University of Connecticut Athletics
Dedication Shows For Coach Allen's Wide Receivers
8/24/2022 4:25:00 PM | Football
Aug. 24, 2022
Every football player needs a coach to guide him in his quest for success on the field. For the University of Connecticut's wide receiver group, that coach is John Allen.
As another new addition to Jim Mora's coaching roster, Allen comes to UConn with a wealth of experience from college programs such as Old Dominion, Delaware State and Louisiana Tech. And it would be difficult to find a coach more qualified than Allen to take the reins of UConn's wideout group, a crew that consists of young and promising talent.
"To find a coach with more experience than John Allen would be a difficult task, and I'm thrilled that he joined the UConn football family," UConn head coach Jim Mora said. "John is an excellent recruiter who knows the commitment it takes to be successful at this level. John's knowledge of the game and coaching acumen will make an immediate impact on the young men in our program and I know he is going to hit the ground running."
Headlined by young stars like Keelan Marion and Aaron Turner, Allen has the task of managing a deep pool of talent, getting them to compete every single day, and putting each player in a position to make winning plays for the Huskies. The group nickname of "So Icy'' was a title that matched the flare and intensity of the group that was ready to challenge anyone who stands in its way.
"Usually, with places that I've been, we come up with a name that embodies what the group is," Alen explained. "This group took hold of 'So Icy' and, as I told them, 'If we're going to be that, we're going to be cold,' which means you're going to be very good, then we have to do it every single day."
Even before stepping foot at UConn, Allen had a connection with Huskies transfer student Nigel Fitzgerald during the pair's years at Old Dominion, where Fitzgerald was a 17-year-old freshman transitioning to college football. With a reunion in Storrs, both of them have big plans for the upcoming college football season.
"He's a guy who brings maturity to the room. He's hungry to continue to grow," Allen said. "It's just been great to be around him again."
The receiving group showed its dedication to Allen ever since the UConn coach first arrived in Storrs, demonstrating a commitment to hard work and perseverance by showing up even when practice wasn't scheduled. As a new coach with new procedures, he's noticed how the group has remained focused on improving during the offseason.
"This group has been great," Allen said. "They've bought in and just to watch what they've done during the offseason, it's been fantastic."
Just like a family, each player is there for each other. When UConn receiver Cam Ross went down with a broken foot before the team's first game of the season, Allen reminded his group about how they never leave a brother behind.
"It's about rallying around Cam," Allen said. "It hurts to have somebody like him go down, but he knows he has his brothers around him."
While every practice isn't perfect for the Huskies, whether it's a missed catch or poor effort on a play, Allen is always ready to motivate his team to get right back on track. It's important that each receiver sees what Allen sees in them, whether it's a strong performance at practice or a day where the Huskies don't perform at their best.
"We just try to manage our highs and our lows and make sure overall that we're consistent in what we're doing," Allen said. "If we can stay consistent every single day, then we'll grow every single day and we'll be where we need to be come Saturdays."
