Rino Monteforte says Kansas facilities, culture stand out
Rino Monteforte’s path to Kansas football started years before he ever arrived on campus when he worked out for the coaching staff.
The veteran long snapper, who transferred in January after stops at Notre Dame and California, first connected with Kansas special teams coordinator Taiwo Onatolu during a kicking camp early in his high school career.
Onatolu recalled the camp was during his middle school years.
“Yeah, he’s over exaggerating a little bit with the whole middle school part there,” Monteforte said with a laugh. “But Coach O and I met when I was going into 10th grade. So, I had just finished my freshman year in high school, and we joked about it when I came on my visit here and still joke about it to this day.”
That camp performance turned into offer before Monteforte had even played a varsity snap. Years later, the opportunity to join the Kansas program brought that relationship full circle.
“It’s the best day I’ve ever snapped in my life, playing in a lot of really big time games,” Monteforte said. “And he offered me that day in ninth grade before I’d ever played varsity football. And that to me was so awesome.”
Monteforte said the decision to choose Kansas was a blessing and to finally play for Onatolu years later.
“It’s crazy how everything becomes full circle,” Monteforte said. “I’m a believer in God, practicing Catholic in my faith here, and so blessed to be here at Kansas and truly believe that eight years later, he believed in me then, he believes in me now. God put me here for a reason.”
Monteforte impressed with structure, facilities
Since arriving in January, Monteforte has been impressed with the overall daily operation of the Kansas football program. After experiences at multiple Power Five programs, he said the structure in Lawrence has stood out to him.
“It’s been awesome,” Monteforte said. “The way this place is structurally run here is on par with the best of the best that I’ve experienced in this game.”
A big part of that impression has come from the work being done by director of sports performance Matt Gildersleeve and his staff. Monteforte said the approach is pushing players to reach goals and it is combined doing it in top-notch facilities.
“From strength and conditioning, Coach Sleeve and the staff, they are incredible,” Monteforte said. “They push you to the point, it’s not like a push you to the side push, it is we want to get the best version of every single person, all 105 people on this roster, every single day. The nutrition, these facilities they’re the best facilities I’ve ever experienced in my whole career. I never want to leave, honestly.”
Those long days have allowed Monteforte to settle in while building relationships with teammates in the locker room. Some of those days start early in the morning.
“Some days I’m here at 6 a.m., not out of here until 4 or 5 o’clock,” Monteforte said. “Whether that’s watching film, cryotherapy, sitting in a sauna, watching TV, just chopping it up with the guys, building, becoming a part of this brotherhood.”
The transition from two Power Four programs has been positive. He is getting to know a lot of the new specialists who joined the roster in January. He is glad he found a home in Lawrence.
“I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to be here now and be a part of this brotherhood,” Monteforte said. “So special, so excited to get to work.”
Monteforte goes more in detail
Monteforte covered several topics in his interview. Watch everything he had to say during the interview session with the special teams players.
