UW cornerbacks feel loss of coach

For cornerback Desmond Trufant, there was something different about Huskies football practice on Thursday. For the first time in his three seasons at Washington, Trufant’s position coach, Demetrice Martin, was not around to instruct, correct and cajole him.

Since Trufant went to Montlake as a skinny freshman out of Wilson High School, Martin had been with him every step. But that changed earlier this week when Martin took a similar position at UCLA under new coach Jim Mora.

The news came as a shock to Trufant.

“I was definitely surprised,” Trufant said. “I heard through the media, heard from the coaches. I wasn’t too happy about it, especially when you are with a coach for that long and develop a friendship. It’s the business side of the game. I’m happy for him. It’s a great opportunity.”

Still, practicing without Martin was different for Trufant and his fellow cornerbacks.

“The position coach is who you are with the majority of the time,” Trufant said. “It was definitely different not having him around. We just have to continue to prepare and get ready for the game.”

The game is the Alamo Bowl, Dec. 29, against Baylor in San Antonio.

This is the first time UW coach Steve Sarkisian has had to deal with a staff defection. Since taking over the program three years ago, Sarkisian had not had a paid assistant leave.

“It’s been big,” Sarkisian said of the continuity. “Obviously, just from the development of our program, understanding our philosophies, our beliefs, as well as our schemes and the communication side of it all. This is the first time for us, and it won’t be the last time, obviously. And it’s not as if other teams around the country, it doesn’t happen to them. So, we’ll be OK.”

Safeties coach Jeff Mills will oversee the secondary, while graduate assistant Donte Williams will coach the cornerbacks. Williams played safety at Syracuse.

While some coaches allow departing assistants to coach through the bowl game. Sarkisian decided against it, even though he took the job at Washington before he served as offensive coordinator for USC for the 2009 Rose Bowl against Penn State.

“We’re in a little bit different … situation than I was then, when I was a coordinator moving on to be a head coach,” he said. “When you make a lateral move like that, I think at times, I don’t know if there’s a sense of animosity, but it can just be uncomfortable. So I think it was best for him, and probably best for us, to do it now.”

Sarkisian said he holds no animosity toward Martin for leaving. He knew one of his coaches would leave eventually.

“That’s the profession we’re in right now,” he said. “I’m not shocked by it, by guys moving on. Believe me, I’m the first to know. I’ve bounced around enough as an assistant. … You’re trying to move your way up this ladder of the coaching profession, so I understand it.”

As for replacing Martin, Sarkisian is pragmatic, putting the bowl game first.

“Obviously, a lot of focus is on the team and the bowl game right now,” he said. “We’ll take our time. More important than making a quick decision is making a great decision and finding a quality replacement and somebody who can come in here and help our corners be successful, not only on the football field but in life and in the classroom.”

PRICE IS HEALTHY

Keith Price was back taking all the snaps with the No. 1 offense after a few weeks of watching backup Nick Montana and third-stringer Derrick Brown work.

“It was pretty boring.” Price said. “I kind of like being in there. But it was good, just to get my body right.”

Price’s body isn’t completely healed yet. But it’s much better than it was following the Apple Cup.

“I’m not 100 percent, but I got a lot better,” he said.

That was evident. He was wearing only one knee brace on Thursday and didn’t limp. He even broke free for a long scramble.

“A couple weeks ago, I probably wouldn’t have been able to sprint into the end zone,” he said. “So I’m getting a lot better.”

But will he be 100 percent healthy for the bowl?

“Hopefully,” he said. “We’ll see.”

EXTRA POINTS

Free safety Will Shamburger was wearing a red no-contact medical jersey at practice, while fellow safety James Sample was in street clothes, his right arm in a sling to take the pressure off his surgically repaired shoulder. … Eastlake running back/cornerback Ryan Lewis, an all-conference player for the Wolves, watched practice. He is the son of former Seahawks director of player personnel and cornerback Will Lewis.

Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483 ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports