The winningest football program in the Ivy League over the last 13 years, Princeton finished last season tied for last in the Ivies with Columbia, which had the least wins over that 13-year span by 20. Fortunately, football does not go year-round, so the team took a timeout to think about what it had done.
In the meantime, the Tigers collected a new coach, among other things, and in spring practice took their first step toward rehabilitation. New Charles W. Caldwell Jr. '25 Head Coach of Football Roger Hughes brought with him a new plan, a new coaching staff and, he hopes, new results.
The first job of any new head coach is gathering a coaching staff to help him get started. Hughes' array of assistants is now set. Steve Verbit remains as the defensive coordinator, but is joined by a new opposite number in offensive coordinator Dave Rackovan — formerly Hughes' compatriot at Dartmouth.
Those decisions were made shortly after Hughes' hiring, but the coaching staff has since been filled out. The most decorated addition to the program is new offensive line coach Stan Clayton, who won a national championship as a player with Penn State and went on to a six-year pro career. Eric Jackson, whom Hughes described as "very thoughtful," and "very knowledgeable," will coach the defensive backs, while former Columbia assistant Adam Scheier takes over the receivers and special teams.
The six coaches have gathered among them over 50 years of Ivy League coaching experience and 17 titles.
"While we have a great mixture of coaching styles, we also have a lot of experience," Hughes said. "We have guys that have been to the war. When things start going badly, when the ship starts to tilt, they're not going to scurry off the boat. I'm really pleased with the quality of our staff."
The coaching staff is only part of the total package, however. The players and game plan have more than a little to do with the team's fortunes as well. Hughes has instituted an entirely new playbook on both offense and defense, throwing out any evidence of former head coach Steve Tosches' program. The new coach has pushed the Tigers toward a more aggressive defense with better disguised defensive backfield work. On the other side of the ball, expect to see more pitches and shovel passes — and even the occasional option play.
"On defense as a whole we thought we played pretty well during the course of spring ball, but the best part was our offense," next year's captain Mike Higgins said."The new offense compared to the old offense is like night and day. They put the defense in conflict after conflict with all these different formations and motions."
Optimistic
During that spring game, in which the team's first-string offense teamed with the second-string defense to take on their opposite numbers, the coaching staff got its best look at the players that will be the base of next year's team. Although he praised the entire team for its work ethic, Hughes noted a number of players in particular:
— Sophomore quarterback Tommy Crenshaw, now a fixture in the starting quarterback role.
— Junior Kyle Brandt, who performed "tremendously" in spring workouts, leading a deep corps of running backs.
— Freshman receiver Chisom Opara, a big wideout with speed, who could find himself the target of passes, screen plays and reverses, or who might move to the backfield.
— Freshman defensive back Kevin Kongslie, a free-safety-turned- "Tiger Back" — a variation of the strong safety position.
— Junior defensive tackle Nick Freitag, although injured, called "the real deal" by Hughes, who added that "he's got a chance to be a real good player in this league."
— The linebacker squad, including Higgins, junior Steve Koopman, sophomore Chris Roser-Jones and sophomore Bobby Farrell.
To these returning players, Hughes is confident he will add a strong incoming class of athletes.
"We're very excited about the quality [of the incoming freshmen]," he said. "Considering the lateness of my hiring and considering the circumstances around our program, I think it was remarkable."
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