Coach Yeagley interview transcript

-- On his relationship with the current IU soccer team:\n"One of the things I've been doing is following the team. I'm a groupie; I follow after the IU soccer team. I wouldn't call myself a super fan, but I'm into the team and still feel very much attached. What I miss the most is the day-in and day-out interactions with the players. But every now and then I go and get my fix, by hanging out at practice and rubbing up next to them, you know. I try to keep my distance. I think it's been a healthy situation. But, there's still some boys out there who I recruited and brought here to IU and I feel attachment and a bit of responsibility to the program. Even after the guys I recruited are gone, I'll still feel that way. (IU coach) Mike (Freitag) is like a younger brother and of course my son's (Todd Yeagley, assistant coach) out there -- it's family." \n-- On what he does with his free time:\n"With my time, I'm trying to get my golf game better, I'm doing a lot of things I wasn't able to do with my wife, like going to Florida for two months -- February and March -- taking some trips, spending more time with family and grandkids and I'm still very much involved with helping in the area of development in IU athletics, doing some fundraising -- and I'm enjoying that. I'm doing this capitol campaign that's going on to try and get our scholarship endowments and improve our facilities -- things like that. I'm going to help as much as I can. I'm trying to give something back that way -- it's all voluntary. They wanted to give me an office and I said 'no.' I just wanted to do it on a voluntary basis." \n-- On his relationship with the IU athletic department:\n"I've tried to stay close with the coaches and the department. Now and then some of the younger ones will call me for advice or ask me my opinion on things and I get a lot of satisfaction out of that and hope that my experience and knowledge might be a little bit of help. I'm an IU guy and I want to see all the programs succeed. I'm proud of what Ray (Looze, IU swimming and diving coach) did this year. I think we have some outstanding coaches. (IU Director of Athletics) Rick Greenspan is a real professional with the leadership he's providing. I just feel really good about the future. His hires and just the way he leads, he's a real professional." \n- On whether or not he liked the hiring of Kelvin Sampson for the men's basketball head coaching job:\n"I sure did. The more I hear and read about how he was respected and liked in Oklahoma, I'm real excited. I think what he's been successful with in the areas you need to be consistent in, in terms of effort and discipline and work ethic -- those things -- he demands those. Your talent may be off a bit, and your execution, but if you're consistent in those areas and your preparation is right -- I feel very good about that." \n- On this year's IU soccer squad:\n"We have excellent players. It's going to be a young team. You know, getting the right chemistry, the right mix and perhaps finding a way to score -- I think that's going to be a challenge for this team and for Coach Freitag. And yet, I think in time, it could be a pretty proficient and effective offense. Sorting out the defense and then sorting out the new players, we could have a number of freshmen on the team. (Kevin) Alston and (Ofori) Sarkodie, they don't play like freshmen. And then with several more coming in who have international experience and have been on our youth national team, I think they're going to press to play. And some of the guys who have been in the wings are stepping up. I'm pretty really pleased to see that -- to watch players develop. It's their time and they want to put their mark on it. I think the competition for position is going to be key -- and I think that's a healthy situation. Leadership is important within the team and I think that is something that needs to emerge. And it will be interesting to watch that -- how the internal leadership is as this young team grows. But I like the team. I think it's very athletic and they're out there playing as a group and playing for each other. There's no reason to think that this team can't achieve the same high standards or play to the same high standards and have the same goals -- you know what the goals are for IU soccer -- they don't change. And they know that as well." \n- On this summer's World Cup:\n"I think it's going to be a great World Cup. I think the United States -- even though a lot of people think we're in a tough bracket -- I think the U.S. is going to surprise people. A lot of people don't think we have a chance of moving out of the first round. I have a feeling we may surprise some people. Then there's your standard powers. I've always been a fan of Brazilian soccer. I've been down to Brazil and just love the way they play. Germany may not be a beautiful team, but they're playing at home. So, I think it's wide open. But the U.S., they could be one of the surprises -- I'm not saying they'll win it"