Jake Dickert explains the biggest thing he learned in first year leading Washington State

If learning is losing, Washington State head coach Jake Dickert learned a lot last season. Nonetheless, those lessons hardened the first-year head coach and prepared him to do the teaching.

Washington State promoted Dickert in November 2021. In his first season at the helm, he led the Cougars to a 7-6 overall record and a 4-5 conference mark. When asked what he learned last season, Dickert couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t know if we have enough time. I think in any walk of life, year one, you really pour every ounce of everything you have into it because it’s yours. I think we all make fancy plans: I’m going to do this, that, this is how I’m going to build the program,” Dickert said.

“At some point, it’s got to go to application. I love the X’s and O’s. I love sitting in the meeting rooms. I miss that with a great passion. I think I’ve been called to something greater than just the fundamentals of the game. That’s being a true culture builder, trying to find a way to get 18 to 23-year-old young men to see the game outside of their own little atmosphere. I think it’s tough to do in today’s world, in today’s climate.”

Dickert’s culture could be seen in flashes of greatness. The Cougars began the 2022 campaign on a three-game win streak, including a victory at No. 19 Wisconsin. The team was solid defensively.

In the Pac-12, WSU ranked second in Red Zone defense and tackles-for-loss, third in scoring defense and turnovers gained, and fourth in sacks. Conversely, the Cougars led the conference in Red Zone offense. Dickert hopes to build upon his culture this season, leading to even better results.

“I’m more convicted than ever in how we want to run a program. I think clarity. When you can provide a mature group of young men clarity, make them understand exactly why we’re doing something. In our program, we talk a lot about ‘why’ is a special word. For us, it’s why with an exclamation point,” Dickert said.

“I tell our guys, this is why we do it, this is why we have to go about it this way, this is why we’re going to execute it, they’re mature enough to do it. I challenge our coaches: Are they leaving your room thinking why, question mark? Why am I doing this? Well, this is exactly why I need to go out there so I can be the best that I can possibly be.

“I think that’s well-rounded, but empowering our coaching staff, empowering the leadership council on our team to take ownership. Those are things I learned you can’t do it all by yourself.”

Witness how Dickert’s offseason strategies pay off on Sept. 2, when the Cougars square off against Colorado State.