HUNTINGTON - The assistant football coach's voice echoed throughout Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

And that's after practice had ended.

"I DON'T DO INTERVIEWS!'' Jerry Azzinaro, Marshall's defensive line coach, boomed when informed he was on the post-practice media request list.

It's a running joke, says MU sports information director Randy Burnside. Azzinaro proclaims - loudly - he won't grant an interview. And then proceeds to do so.

That he does is fortunate for Burnside and the Marshall program. See, Azzinaro is starting to become a state folk hero in much the same way as similarly loud Bill Kirelawich is at WVU.

Both men get on their defensive linemen with gusto during practice. Afterward, though, they embrace the players. Azzinaro simply does so with a Staten Island accent.

Ask the Marshall coach how he keeps his voice strong after two-plus hours of yelling. You'll get the answer as well as a peek inside the heart.

"I've had 25 years of practice,'' Azzinaro said. "But it's easy when you have a group of guys like this that like to work. That's the most important thing.''

The more you learn about Azzinaro, the more you respect him. See, he doesn't need Marshall. Money is not an issue for his family.

Azzinaro's wife, Alison Rourke, is one of the nation's most successful bankers. She rose through the ranks first at BayBank and continued as mergers increased her profile. Her employers became BankBoston, then Fleet and FleetBoston and then Bank of America.

Rourke was a senior vice president at Bank of America and an insider to CEO Kenneth D. Lewis. She was retail director for a bank with, according to one reported figure, total assets of $1.72 trillion.

Azzinaro said his wife briefly retired, but is now consulting to Sovereign Bank.

"Any time your partner does that well, it makes you happy,'' said the coach. "We came up together; we've been together since 1979. It's nice to see her having such success.''

Again, Azzinaro doesn't need the Marshall job. At least in regard to finances. He does, however, need the job to continue living his dream.

"I love it,'' Azzinaro said of coaching. "I don't know how long I'll do this, but I love it. I just take it one day at a time.''

"Coach Az,'' as the MU football family calls him, tips his hat to his wife.

HUNTINGTON - The assistant football coach's voice echoed throughout Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

And that's after practice had ended.

"I DON'T DO INTERVIEWS!'' Jerry Azzinaro, Marshall's defensive line coach, boomed when informed he was on the post-practice media request list.

It's a running joke, says MU sports information director Randy Burnside. Azzinaro proclaims - loudly - he won't grant an interview. And then proceeds to do so.

That he does is fortunate for Burnside and the Marshall program. See, Azzinaro is starting to become a state folk hero in much the same way as similarly loud Bill Kirelawich is at WVU.

Both men get on their defensive linemen with gusto during practice. Afterward, though, they embrace the players. Azzinaro simply does so with a Staten Island accent.

Ask the Marshall coach how he keeps his voice strong after two-plus hours of yelling. You'll get the answer as well as a peek inside the heart.

"I've had 25 years of practice,'' Azzinaro said. "But it's easy when you have a group of guys like this that like to work. That's the most important thing.''

The more you learn about Azzinaro, the more you respect him. See, he doesn't need Marshall. Money is not an issue for his family.

Azzinaro's wife, Alison Rourke, is one of the nation's most successful bankers. She rose through the ranks first at BayBank and continued as mergers increased her profile. Her employers became BankBoston, then Fleet and FleetBoston and then Bank of America.

Rourke was a senior vice president at Bank of America and an insider to CEO Kenneth D. Lewis. She was retail director for a bank with, according to one reported figure, total assets of $1.72 trillion.

Azzinaro said his wife briefly retired, but is now consulting to Sovereign Bank.

"Any time your partner does that well, it makes you happy,'' said the coach. "We came up together; we've been together since 1979. It's nice to see her having such success.''

Again, Azzinaro doesn't need the Marshall job. At least in regard to finances. He does, however, need the job to continue living his dream.

"I love it,'' Azzinaro said of coaching. "I don't know how long I'll do this, but I love it. I just take it one day at a time.''

"Coach Az,'' as the MU football family calls him, tips his hat to his wife.

"This is our 13th stop as a family,'' he said. "Without her, it doesn't work. We have a good partnership. We've just been able to keep it going. She knows I love doing this.

"We've made a good life around football. Like I say, this is our 13th stop. We were at Duke for a number of years. We were at both Syracuse and Boston College for a number of years. It's been a good experience for us. She really enjoys football. Loves Saturday afternoons.

"Of course, she doesn't like my schedule. But that's life.''

Along the way, Azzinaro has coached All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney and starting defensive end Josh Thomas, both of the Indianapolis Colts. He was at the University of New Hampshire last season when MU had an opening. Azzinaro's buddy, Steve Dunlap, now at WVU, called to gauge interest.

"Coach Dunlap really filled me in on it,'' Azzinaro said. "Obviously [UNH] played down here last year. I'd followed Marshall football for a long time. I had some good friends that coached here like [now Georgetown head coach] Kevin Kelly, who I worked with at Syracuse. [Now Purdue assistant] Lou Anarumo is from Staten Island, my hometown.

"So I was very familiar with the tradition here. And obviously I was familiar with Coach [Mark] Snyder. He talked to me about his plan; I thought it was a great plan and jumped on board.''

Now, Azzinaro has to help improve a team that finished 3-9 last season.

"Of the [defensive linemen] who are out here [for spring drills], I've seen tremendous progress from [John] Jacobs,'' said the coach. "[James] Burkes has come a long way. DeMetrius [Thompson] has come a long way.

"Then we've got a bunch of guys playing roles. Off the field, Albert [McClellan], Montel [Glasco] and Ian [Hoskins] - those guys I coach in the film room.

"Also, we have our fingers crossed for the young guys coming up. We think we have a good group of young guys here on campus that will be eligible, hopefully by June.''

Azzinaro, like Snyder, said MU fans shouldn't get too caught up in the 3-4 defensive alignment.

"I think in this day and age it's all about spacing,'' said the line coach. "The offense spaces itself across the field. You have to space across the field. If that allows [MU's defense] to play with four down linemen, we'll play with four. If we're forced to go to three down linemen, we'll do that too.''

Whatever it takes. Azzinaro takes the approach with his team and his marriage. And it's working.

"Right now I'm at a great place,'' said the coach. "The tradition here is unbelievable and the way people treat you around town is awesome. I'm really happy.''

To contact sports editor Mitch Vingle, use e-mail or call 348-4827.