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Monken is more than ready

The recent hire of Army Black Knights Head Coach Jeff Monken is a step in the right direction for the prestigious service academy.

The Black Knights are coming off a disappointing 3-9 record and ended the season with a dismal 34-7 defeat to heated rival Navy. The Black Knights also lost to Air Force 42-28. The focus for Monken is to turn this traditionally proud program around. The top goal has to be to beat Navy and Air Force, since these are the top two games on the schedule each year. Army can lose every game on the schedule, but call a season a success if they beat Navy and beat Air Force is an added bonus.

Monken is the right candidate after leading a successful Georgia Southern program to a 38-16 record in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for the past four years. For their recent success, the Eagles will move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and join the Sun Belt Conference for this upcoming college football season. He was also a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award in 2012.

As mentioned above, Monken will need to use the games this season to prepare for the Navy and Air Force games. If the team is able to defeat both then he will be seen as the right man for the job at season’s end. His previous record at Georgia Southern puts him in good territory with administration, boosters and fans. If he is able to continue that success then that is an obvious plus for him.

Monken needs to return this struggling program to glory, which has participated in college football since 1890. The Black Knights are on a current 12 game losing streak to Navy. He also had a hand in causing disappointment to the Black Knights. Monken served as an assistant coach for Navy and helped win five straight Commander in Chief trophies. The better record between the three service academies determines the trophy winner.

Monken has to begin with the running game. He has a strong running game background as the Eagles led the NCAA in rushing averaging 399.36 yards per game. Navy also is known for their triple-option attack. It will be of no surprise that he will install a heavy ground attack at Army and he will recruit athletes to fit within his system.

Monken learned the triple-option during his time at Navy and Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson. He learned a system and stuck with it. The Black Knights are accustomed to running the triple-option, but Monken can enhance the system that is already put in place.

The key will be the person taking the snaps. He will need an athletic quarterback to lead the running attack. If he is able to maintain ground control and eat up clock during games then the Black Knights will have a chance in ball games for this upcoming season. His team will also be better prepared to defend the option attack of Navy, since the defense will practice against it on a daily in practice. His past coaching experience with Navy will prove beneficial.

The next step is to beef up the other side of the ball. The defense could not stop anyone and Monken will not be successful without some playmakers on the other side of the ball. Army was outscored 379-293 during the 2013 season.

He already has experience dealing with the types of student-athletes at Army. The student-athletes are cadets and have larger obligations throughout the day as compared to a college football player at any other university. The days for cadets are more strenuous and Monken has experience dealing with these types of student-athletes. He will be successful because he can find that balance between football and school and he will be able to get the best out of his players on Saturdays, especially the most important Saturday in the middle of December.

Monken is the 37^th head coach of Army and he will become one of the most popular in the long history of the program. In his first year of coaching he will pull off the unexpected and defeat both Navy and Air Force. He will snap the losing streak to Navy and bring the Commander in Chief trophy back to West Point. Monken will turn the program around and use Army as a stepping stone for a successful career in the FBS.

This is possibly the most important season in a long time for Black Knights football. There is plenty to look forward to this coming season for the Black Knights.