BOCA RATON, FLORIDA—Florida Atlantic’s new interim head coach Chad Lunsford addressed the media for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. Lunsford, who was the special teams coordinator for the FAU Owls, took over as the head coach of the team after Florida Atlantic fired Tom Herman on Monday.
Lunsford started off his media availability by thanking former head coach Herman. He also said he was very grateful to learn under him.
“I will always be grateful for Coach Herman,” began Lunsford. “I learned a lot under him. Coming here as a former head coach, I was looking for an opportunity to learn under some other people. In that way, Coach Herman was really awesome for me. I owe him a lot and want to give him his respect.”
Lunsford added that it is very important for him to step up for the athletes and FAU as a whole. He has some experience and has learned what not to do; as a result, Lunsford wants to use that experience to help FAU finish strong, especially for the seniors on the team.
Regarding defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni’s rehiring, Lunsford said the seniors played a huge role in asking Coach Roc to come back.
“Roc is a good man and a really good coach. Sometimes, decisions get made because of what is going on with play, and that is not for me to judge. This one was an easy decision, but there was also a big piece of how to do it as well. I thought it was very important for Roc to come back because he is well-liked, well-respected, and has meant a lot to the FAU program for many years.”
He added that Brandon Harris did a “tremendous job” as the defensive coordinator in FAU’s loss against Temple on Saturday. Lunsford said that Harris was on board with the decision because it was best for the players. He also thinks Harris will be an “awesome” defensive coordinator one day.
In regards to this week, Lunsford said he told the players to enjoy the sport, the moment, and go out and have fun. He felt that guys came out with energy and made the most of the day.
Regarding the quarterback position, the interim head coach stated that Tyriq Starks will be the starter for the FAU Owls this week against Charlotte. Kasen Weisman is day-to-day with an ankle injury.
“Right now, we would start Tyriq, and that’s a good thing. I think Tyriq did a tremendous job last week, especially when the moment was there. When he had to make big plays in big moments, he did that. So we have all the confidence in the world in him.”
Regarding the job itself, Lunsford said it was a “no-brainer” to take the interim head coach role. He felt that it was important to be a servant leader and impact others when called upon. Additionally, Lunsford wants to do his part and help the players go out on a high note. The interim head coach emphasized finishing strong and told the team that every day is a resume for the players and coaches.
“How do you conduct yourself in the toughest situations? That really shows true character. I’m not bought into reputation; I’m bought into who you are as a person. I think that was the big challenge that came out to them. What type of person are you going to be? How are you going to finish this thing out? … I am just asking everyone to believe.”
On the field, Lunsford said they always look at what they can do better. The interim head coach added that he is focused on playing “complementary football.” He wants to get the defense off the field more consistently, establish the run game, and get explosive plays. He said that the offense needs to end every drive with a kick and that the defense needs to get off the field on third downs. Lunsford said he wants to ensure they execute and said there is a big emphasis on those foundational tenets.
Lunsford may not potentially have a long time as the Owls’ head coach, but he has a chance to make a big impact. With two games remaining, the interim has his chance to leave his mark in Boca Raton. How those games play out may not just affect the 2024 season, but also the near future for the FAU Owls.
