CHARLOTTE - Former Carolina Panthers defensive back Mike Minter has been incredibly successful in his two years coaching high school football. He’s hoping to take the next step next summer when UNC Charlotte announces its inaugural football coach.
"UNCC is going to hire a football coach in July 2011," Minter said at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) function at Gastonia’s Alfred & Charlie’s restaurant. "So you need to get the word out to hire Mike Minter."
Minter has been in contact with school athletic director Judy Rose since the school began raising money for its the 2013 startup of its football program. Now, after helping Concord’s First Assembly Christian School to a 23-2 record and a 2009 state title in two years as head coach, Minter’s ready to move on to college.
"My goal is to be the first football coach at UNCC," Minter said. "I’ve spoke to the AD and she’s very interested. And I’ve spoken to a lot of people behind the scenes, too.
"Give me two or three years and we’ll be a program that’s on the national stage."
Minter, 36, began coaching within a month after his retirement from the Panthers in August 2007 put an end to his 10-year NFL career.
A free safety, Minter started games in every year of his career after Carolina picked him in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. Minter is remembered by many Panthers’ fans for tying a career-high with 18 tackles in the 2003 Super Bowl loss to New England Patriots despite playing two quarters after breaking his left foot.
Minter said he understands that some may use his lack of college coaching experience against him in his bid to become the 49ers’ first football coach.
"That’s why I’m looking at coaches now so I’ll be ready to roll when the time comes," Minter said.
Minter thinks he can help offset what he perceives as UNC Charlotte’s biggest challenge in starting the program.
He said earlier in the week when he spoke to some football players at Anson County in Wadesboro – about an hour east of Charlotte – the players had no idea the 49ers were starting up a football program.
"We’re got to get the word out that there’s a great university that’s going to have a great program and build champions," Minter said. "If I get hired, I’m going to go all over North Carolina and South Carolina and get people familiar with our program and what we’re doing."
Minter also said he would follow a similar path to the one he’s taken at First Assembly. While Minter inherited a 2006 state title team, the Eagles were a private school that had started their program in 2003.
After UNC Charlotte hires a coach next summer, it’ll be full speed ahead to play in the 2013 season. School athletic and non-athletic administrators are confident adding football will make the school more attractive to a major college affiliation, an issue that could grow more and more prominent as conference expansion talk continues to heat up.
"I think I can get the program off the ground and headed in the right direction," Minter said.
Minter on
Former Carolina Panthers defensive back Mike Minter talked about a variety of topics during Thursday’s FCA function at Gastonia’s Alfred & Charlie’s restaurant. Here’s some of what he had to say:
On NFL players’ repeated off-field issues:
"In the National Football League, much like in life, you attract what you want to attract. If you want to live that life of craziness, it’s there. But if you present yourself a certain way, you don’t have to deal with that. Ultimately, I think, it comes down to who you hang out with."
On how he came to embrace the FCA:
"I hurt my knee at Nebraska and I went to my first FCA meeting. I made a deal with God and said, ‘If you’ll heal my knee, I’ll go.’ Low and behold, (Nebraska coach) Tom Osborne gets up and gives a testimony. To me, that shows that there was a plan for me and that was why I went to Nebraska."
On his coaching style:
"My coaching style is that I look at the champion that’s inside of every kid and try to bring it out. My style is love, respect and honesty. I’d say coach Osborne had a pretty strong influence on me."
On pro athletes being role models:
"There’s always a hard way and an easy way. The easy way doesn’t always work. It saddens me when someone has a gift and squanders it by acting up. It’s tough to teach when kids want to emulate what’s on TV. I say, ‘Know who you are.’ Because, if you know who you are, you don’t have to emulate anybody else."
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