Macdonald assumes new role for Football

Just when the Penn football coaching carousel was beginning to settle, another new coach hopped on at the start of the spring season. But this time, he's a familiar face to the Quakers. All-Ivy linebacker Darren Macdonald joined the team as a defensive assistant coach March 17, the first day of spring practices. Macdonald also will stay on as a coach next season when the Quakers prepare to defend their Ivy League championship. Macdonald described his new role as a "work-study" position and plans to stay on as a coach while he completes his Wharton degree. Macdonald keyed a defensive unit last season that was ranked as high as third in the nation in total defense. But after an off-season that saw a slew of coaching changes and shifts, the familiar face is a welcome addition to the Penn defense -- even if it is on the sidelines. After longtime defensive coordinator Mike Toop left to take the same position at the University of Connecticut, head coach Al Bagnoli announced he would assume the additional role of defensive coordinator and brought in Cliff Schwenke from Northern Arizona to coach the linebackers. Linebacker Jim Hisgen, one of next year's co-captains, said the addition of Macdonald to the coaching staff is helping the team speed the adjustment process with all of the coaching changes. "He's working really well with the new coach," Hisgen said. "Coach Schwenke knows what he's doing but he's just getting acclimated to the defense. "I think it helps him because Darren is there. He pretty much knows the defense inside and out." Macdonald has four practices under his belt but said his role thus far has mainly been to help Schwenke grow accustomed to Penn's system. "I'm not too active right now -- I just try to give a few tips here and there," Macdonald said. "Basically the only thing [Schwenke] needs me for is to get a grip on what our schedule used to be before he came, what things we did -- so I'm more of an informant." Seeing their former teammate with a whistle in his mouth instead of a mouthguard may take some getting used to for the Quakers, but junior linebacker Joseph Yiu said not much else has changed regarding Macdonald's status with the defensive unit. "We always looked up to Darren basically as a coach," Yiu said. "We would listen to everything he said when he was playing. Having him as a coach really doesn't change anything." But Macdonald said the adjustment has not been all that easy. "I know everybody so well, it's hard to draw the line from being a player and a coach," Macdonald said. "So far it's been OK. I know it's going to get harder next year once the games start." Hisgen gave his newest coach a vote of confidence, however. "It's weird not seeing him in pads but he's doing a great job," Hisgen said. "He's taking the job real seriously and everybody respects him." Macdonald, soft-spoken but known for his intensity on the field, coaches exactly like he played, according to Hisgen. "He doesn't yell," said Hisgen, who spent most of last season starting next to Macdonald. "The way he's coaching right now, he's doing the same thing [he did as a player]. "He was never a big yeller, but he knew his stuff. He's able to communicate what he's trying to get across and how he wants it done." So far in spring ball, Macdonald has not needed to yell. The players have not seen much action in pads and are still learning to deal with the new coaching arrangements. But Macdonald is not looking forward to his first opportunity to straighten out one of his players. "I'm nervous that if I try [to discipline someone], they'll just treat me like I was one of them," he said. Macdonald said he will use his time as an assistant at Penn to gauge a possible career in coaching. Joe Piela, a co-captain of the '98 Ivy champion Quakers, said his former teammate has what it takes to be a successful coach. "I'd love to play for Darren," Piela said. "He's an intense kid. You like to see that in a coach, someone who's intense and who loves the game." "I've thought about [coaching], and I figured this is one way to find out," said Macdonald, who admitted he has a whole new appreciation for his former coaches' predicaments. "After the first couple of [practices] I was like, 'God, no wonder.'"