UIW’s Clint Killough: “There’s a story in every moment”

The postseason begins for UIW on Saturday.

They host Villanova in a second-round FCS playoff game. The Cardinals received a first-round bye after their remarkable season under second-year head coach Clint Killough.

UIW was given the nod by the selection committee last year and denied the opportunity to play postseason football, even though only one loss to another FCS ball club was on the schedule.

But no one at UIW complained, at least not publicly, and the Cardinals simply got back to work and moved on, using the sting of not making the postseason as their main motivator heading into this season.

Maybe this little thing is the reason why they are here now? Clint Killough spent time at Maximum Sports immediately after this year’s selection show, and when Killough sold himself to athletic director Richard Duran for the head coaching position, he made it clear that he was the best man for the job. It appears that Clint Killough has also made his decision. The 31-year-old has an 18-4 record in his two seasons as a top player at UIW. This is despite the fact that over 60 players on the UIW roster had to be replaced after GJ Kinne transferred to Texas State a few years ago. And as a former Cardinals player and assistant coach, it’s hard to imagine this “year of firsts” having more meaning for anyone other than Coach Killough. UIW topped the Southland Conference standings and is a No. 6 seed in the FCS tournament, both firsts in program history. However, the Cardinals aren’t done yet, as you’ll learn in our interview with the head coach of the UIW football program.

UIW hosts Villanova in Round 2 of the FCS playoffs on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Benson Stadium. (Photo courtesy: UIW)