Thought this was interesting what his former players said about him.
Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Tyson Helton is more than a mind behind coach Jeff Brohm's high-octane offense. Around WKU's locker room, he's also known for motivating.
"He can talk anybody up," said junior offensive lineman Forrest Lamp. "Seriously."
"He gets everybody fired up," added senior receiver Jared Dangerfield, "and we carry that fire over to the offense."
Both players said it's just as much about Helton's delivery as the message. Whatever the 38-year-old does is certainly working.
Heading into Monday's Miami Beach Bowl game against South Florida, the Hilltoppers are three points away from setting a new season scoring record for the second consecutive year.
"You don't ever appreciate it until it's all said and done," Helton said in a meeting with reporters before WKU knocked off Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA championship game. "I'm sure I'll look back after the season and go, 'Gosh, these guys made a lot of great plays and did a lot of great things.' I'm really proud of them."
WKU sits sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (520 yards per game). It also features the nation's second-leading passer in Brandon Doughty (4,594 yards) and fourth-leading receiver in Taywan Taylor (1,363 yards), a Pleasure Ridge Park product.
"I've been impressed, but it's what we expected out of them," Helton said.
The coach got some credit, too, when named this week as one of four finalists for FootballScoop.com's Offensive Coordinator of the Year. He's up against Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley, North Carolina's Seth Littrell and Southern Miss' Chip Lindsey.
Brohm reportedly declined interview chances during C-USA championship game week, while Helton hasn't been rumored for another opportunity since Georgia needed to fill its new staff.
"When you're a successful mid-major program, your coaches are going to be looked at," Lamp said. "It's a plus, because it means you're doing something right. ... He's an unbelievable coach. He's probably one of the best coaches I've ever had, to be honest with you. He is a great motivational speaker."
Helton, who played quarterback at Houston and also coached positions at Hawaii, Memphis and UAB, is the younger brother of Clay Helton, who recently had the interim tag removed from his head coaching title at Southern California.
https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...miami-beach-bowl-bound-wku-football/77415036/
With a bowl victory, the Hilltoppers would equal their program record for wins in a single season at 12. The success led to both Brohm and Helton, who came to WKU from Cincinnati, seeing their names listed for a number of open jobs in college football.
But Tyson Helton's move up the ranks doesn't seem imminent, his final motivational speech not necessarily to come this week.
Brohm spoke after the Southern Miss game of building at WKU similar to how his college coach, Howard Schnellenberger, did at the University of Louisville. And Helton called Brohm "the best I've been around."
"It's a joy every week to go work for a guy like that," he added. "He puts you in an environment where you can excel. He loves new ideas. He loves competition. So to be able to work for Jeff Brohm is the best job you can have."
Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Tyson Helton is more than a mind behind coach Jeff Brohm's high-octane offense. Around WKU's locker room, he's also known for motivating.
"He can talk anybody up," said junior offensive lineman Forrest Lamp. "Seriously."
"He gets everybody fired up," added senior receiver Jared Dangerfield, "and we carry that fire over to the offense."
Both players said it's just as much about Helton's delivery as the message. Whatever the 38-year-old does is certainly working.
Heading into Monday's Miami Beach Bowl game against South Florida, the Hilltoppers are three points away from setting a new season scoring record for the second consecutive year.
"You don't ever appreciate it until it's all said and done," Helton said in a meeting with reporters before WKU knocked off Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA championship game. "I'm sure I'll look back after the season and go, 'Gosh, these guys made a lot of great plays and did a lot of great things.' I'm really proud of them."
WKU sits sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (520 yards per game). It also features the nation's second-leading passer in Brandon Doughty (4,594 yards) and fourth-leading receiver in Taywan Taylor (1,363 yards), a Pleasure Ridge Park product.
"I've been impressed, but it's what we expected out of them," Helton said.
The coach got some credit, too, when named this week as one of four finalists for FootballScoop.com's Offensive Coordinator of the Year. He's up against Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley, North Carolina's Seth Littrell and Southern Miss' Chip Lindsey.
Brohm reportedly declined interview chances during C-USA championship game week, while Helton hasn't been rumored for another opportunity since Georgia needed to fill its new staff.
"When you're a successful mid-major program, your coaches are going to be looked at," Lamp said. "It's a plus, because it means you're doing something right. ... He's an unbelievable coach. He's probably one of the best coaches I've ever had, to be honest with you. He is a great motivational speaker."
Helton, who played quarterback at Houston and also coached positions at Hawaii, Memphis and UAB, is the younger brother of Clay Helton, who recently had the interim tag removed from his head coaching title at Southern California.
https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...miami-beach-bowl-bound-wku-football/77415036/
With a bowl victory, the Hilltoppers would equal their program record for wins in a single season at 12. The success led to both Brohm and Helton, who came to WKU from Cincinnati, seeing their names listed for a number of open jobs in college football.
But Tyson Helton's move up the ranks doesn't seem imminent, his final motivational speech not necessarily to come this week.
Brohm spoke after the Southern Miss game of building at WKU similar to how his college coach, Howard Schnellenberger, did at the University of Louisville. And Helton called Brohm "the best I've been around."
"It's a joy every week to go work for a guy like that," he added. "He puts you in an environment where you can excel. He loves new ideas. He loves competition. So to be able to work for Jeff Brohm is the best job you can have."
