Ask Asmussen about his talk with Schultz here

He spent more than a decade coaching at TCU and most of his career has been spent in Texas. But today at the Edward Jones Dome, Mike Schultz begins a new chapter in his life. Mike Locksley's replacement will be calling the play against Missouri. And beyond.

Q: If we promise not to tell, what will be the first play on offense against Missouri?

A: I'm not sure. It will be sequenced out. I'll script probably 10 to 12 what I call starters. We'll go straight down the list and this is what we'll run. If I get in a third-down situation, I have a third-down play selection we'll go to.

Q: What describes your coaching philosophy?

A: I think football helps mature kids. It puts them in situations that sometimes are difficult. They can use those lessons that they learned and strategies that they learned later on in life.

Q: When did you first know you were going to be a coach?

A: This is a good story. My dad was not only a coach, but on the side, we owned a brush hauling company. Every morning, we'd get up and there would always be four or five flats that we would have to fix from the previous day. We would have to get up at 6. Some of them were the big tractor tires that you put the water in and everything else. About midway through that summer after fixing all those tires, I said, "This ain't for me. I think I'm going to be a football coach." I was in high school.

Q: Were there times when you thought it wasn't for you?

A: I think we all go through hard times. I don't think there's ever been a time when I said I'm not going to coach. I may end up coaching at a middle school someplace in Tennessee or Texas someday. But I have a feeling I'm going to coach until it's time for me to walk down the road and retire.

Q: What's the hardest part of coaching?

A: We put in a lot of time. There's a great separation between you and your family.

Q: What's the unknown fun part that people don't realize?

A: I enjoy watching kids graduate. I made this comment to a kid I coached at TCU. He was struggling with his academics, struggling with his academics. I said, "The day you graduate, I'm going to be there." And I was. Those types of things are very, very rewarding.

Q: While at TCU, what were your thoughts on the Big Ten?

A: I was always very curious about the Big Ten. I think there's a tremendous amount of tradition. Some of the greatest games that have ever been played have been played in this conference.

Q: Anything change since you got to Illinois?

A: It's cold winter and colder in the summers, too.

Q: You were a finalist for the head coaching job at New Mexico State. How do you feel about what happened there?

A: Over my career, I've had an opportunity to be involved in a couple head coaching searches. Every time you go through that process, it's a learning experience. The one thing I know about college athletic directors, they're going to do what they feel is best for their individual program. I do believe that.

Q: So, you want to be a head coach someday?

A: Absolutely. One of things Coach (Ron) Guenther asked me on my interview was, "What are your aspirations?" I told him I'd like to be a head coach someday. He told me, "That's good because you'll be motivated."

Q: Think LaDanian Tomlinson will someday be a coach?

A: LaDanian Tomlinson is going to go to Lake Travis and retire.

Q: Shouldn't he have bought you a car or something after signing his first big deal?

A: Heck no. It was a great privilege for me to be in that situation because he's such a great kid.

Q: True or false: Don't mess with Texas?

A: I will retire there, but I have to answer false. I love it, but that's me. There's a lot of great places out there.

Q: Cowboys or Texans?

A: Cowboys. As much as anything, Tom Landry. For me, it's the coaches that have coached there and it's a hard choice between Tom Landry and Bum Phillips.

Q: Spurs, Mavs or Rockets?

A: I've got to go with the Rockets. I'm from Houston originally.

Q: Rangers or Astros?

A: Astros.

Q: Texas or Illinois?

A: Illinois.

Q: Do you eat at Texas Roadhouse?

A: Yes I have. The food was great. But I went in for a chicken fried steak and they didn't have one on the menu. In Texas, if it is truly a Texas roadhouse, it would be a crime not to have a chicken fried steak there. I had a great meal there. It was great food. There are great places to eat here. There are good Mexican food places. I haven't eaten at all of them, but I've yet to find what I call a really great Tex-Mex.

Q: Does Juice call you "Mike"?

A: No, he calls me Coach.

Q: How many running backs can you use?

A: I think Reggie (Mitchell) does a fantastic job handling those kids. I lean on him a bunch. There's a connection between me and Reggie because we've both coached running backs. The product we put on the field will be a group product.

Q: Other than Juice, who is the most important person to the offense?

A: It's No. 9 (Arrelious Benn). We need to have 9 on the field as much as possible. There are going to be some situations and some formations where he will be off the field. He needs to be off the field a couple of snaps so he can get a drink of water and catch his breath. I would like to have 9 on the field.

Q: How much do you talk to the head coach during the game?

A: I'm sure Coach (Ron) Zook is going to be in there in a position to guide what he would like to have happen in the game. Coach Zook has his hands firmly entrenched in every area of this program. Will he be on there, calling plays? He's always welcome to give suggestions. Believe me, if he suggests something real hard, I'll probably run it. If he suggests something, I'm probably going to call it.

Q: Can you share a coaching booth story with us?

A: Most of the time, the coaching booth is very calm, a place where people are very focused. If there's a call that we disagree with, there are sometimes outbursts. At 51, I kind of wish some of the restrooms were a little bit closer. At 51, I wish sometimes the restrooms were right out the door.

Q: Are you interested in being a UI Trustee?

A: I'm interested in being the UI offensive coordinator.

Q: In a few questions, we're going to ask you to tell us something people don't know about you. But first, tell us something people don't know about one of the other Illinois coaches.

A: I don't know if they know how good of a cook Reggie Mitchell is. I refer to him as a grill master.

Q: Who is your dream date?

A: Cindy Schultz.

Q: How did you meet?

A: People are going to think bad of me. I was flying into Austin and she was a swimmer at the University of Texas. I was a very young coach. I was only 24 at the time. I was a full-time coach at the University of Texas-El Paso. She had actually been out with one of my friends a couple of times. He was in the wedding, that's why I don't feel too bad. That's when Calvin Klein jeans were in. I looked at her and said, "Calvin Klein had you in mind when he designed those jeans." It worked. Kind of corny, but it worked. I chased pretty hard for a long time. I recruited her. I chased her until she quit running and then I caught her.

Q: A night on the town with Cindy Schultz or 50 points against Missouri?

A: It doesn't take 50, I just want one more point than Missouri has. At this time, if I get one more point than Missouri, I will have my dream date with Cindy Schultz. She'll understand that.

Q: Tell us something people don't know about you.

A: I am a golf junkie. I love to play golf. I have four passions in my life. One of them is my faith. The next one is my family. The next one is my extended family, the University of Illinois and this football program. And the last thing I really love to do is play golf.