Build a Program or Go to an Established One

Sometimes satisfaction comes from winning and sometimes satisfaction comes from improvement (or both). Like you, I always love working with the kids, and I think that is a given whereever you will go. At the other place, there may be an expectation, which for whatever reason you may not be able to meet year in and year out; on the other hand, people have short memories. Once you have had some success at the place you are at, they will hold you accountable to that success.

I have seen people take over losing programs, have some success and then get canned because they could not live up to the success, which they had brought. Odd, if you ask me.

Loyalty is a wonderful thing, but I can guarantee you that if you try to be too loyal it can come back to bite you. The most important loyalty is to you and your family, because when it is all said and done, they (school administrators, kids and parents) may not be loyal to you.

So, you have to ask yourself: "Can I live with the constant battle of improving and not let myself ever give in to it (am I strong enough to do it)" or "Do I need to feed my ego and be at a winning program (because at the end of the day, you will be measured as a good coach or not by how many wins and losses you have)". As a coach, being average comes with a price, but then again so does success.

If it were me, I would be very skeptical of the transition to the other school, because it seems to me that you are very content with where you are at and you love the fact that you are making a difference. But just remember, there comes a day for all of us who are competitive people, that it matters if we win or not. Sometimes losing is too great of a burden to bare and it oftentimes is not the coach, especially one who is on here trying to improve.

So what do you want to do for the next ten years, battle for improvement or fight the issues that come with a successful tradition, one which you did not create. Good luck. I think the quote at the bottom of your post by Lombardi says it all.

I have always wanted to build a program basically from scratch, so that's the way I would go.

Tough I been rebuilding programs, I'm at my third school I have rebuilt. I have taken all three to the play offs which hadn't happen for a long time at these schools. It would be nice to go to a school where they already are a playoff team and just take them to the next step state title. Whats best for your family should be the most important question.

I got into an established program and enjoy it a lot. I asked a friend of mine who played major league baseball awhile back...

"What is harder? Getting to the bigs or staying there?" His answer......staying there.

That is my point. Being in an established program is also difficult because you have to work hard to stay there. Our team went 4-6 in 2007. The worst record at the school since 1979. You would have thought the world ended around our community.

I commend people for starting a program and dealing with all that comes with that. Being in my situation I would not want to start rebuilding a program. That is my personal preference.

I have never been at an estblished program before, but I would like to experience one to see the difference. I have taken over a program much like coachjuice (almost identical) and through its ups and downs, I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It has been very rewarding for our staff, same guys the last four years, watching our players slowly get better on and off the field. There is nothing better than sitting back and listening to all the "ney sayers" and using that for a little drive and motivation.

Juice10,

Was it, or is it tough to stay the course with the same guys you started with? The first question I always get is are you letting anyone go? Are you going to have the same staff next year? That type of thing.

Coachh,

I am not sure I will ever be able to handle losing. My big thing right now is that the kids are buying into "It" Only time will tell.

Don't go to the light brother... don't go to the light!

For those of you that took a job at a place where winning was a tradition, were there areas where you made some significant changes?

I did not have a choice of my staff, our MTA rules will not allow me to get rid of anyone. And the former head coach is still in the school and in my department. So I am stuck with his staff and the coaches who like his way. So I am trying to weed them out, if you are not on board then jump off.

Remember, if it was a good job then someone else would probably be coaching there.

I learned that very quickly this past year. Losing is ingrained and clearly part of the culture within any losing organization. It has been said that real change in any organization takes 7 years. That is a long time; however, most of the head coaches that I know who took over "perennial" losing programs turned them around with their first freshman class. I have invested a lot of time and energy in them and I see it paying off now in the off-season.

Those of us who have taken on the task of rebuilding a football program need to realize that there are many more obstacles than open doors. That is usually why they have been losing to begin with. I feel like most of the obstacles are those which have been causing the lose well before I arrived. They transcend coaches and are problems ingrained within the school and community.

That being said, I truly believe you can win anywhere with the right people. There has to be a belief that you win with great people, not great talent. It has always been disturbing to me when coaches and administrators blame losing on a lack of talent. I don't think the kids should ever take the blame for losing - what do they know?

I have experienced a tremendous amount of backlash for demanding more than ever before of players and coaches. It seems like I am dealing with someone upset with me every day. I think you have to expect it before hand, but I don't think anyone is really ready for it unless you have been through it before.

We haven't had a winning season since 2001 at this school and were 1-8 this year. They had a running clock at halftime four games the previous season. My goal was only to put a team on the field that wouldn't quit, demand the weight room, and create a tremendous work ethic amongst the players and coaches. You can't measure your first year or even second year by wins and loses - it has to be about finding the right kinds of people - coaches and players!

The winning will come sooner than later. We all have to believe that or we are in the wrong business.

I would happen to agree with everyone else. I believe that both are extremely hard. I was once told that it easier to make a bad team good than to make a good team great. I have only been in rebuilding situations. Once I had gotten one to a point where I had it built, I did leave to rebuild another program. We had a horrible year but it is over, and we are starting to change the mindset of the kids first and they are starting to believe.
I would say teaching pays the bills so where is the best teaching situation at?

A more honest statement has never been made, coachorr. There are programs where the school in it's entirety treates you like a pariah for losing..... In a lot of cases, coaches aren't the most popular people in the school as is; throw some lopsided losses in there and life can get tough.

Teachcoach, would you mind telling me what type of offense and defense you run? Thank you.

That in mind, I think both philosophies contribute to one another and that kids have to "play fast" so to speak. Thanks for sharing.