IU head coach Tom Allen once read best-selling author and keynote speaker Jon Gordon's The Power of an Outside Voice, in which Gordon explains the importance of bringing in a new, fresh voice to reinforce an organization's message.
It left an impact on Allen, who applied that practice to his own program by recently inviting longtime mentor and former Indianapolis Ben Davis head coach Dick Dullaghan down to Bloomington to watch practice and speak to the Hoosiers. For Allen, having someone of Dullaghan's stature around the program is "huge."
"He's been to a lot of different camps, both NFL and collegiate," Allen said. "A lot of guys bring him in to consult, if you want to call it that, so he has a lot of experience and he knows what he's looking at and what it's supposed to look like."
A member of the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, Dullaghan finished with nine undefeated seasons, eight state titles and three state runner-up finishes in 34 seasons as a high school football coach between stops at Bishop Chatard, Carmel and Ben Davis in Central Indiana. He’s also the only coach of a national high school championship team in Indiana history, accomplishing the feat with Ben Davis in 1991.
In 2001, Allen was in his fourth season as defensive coordinator for the Giants. Two years later, Dullaghan announced the 2003 season would be his last and that he’d be retiring from coaching and teaching. Dullaghan tapped Allen to serve as his successor in 2004, and Allen would go on to serve as Ben Davis’ head coach through the 2006 season before taking special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach positions with Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in March 2007.
In addition to NFL and collegiate teams, high schools have also invited Dullaghan to impart his wisdom on their football programs. Part of his appeal to organizations at those three levels is his honest feedback, according to Allen.
"He's not afraid to tell us," Allen said. "He's not going to tell you what you want to hear, he's going to tell you the truth and what he sees, the good and the bad."
Dullaghan spent three days with the IU football program last week, observing walkthroughs, meetings and practices while providing feedback to coaches and players and giving wisdom on what makes a great team.
Dullaghan also visited and spoke with the Hoosiers last year during Allen's first season as defensive coordinator.
"I have so much respect for him," Allen said. "He's been such a special person to me, and I appreciated him taking the time to be with us."
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