“We want the offense to understand that we got their back.” - DC Lee Pronschinske
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois defense is on a roll, leading the Missouri Valley Football Conference in takeaways with 13, including nine interceptions in the last four games.
The unit earned praise for holding Youngstown State’s high-powered offense well below its season average, albeit in a losing effort. Defensive coordinator Lee Pronschinske said the loss didn’t lead to any friction with the Saluki offense, which scored just 16 points in the game, and it never will.
“We want the offense to understand that we got their back,” Pronschinske said. “We could have held Youngstown to 14 points and won the game.”
Pronschinske knows how quickly the tides of football can change and the roles could be reversed. That makes it easy to resist any temptation for finger-pointing.
“Honestly, it's extremely easy, because there were moments last year when we couldn't get stops, and the offense was trying to win shootouts,” Pronschinske said. “Last year’s South Dakota game is a perfect example. We wouldn't want anyone pointing the finger at us last year.”
Pronschinske was referring to the 53-51, five-overtime shootout at Saluki Stadium, in which South Dakota essentially knocked SIU out of the playoffs.
The No. 25-ranked Salukis (3-3, 1-1) will have a chance on Saturday to avenge the loss to South Dakota, but Pronschinske said last year’s game has no bearing on what happens this time versus the No. 10-ranked Coyotes (4-2, 1-1). The defense’s job remains the same.
“Our goal is to allow one less point than our offense scores,” he said. “No matter what that looks like, let's just win.”
Coordinator’s Corner: StrongDawgs conversation with defensive coordinator Lee Pronschinske
SD: You’d gladly trade statistics for a win, but were you aware that the defense held Youngstown’s offense to its lowest PFF grade since Week 3 of the 2025 season versus Michigan State?
LP: Like you said, all that matters at the end of the day is a win instead of a loss. Ultimately, we could have played better. We left some meat on the bone out there, but you have to credit Beau Brungard and the whole group at Youngstown. That's a really good offense.
I was proud of the effort, the strain our guys played with. To pick off Beau twice, when he only threw three picks last year, to hold him under 100 yards rushing and just a little over 200 passing, those are good stats, but we’d still trade those for a win.
SD: Correct me if I’m wrong, but it didn’t appear you did anything out-of-character, in terms of scheme. It boiled down to execution.
LP: Each week you cater your schematics to fit the opponents you play, but I think a lot just came down to the way the guys played. I thought we had a really good idea of how we could attack those guys in situational football, and for the most part, we did a good job. We know we could have played better and there’s some moments we wish we could have back.
SD: Among those moments were a couple of big plays to the tight end, including YSU’s only touchdown pass. In hindsight, what might you have done differently or better on those two plays?
LP: The first one was the explosive (play) going toward the north end zone in the second quarter, and Vinny (Pierre Jr.) swept the ankle and barely got it down. That one stung because that's a look we repped throughout the week, we watched on our Friday-night script tape. It's a really good play design, which we didn't properly communicate off of the motion, so that one was frustrating, but that is a good play design.
On the touchdown, also frustrating because we pride ourselves on sudden change and that was a big play in the game on Saturday. You also got to tip your hat to their play call and how the tight end sold the block for 3.5 seconds. The only call that could have stopped it was a big zone. Everything else, the way they ran it and sold it, that's going to be a touchdown, unfortunately, without a heroic play.
SD: Cornerback Gavin Shepard had an interception and an outstanding coverage grade on PFF. He’s a guy who, understandably, has lost some reps to Sebastian Vargas Escobar. How impressive is it to see him play at a high level in a slightly reduced role?
LP: He's done a really good job of responding, because this is one of those circumstances that can make or break a younger guy, and he's definitely used it as fuel in the right direction. I admire the way he goes about his business. He has a switch when he's on the field where he's ultra-competitive and has a deep burning desire to win and to play at a high level. I'm proud of Gavin.
SD: I thought defensive end Lukus McDaniels had his best game as a Saluki. He was credited with five QB pressures, including a sack. He also hit Brungard on Shepard’s interception. What was your assessment of his play?
LP: He's really taken it to the next level of being coachable. The term coachable means you're taking some really hard coaching and have to respond, and Lukus had some very coachable moments this year with a couple of the penalties that needed to be fixed, and he's taken those and responded the right way.
There's never been a doubt about his athleticism or his ability to finish at the quarterback. He’d be the first guy to tell you he wishes he would have finished on one or two more plays and been able to knock down that scramble on the 3rd-and-21. He expects to make those plays. That's who Lukus is. He's an extremely competitive individual.
SD: Playing South Dakota is going to bring back memories of last year’s five-overtime loss, but these are two entirely different teams. Do you even address last year’s game with the defense?
LP: No, there's no point in talking about last year, but it's in our cut-ups, so we're seeing constant reminders of it. One thing we addressed is that South Dakota, since 2023, has won five playoff games. They're an elite program.
SD: All-American running back Charles Pierre Jr. is back after missing most of last season with an injury. How does he look on film?
LP: Charles is elite. Everything you read from their media coverage and people who are close to the program talks about what an outstanding young man he is to come back from the type of injury he had. He's toted the rock 75 times already. He’s a complete package. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and make people miss. He's one of the top-end backs in the league for sure.
I think the other two backs they have are really good backs, too, Carson Fletcher and Reid Watkins. They've done a really good job of cultivating depth and competition in that room.
SD: Austyn Modrzewski has taken over for Aidan Boumann at QB and has been impressive with 18 touchdown passes in six games. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado a couple years ago and highly touted recruit. What the scouting report?
LP: He’s got a rocket. The ball jumps out of his hand. He’s also got a gear that’s deceptive because of how tall and long he strides when he moves, but he's fast. He can turn it on and go. He’s one of the front-runners to win Newcomer and Freshman of the Year in the Valley.
Then they have Jackson Proctor, who comes in and does some quarterback-run stuff. He started double-digit games at Dartmouth, so they have two, proven quarterbacks.
SD: Coach Hill praised the defense in his presser, saying it played winning football, but that the offense wasn’t good enough. As a coach, how do you keep the defense from worrying about that dynamic, which can lead to finger-pointing?
LP: Honestly, it's extremely easy, because there were moments last year when we couldn't get stops, and the offense was trying to win shootouts. Last year’s South Dakota game is a perfect example. We wouldn't want anyone pointing the finger at us last year.
We want the offense to understand that we got their back. We could have held Youngstown to 14 points and won the game. Our goal is to allow one less point than our offense scores. No matter what that looks like, let's just win.
SD: At times during practice, you’ll spend a few moments talking to an offensive player, especially DJ Williams. What are you sharing during those conversations?
LP: I think it's important as the defensive coordinator to never overstep your authority, but I've always had a good dialogue with the quarterbacks. When I was at NDSU, I had a really good relationship with Trey (Lance), and a really good relationship with Cam (Miller).
We see it from a different perspective. Maybe we’re showing the offense a picture that’s giving them fits. I’ll talk to DJ afterward and explain what this is, give him the answer to the test, because there's a lot of defenses in the league similar to us. Being a defensive guy that aspires to be a head coach one day, it’s fun to pour into the offensive guys just some small tidbits.
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