On this episode of The Program, Woj sits down with Conference USA Coach of the Year and Bear Bryant Newcomer of the Year, Jerry Mack.

After inheriting a 2-10 program at Kennesaw State, Mack engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the country, leading the Owls to a 10-4 record and a bowl appearance in year one. Mack breaks down the "staff list" he spent a decade building, the transition from the Jacksonville Jaguars back to the college ranks, and why he chose to return to the NFL as an intern even after becoming a successful head coach.

Woj and Coach Mack discuss:

• The Cignetti Model: Why Mack studied Curt Cignetti’s Indiana turnaround and how he applied the James Madison-to-IU strategy of "proven snaps" to jumpstart the Kennesaw State roster.

• The Staff List: Why Mack spent nine years tracking GAs and quality control coaches to prepare for his next head coaching shot.

• The NFL Influence: What he learned in the rooms of Doug Peterson and Bill Callahan—and how those internships catapulted his career.

• The "Steakhouse" Philosophy: Why Mack treats recruiting like a high-end restaurant to compete with NIL heavyweights through elite customer service.

• HBCU Roots: The lessons learned at NC Central that still apply at the FBS level.

• The 30/50/20 Roster Formula: The specific mathematical split Mack uses between high school, transfer portal, and the "lost art" of Junior College recruiting.

Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more deep-dive interviews with the most influential figures in team building.

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