Payback Bowl? South Florida's Tresey Takes Aim at School That Fired Him

TAMPA, Fla. -- Defensive coordinator Joe Tresey said he never saw it coming.

A couple of months after Cincinnati won the Big East title and played in the Orange Bowl and just days after National Signing Day in February, Tresey was fired by Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly. Tresey had spent the past three seasons as Kelly's defensive coordinator -- one year at Central Michigan and the past two seasons at Cincinnati.

"Yes I was surprised," Tresey told FanHouse. "I think it was over a 3-to-4 day period [that he talked with Kelly]. We had a discussion about going to the 3-4 [defense]."

Sources told FanHouse that Kelly's decision was based on Tresey interviewing for the Miami defensive coordinator position after last season. Tresey basically had the job locked up, but insisted on coaching UM's defensive backs. Miami coach Randy Shannon wanted Tresey assisting with another position and that ended up being a deal breaker, sources said.

Tresey counters his departure from Cincinnati was just about Kelly wanting to change defensive philosophies.

"He came back [after signing day] and wanted someone that had run [the 3-4]," Tresey said. "I was familiar with it. I was going to run it. But I think he felt deep down in my heart, I wasn't doing somersaults. I would have done a good job, he knows that."

Kelly claims it was a matter of changing defensive alignments.

"I wanted to go from teaching Spanish to teaching Russian, in terms of going from [a 4-3 to a 3-4] defensive structure," Kelly said earlier this season. "It's not in his wheelhouse. He was not comfortable with that.

"Philosophically, where I wanted to go, I was going to put him in a tough position. I felt like it would be better for both of us if we went in a different direction."

After getting axed at Cincinnati, Tresey, 51, paid for his own plane ticket to Tampa and got an interview with South Florida coach Jim Leavitt. After a second interview, Tresey was named USF's defensive coordinator in March.
So far, Cincinnati's loss has been USF's gain. On Thursday night, Tresey's new team faces his former one when the No. 8 Bearcats (5-0) visit No. 21 USF (5-0)

Under Tresey, the Bulls have forced 3.2 turnovers a game, which ranks as the nation's third-best per game average. Two years ago at Cincinnati, Tresey's defense tied for the national lead in turnovers forced and interceptions.

"We practice stripping the ball, a lot of ball drills," Tresey said. "It's one of our goals. Everybody in America as a defensive coordinator practices this stuff. I've been fortunate to be around it the last four-to-five years. It's just one of those things. Sometimes they just happen and they come your way. You keep working it and keep talking about it."

Kelly knew Tresey would be successful and the Bulls would be "first and foremost" fundamentally sound.

"They will not do anything defensively that is not sound," Kelly said. "He's probably one of the best I've been around in the preparation end as far as putting your kids in a good position to succeed.

"And he's just a super guy, a good person. When you meet him you go, 'That's a good guy! That's a good guy!' And he's a sincere guy. There's no BS about Joe Tresey."

Tresey doesn't deal in BS. That's how he was raised by his parents, Joe and Ann, in Warren, Ohio. His father spent his whole life working in steel mills, his mother was a waitress.

He grew up in a 1,200-square foot ranch-style home without air conditioning or a garage with his parents and sister in what he called the "snow belt."

"I thought it was a nice house," Tresey said. "It's all I ever knew."

Cincinnati senior safety Aaron Webster knows all about Tresey and his, uh, let's just say colorful, animated use of the English language.

"This guy is a really intense guy," Webster said. "People take it the wrong way. They think because he's so intense, he's rude. He really isn't. He really loves the game and his players. I respect him for that."

Tresey's coaching style could be described as high-decibel, high-octane and high-energy. When Tresey was hired, he told the Bulls what he expected from them and what to expect from him.

"He came in and told his life story," USF nose tackle Terrell McClain said. "The way he expresses his feelings is because he used to work in the steel mill. That's some crazy stuff."

Added USF safety Jerrell Young: "Tresey definitely takes it to another level. I've never had a coach like that: high school, Little League, anywhere."

Tresey realizes his style of coaching might require an adjustment period for some.

"Probably [a player's first impression of me is] I'm a little bit Type A, a little bit over the wall sometimes," Tresey said. "But you know what? I make it a point to tell them I care about young people. I do what I do, I've done it for 30 years, because I love being around them."

Webster said he enjoyed his two years playing for Tresey.

"For me, Joe Tresey is hands-on," Webster said. "He tries to find what you're bad it and improve it right from the get-go. He wants to improve on your flaws.

"He's also -- I don't want to say over the top -- he's an exciting guy, though. He gets in your face and let's you know how he feels. He's a very different guy.

"If you want somebody different and new, Joe Tresey is your guy."

Despite coaching together for the past three seasons, Tresey and Kelly haven't spoken since February. Tresey still has friends on the Bearcats' staff, but said they've laid out the ground rules for this week. No phone calls and only a quick pre-game handshake.

Tresey said he's never coached against a school he was fired by.

"Never," he said. "That only happens in the NFL for the most part.

"This is a crazy profession, crap happens all the time. Really, I'm only focused on our kids, focused on beating Cincinnati. I've give very little thought [about facing his old team]. That's over with. That was six months ago.



"I've had my time from an emotional standpoint to deal with that. It's well over. It's well over."

USF senior defensive end George Selvie isn't so sure.

"He's saying he's not worried about it, but in the back of his mind 'he's like, I get a chance at my old team.' Just going out there against Cincinnati and his old head coach [will be special].

"I think it's a big game for him. I think he really wants it. He's crazy, but I think he's crazier this week. He's just ready to play. He's just fired up."

Tresey maintains it's just another game.

"This is about South Florida and Cincinnati," Tresey said. "If I drop dead tomorrow, they're still playing the game. The game will go on."