When the job opening for Ball State's offensive line coach became open this past offseason, the team filled that vacancy with someone familiar with the program.
When the Cardinals offered the position to Nick Tabacca, he said coming back to Ball State was an easy decision.
"It was a no-brainer," he said. "It's Ball State; it's where I played and it's where my degree is from."
Tabacca played center for the Cardinals from 2000-04. In that time he started 33 games, including the final 24 games, and was a captain his senior season.
After serving two seasons as a graduate assistant for Ball State, Tabacca went on to be an assistant for two seasons at Defiance College and a season at Butler. But while he was away from the school, Tabacca kept his ties close to his alma mater. But having his first coaching position at a D-1 school, he said there are only slight differences between Butler and Ball State.
"The biggest thing is really the support system," Tabacca said. "The services and staffs that where at a smaller school you had to take it on yourself. With the support staff here, they're able to handle those things."
But he also is the third offensive line coach for Ball State in the past three seasons. Having to transition to three different coaches can be tough, but junior guard Jordan Hansel said the offensive line is doing well adjusting to Tabacca.
"We've really adapted to him and his coaching abilities," Hansel said. "He's adapted to how we play and how we need to be coached."
Hansel said there are similarities between Tabacca and former offensive line coach John Strollo, who left in the offseason to join Bill O'Brien's staff at Penn State. The biggest similarity is their coaching styles.
"They're both calm guys," Hansel said. "They're not going to scream at us every time we do something wrong. They're here to coach us."
Tabacca has been forced to learn coach Pete Lembo's system but credits the entire coaching staff for making his transition as a coach at Ball State easier. He said his coaching philosophies are similar to Strollo's, which has made his transition even easier.
Having the same coaching philosophies has allowed Tabacca to adjust to his players easier as well.
"They've been on board with anything I've want that is a little different," he said. "They've bought in, and they've been awesome."
With Tabacca being an alumnus of Ball State, Hansel said as a coach it doesn't make much difference, but he shows that he's excited to be back at Ball State. It's too early in the spring season to tell what improvements will be made on the offensive line, but Hansel said the team is becoming better with its technique.
As for the offensive line coach, he's just happy to be back at Ball State.
"It's been awesome," he said. "It's a special thing. I was at a few places before that which were great places. But this is like coming home."
For more coverage on football, follow @MatMikesell on Twitter.
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