STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, March 25, 2006 6:00 pm
Scott Frost chose his words carefully Saturday night as he packed his bags and discussed his first coaching job.
The former Nebraska standout quarterback wanted to show proper respect for both his alma mater and his new employer — heated NU rival Kansas State.
Frost, a 31-year-old Wood River native who played six seasons in the NFL, on Saturday accepted the Wildcats’ offer to become a graduate assistant coach under new head coach Ron Prince and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Kansas State begins spring practice Monday.
“It’s not like I’m jumping ship,” said Frost, who in 1997 led Nebraska to a 13-0 record and national championship. “I’ll always have Nebraska in the middle of my heart. But several factors made Kansas State the best choice to start off my coaching career. Now, I’m just anxious to get started in the coaching profession.”
Frost said Kansas State’s proximity to Lincoln keeps him near his family, girlfriend and business interests.
“I really wanted to stay in the area,” he said.
What’s more, Frost played safety for parts of two NFL seasons under Morris at Tampa Bay, where Morris spent four seasons as a defensive assistant working primarily with the secondary.
Frost said it’s his understanding that he’ll be coaching defense at Kansas State, “and hopefully working with the secondary.” He has high regard for Tampa Bay’s vaunted cover-2 defense, known as the “Tampa-2.” Morris likely will install a version of the defense at K-State.
“It really is the best defensive system I’ve been around,” Frost said.
Although he has never applied for a graduate assistant position at Nebraska, Frost said he has “a lot of respect” for third-year Husker head coach Bill Callahan and his staff.
“I just felt that as a future coach, I needed to go somewhere else to cut my teeth,” he said.
Frost pointed out that Nebraska’s current staff has two assistant coaches — Shawn Watson and Ted Gilmore — who came to NU directly from Big 12 rival Colorado.
“You just have to go where the best opportunity is,” Frost said.
Frost sought counsel from ex-Nebraska teammates, including close friend Matt Davison.
“He said he thinks Kansas State is the right place for me, but said he had a hard time stomaching the fact I was going there,” Frost said with a laugh.
Frost also strongly considered an offer to become a full-time assistant at Northern Iowa. The Panthers lost to Appalachian State last season in the NCAA Division I-AA championship game.
“It was a tough decision because I liked and appreciated (Northern Iowa) coach Mark Farley,” Frost said.
As a player, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Frost was 2-0 against K-State, guiding the Huskers to a 39-3 win in 1996 and a 56-26 decision the following season.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.