Mike Sanford has avoided pinching himself over his seamless transition into being a head coach at Western Kentucky because he knows better than to get too confident. One thing 12 years as an assistant has taught him, there will certainly be some setbacks.

There's no mistaking Sanford's optimism from his first spring drills with a Hilltoppers squad coming off their third straight bowl victory and second consecutive Conference USA title. He follows a tough act for sure, but relishes the challenge.

"The thing I come away with is they're a rowdy group of players who love the game and bring a lot of energy every day," Sanford said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "It's infectious to be around and the practices are the kind I've always wanted to be around."