After 17 seasons of coaching under former head football coach Bill Maskill, Rich Renner is stepping up to the plate, the sideline, as the new head coach to lead the Mustangs to a winning season.
At the end of the 2023 season Maskill announced his retirement from coaching football after 22 seasons and Renner was offered the job of becoming the head of the team.
In the offseason, the coaching staff added 80 new players to the team. Renner focused his recruiting process based on the types of players that would not only excel in the Lone Star Conference but would also uphold the values of what it means to be a part of the Mustang Family.
“My approach to recruiting in the offseason was very simple. You know obviously you want to recruit the best players, you want to recruit players that can play in this conference and be successful. How when we recruited those guys, were they the type of kids that had the character and humbleness that we needed to be a team player and obviously do really, really well,” Renner said.
When it came to recruiting, there were three main areas that Renner and his coaching staff searched for in the prospects.
“In recruiting, the first thing you want to look at is character. Number two is you want to look at what is the skill level. And then thirdly, are they going to fit in the environment in Wichita Falls, because not everybody is cut out to be a Wichita Falls, or a Falls Town person,” Renner said.
With the additions from the recruitment, Renner and his team soon learned that the most important thing to having a successful season was to make sure the team was on the same page when it came to what they wanted to stand for. Renner said the senior players on the team came up with this year’s motto: We Over Me.
“Our motto this year is ‘we over me,’ and that was brought up by the seniors and the leadership group that we have. I felt like that was a great motto for us, because I felt that for the last few years we have been disconnected,” Renner said.
Physical education junior Devin Cross spoke on how the team has a closer bond this season compared to the season before.
“I feel like we are more together this year than last year because we had some guys here and there that were in their own little group. Now we are together as one team,” Cross said.
Both Renner and Cross stated that one of the biggest strengths the team has is its chemistry and their willingness to put others over themselves and play as one.
“We talk about putting other people in front of us, putting the team in front of ourselves, you know putting the fans, the community and other sports, or what have you, and having that selfless mindset to where it’s not all about me, or all about what do I received, it’s what can we give, what can help. I just feel that is the strength of our team because of the way our team is willing to get involved in the community, and enjoy the rewards of serving other people,” Renner said.
The Mustang season opener was on Thursday, Aug. 29. They battled the Missouri Southern State University Lions and came out on top with a final score of 18-11. This game revealed to Renner and the team that there was a weakness in newcomers not knowing what it means to be a Mustang.
“I think our biggest weakness is that we have 80 new players on our team, and that was their first ball game as an MSU Mustang. That was the first time they were going through a season. A lot of people just don’t know what they don’t know. They don’t know the warmup routine, they didnt know how to act before the game, I had to go over all that the night before the game,” Renner continued, “We have a culture here. There is that culture that had been established with Coach Maskill 22 years ago when he first got here, and for me to be able to withhold that culture, and discipline and structure, I have to teach it to those 80 new guys.”
This weakness can be eliminated by reminding the team of its motto, “We over me,” which Renner plans to instill in all of his players as the season progresses.
Renner believes that this group of players’ skill level and willingness to put others above themselves will help push them further into the postseason and secure a national title. Renner says none of this would be possible without the help of the school, fans and President Haynie.
“I want to say go Mustangs. I want to thank all of the fans, all of our supporters and obviously our president. Doctor Haynie has done a great job of reshaping the culture here at Midwestern State and bringing all the kids in here… I am excited, now we have to do our part and we are excited to do that. It’s an honor and a privilege, and again I want to say go Mustangs,” Renner said.
