Throughout Bryant Haines' five-year career, the fifth-year senior linebacker followed the direction former Ball State University head coach Brady Hoke took him.
During practice, Haines listened to the instructions his position coach taught. During games, he watched as Hoke called in defensive plays from the sidelines.
Less than a month before Haines' final game, late Sunday night, Hoke left the program he led for six seasons to accept a coaching offer at San Diego State University.
"It was really hard," Haines said. "He was what I consider a friend. I was really close with him. I loved the guy, and I still do. It was hard there for a while to get past it, but we have to move on."
Moving on with Ball State's next head football coach, Stan Parrish, should make the transition easier for the players.
Parrish, who served as Hoke's offensive coordinator for the past three years, became the 15th head football coach in the program's 84-year history Thursday after signing a four-year contract worth $1.4 million. The contract, which was offered Wednesday afternoon and signed Thursday morning, will pay Parrish a base salary of $350,000 per season, along with extra income for performance incentives.
Parrish said he accepted the job offer so he could stay with the players. One of the biggest benefits, he said, is he will bring stability after the uncertainty of losing Hoke.
"I really think we've started to heal quickly," Parrish said Thursday, less than an hour after meeting with the team for the first time as head coach. "We've got a couple practices, and then I'll let them get out of here Sunday. They need some time away because it's been very stressful for them. Their reward for winning the first 12 is we lost to Buffalo and we lost our head coach."
Losing Hoke had a significantly lesser influence on the Cardinals' offensive players.
Parrish had complete control of the offensive playbook and game plan during his three years as coordinator. Senior captain and starting center Dan Gerberry said the coaching change will be hardly noticeable to him and his offensive teammates.
"He's kind of been our head coach for the last three years," Gerberry said. "We've worked with him, we know exactly what he expects. When I heard there was an opening, he's the guy we wanted."
Parrish's promotion seemed to change little in regards to junior quarterback Nate Davis' future. Jose Davis, Nate Davis' older brother, said Sunday there is a 95 percent chance the junior will enter this year's NFL Draft.
Nate Davis, who finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting, said nothing Thursday to hint he might play a senior season with Parrish now being the head coach.
"I'm going to let coach Parrish and my family take care of everything," Davis said. "I'm just out here trying to get another win."
Now that finals are done, another win is Haines' sole focus as he begins Winter Break. After struggling through a couple days of uncertainty, the fifth-year senior said, he wouldn't want anyone other than Parrish on the sidelines when his team plays the University of Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl on Jan. 6.
"He hasn't been my coach for one game, he's been my coach for 12 games and the seasons before that," Haines said. "He's always had a big part in this football team. He's been responsible for a lot of the wins we already have, and he's going to be responsible for many more."
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