Neither the media nor the general public has seen much of the Kansas University football team this month. First-year coach Mark Mangino has kept distractions to a minimum by keeping spectators to a minimum during spring drills.

The select few that have been allowed behind the iron curtain  OK, it’s actually chain-link fence  are offering rave reviews for Mangino and his assistants.

“The most impressive thing about the coaching staff is their enthusiasm,” said Lawrence High coach Dirk Wedd, who attended KU’s coaches clinic last Thursday through Saturday. “They’re very excited about being there. They work very hard. You can tell that.

“That enthusiasm is contagious. The kids feed off that.”

About 200 prep coaches gathered in Lawrence for the annual clinic and watched the Jayhawks practice on Friday and scrimmage on Saturday. Spring practices remain open to high school coaches, and many will return to see more of Mangino at work.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much they’ve improved,” said Salina Central coach Marvin Diener, a speaker at the clinic who planned to attend Wednesday’s practice with some of his assistant coaches.

Like Wedd, Free State coach Bob Lisher praised Mangino’s staff for its enthusiasm and its attempt to instill a new attitude in the Jayhawks, who finished 3-8 last season and haven’t had a winning season since 1995.

“You have to have players to win, but a lot of coaching is getting the most out of your players,” Lisher said. “The best team doesn’t always win. A lot of winning is attitude. When you start to believe, you have more success.

“Coach Mangino has been in winning programs. As soon as the players start believing in the system, they’ll be successful.”

Olathe North coach Gene Wier, whose Eagles are a perennial power in Class 6A, has a unique perspective on the coaching change. His son, Brandon, was a four-year letterman under former KU coach Terry Allen, who was fired with three games remaining in the 2001 season.

“I thought Terry was a lot closer than people think,” Wier said. “I think people were harsh. The biggest thing was they’d get in those close games and couldn’t win them. It’s not just Terry Allen. It’s everybody involved, but all the blame and praise goes to the head coach in any program. Coach Allen was a good person, but I’m excited to watch this new staff.”

In fact, Wier attended the coaches clinic, then returned to watch practice on Wednesday. He said he hoped to be in Lawrence twice a week for the remainder of the spring.

“Some people like to golf,” he said. “Some people like to fish. I like to go to football practices.”

And Wier has liked what he’s seen so far.

“Some guys like a relaxed atmosphere,” he said. “This is more my tempo. Coach Allen was a quarterback. They’re more relaxed people. Coach Mangino is a guy whose been down in the trenches. The whole thing reflects on how they view things.

“They’re more physical in practice now. There’s a lot more hitting going on. There’s not people standing around. Every coach had their guys going.”

Wier said Mangino’s practices were also much longer than his predecessor’s. Longer practices with more players involved translates into more repetitions for more players.

“In college, you’re still learning what needs to be done,” Wier said. “The longer you stay out there, the more players you’re going to develop.”

Diener said it was obvious Mangino had struck a bond with his team in a short time.

“The thing that was really impressive to me  besides how hard everyone was coaching  was coach Mangino himself,” said Diener, whose Mustangs have reached the 5A playoffs 10 straight years and won three of the last six state titles. “There was no doubt who was in charge. His impact was felt everywhere he went. The players knew he was there, but it didn’t compromise the assistant coaches’ authority. The position coaches had full ownership of what they were doing. There was very good chemistry with Mangino and his assistants and with Mangino and his players.

“They have a long way to go right now, but I really think they’re going to make some strides. If I was a player, I’d be excited to play for coach Mangino.”

Kansas prep coaches were familiar with many of KU’s new coaches before the coaching change.

 Mangino had recruited the state during his stints at Kansas State and Oklahoma.

 Running backs coach and special teams coordinator Clint Bowen played at Lawrence High and KU and is a holdover from Allen’s staff, as is defensive ends coach Travis Jones.

 There are several other Big 12 veterans on the staff, including defensive coordinator Bill Young (whose resume includes stops at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Iowa State), offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro (Iowa State and Kansas State) and tight ends coach Brandon Blaney (Oklahoma).

 Secondary coach Pat Henderson, a former Jayhawk football player, recruited Lisher to Nebraska-Omaha before a knee injury ended Lisher’s playing career.

“I know these guys pretty well,” Lisher said. “They’re very positive and pleased with progress they’re making.”

Diener thinks they can recruit, too. He saw it firsthand because he took his 14-year-old son, David, to the clinic.

“Coach Mangino rolled out the red carpet for him,” Diener said. “That was so important for my kid. I guarantee you that if my son ever has a chance to play for Mark he will. That’s how recruits are going to feel. I didn’t take David there so coach Mangino could dote on him; we do a lot of things together. What coach Mangino did was awesome. He can really connect with people. I think he can make every recruit have a good experience. He did it just to be a nice guy.”