Can't Wait For Saturday Could coaching be in quarterback's future? Seems possible

Mar. 10—***

When my stories are too long, sometimes I leave parts out that I would like to include.

That happened Monday with my piece on new Illinois quarterback Katin Houser.

One of the questions I always try to ask players during extended interviews — this one went about 15 minutes — is some version of "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

The first answer is always "play in the NFL." But that career, unless you are Tom Brady, can't go on forever.

Houser came up with an interesting response.

"I've gone back and forth to coaching," Houser said. "That might be where I'm going."

He has been working with some younger players in recent years, which added to his curiosity about the profession.

It is not for everyone. Long hours and low pay early on can make it difficult. But those with an aptitude for it, coaching can be rewarding financially, socially and spiritually. A calling for some.

Houser has already earned his economics degree from East Carolina and is doing graduate work at Illinois. He might work toward and MBA.

But watching Illinois head coach Bret Bielema for a semester and spending time with Barry Lunney Jr. and Art Sitkowski could bring the coaching option to the front of his to-do list. Getting started on the job has become easier thanks to the expansion of coaching staffs. Illinois now has 20 full-timers.