There’s dedication to the job, and then there’s Kenny McClendon’s dedication to the role of defensive coordinator.
McClendon took over the DC role in the second half of a Colorado State loss to Oregon State on Oct. 3 and has been hard at work since then, to the point that head coach Jim Mora told reporters this week that the program turned linebacker coach Jordan Frost-Dixon’s office into a bedroom for McClendon.
“He just sleeps there,” Mora said during a press conference, after saying that McClendon hasn’t been home in two weeks.
It was part of a larger story about how Mora had seen the whole McClendon family in the facility after eating together and watching the movie “Mulan.”
McClendon’s wife, Mickey Grace, is the program’s director of player development, pass rush specialist, and assistant defensive line coach and the couple share two girls — Aria and McKenna.
The newly anointed DC — taking over after Mora fired Tyson Summers in the middle of the Oct. 3 game — smiled when asked about the story that Mora told about seeing Mickey calling out formations for McClendon to call defensive plays against as the girls were fast asleep on a couch.
“It’s a family affair now, and I think to talk about it, you talk about the professional support system, but also personal. I’m lucky,” McClendon said. “My wife is sitting there right there, drawing, helping me draw every single card. She’s sitting there going through every little thing to make sure we’re supported. My daughters are sitting there, they’re sleeping in here, they’re doing whatever.
“That’s the piece that I appreciate more than anything is that I’m not in this by myself, whether that’s professionally or personally. I got a great support system. And Coach Mora, the rest of the defensive staff, the rest of the coaches, I have an unbelievable, even a better support system at home with my family. They’re doing a great job supporting me in this role, for sure.”
McClendon had his first full game as defensive play-caller last week. The Rams gave up a season-high 66 points and 716 total offensive yards.
