception with nearly 30 years of experience. More than that, Paulson has proved himself one of the top defensive coaches in the country. Consider:

Coached in five FCS national championship games
Coached 2007 National Defensive Player of the Year
Paulson's 2009 defense at Montana led the nation in turnovers
In eight years as Montana's defensive coordinator, Paulson led the Grizzlies to conference titles in all eight seasons

There isn't a better teacher and communicator in the game! @CoachKPaulson can teach the game! Players love playing for him! #Passion pic.twitter.com/7Tm4XhkTq5
— Nick Hill (@17NickHill) August 8, 2017

Right away, Paulson's coaching made an impact on the Salukis. In 2016, Southern's defense improved 75 yards per game and four fewer points per season than the year before. The Salukis intercepted 12 passes, the most for the program in five seasons. SIU led the MVFC and ranked 11th nationally in red zone defense. And the improvement won't stop there. In two previous DC stints in the FCS, Paulson's defenses improved by an average of 60 yards and 3.5 points per game from the first year to the second year. Plus, the defensive unit has nearly all its major contributors returning, including preseason All-MVFC picks Craig James and Jeremy Chinn.

"If the stats are right, which they usually are, this should be a pretty big growth year," Paulson said. "We're excited about it. It all starts with what the kids did in the offseason. From the minute last season ended, and really those last three games, the momentum is building."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN VAN DAM

When he was hired as offensive coordinator last year, John Van Dam was taking his first coordinator position. He has spent his entire career around some of the most successful names in football. He was mentored by some of the giants in the coaching profession, including Nick Saban, Brady Hoke, Doug Nussmeier and Jim McElwain. Some of his former pupils include A.J. McCarron, Amari Cooper and Devin Gardner.

Right away, the Salukis soared on offense. Southern's offense set a program record for passing yards in a season with 3,660. The Salukis averaged 332 yards per game passing, which led the MVFC and ranks second in MVFC history. The Salukis also led the MVFC in total offense, averaging more than 470 yards per game, and ranked second in scoring offense at 30.9 points per game.

Quarterback Sam Straub, who started the final three games of 2016 and averaged 385 yards per game in those starts, is back for his junior season. He has two perfect mentors for a college quarterback--Van Dam played at Michigan State with Kirk Cousins, and head coach Nick Hill led SIU to the national semifinals as the team's starting quarterback. Straub broke Hill's single-game passing record with 450 yards in the season-ending comeback win over No. 23 Western Illinois, but Van Dam and the Saluki offense are focused on a well-balanced attack for 2017.

"We have to run the ball better. Last year, at times, we were forced to throw the ball. We were down in those games," Van Dam said. "If it's required that (Sam Straub) throws for 470 yards, then that's what we will do to win. But I think for us to be a better team overall, we have to run the ball efficiently. Not only will that help us out, it will help the defense out. We can control the game and win."

After Southern's lethal attack last season, four returning offensive players were named to the preseason All-MVFC team: Fullback Hans Carmien, running back D.J. Davis, wide receiver Connor Iwema and offenseive lineman Austin Olsen. Officially, seven starters return, but 14 offensive players that are on the 2017 team started at least one game in 2016, so this Saluki attack--which has led the MVFC in total offense each of the last two years--should continue to streak up and down the field in 2017.

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Players Mentioned

Hans Carmien

Jeremy Chinn

D.J. Davis

Connor Iwema

Craig James

Austin Olsen

Sam Straub

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