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Post by husky44 on Feb 26, 2009 17:30:08 GMT -6
Coaches,
I have been working at my current school for three years and have built a positive relationship with the community. My wife enjoys it here and outside of football I am happy. The coach I work for is a good man who means well. He is a bit unorganized and controlling but I can accept this. What bothers me is the fact that our defensive coordinator does not do a good job of preparing the kids to compete. There is a real lack of direction and focus. The head coach does not see this or does not care. The DC has been here for almost 20 years and again, he is a good man but does not prepare the boys well. He does not work in the school and only shows up to work with the kids once two-a-days starts, while other coaches are busting their butts working with the kids during the off-season. I am used to a much more organized and proffessional program and this frustrates me. I want to take a head football coaching job in a few years when my children are a little older. I have been contemplating making this move sooner than planned because of my frustrations. Do I talk to the head coach about this? I'm not sure how he would take this. I don't want to look like a back stabber but I feel that we are not doing what is best for the kids. I am also not the only one on staff who feels this way. Any advice would be great.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Feb 26, 2009 17:48:43 GMT -6
Coach,
How long have you been with this staff?
How many years experience do you have?
Did you come from another program to this school?
What is your specialty?
What type relationship do you have with the HC?
What side of the ball do you like better?
Can you do without coaching?
Just a few questions to get us started here.
OJW
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Post by husky44 on Feb 26, 2009 18:37:55 GMT -6
I have been on this staff for three years heading into the fourth. I have been coaching high school football for seven years and coached at my alma mater as a GA for two years. I coached on another staff for four years before leaving to move closer to mine and my wifes families. I love coaching, I love working with the kids and being a positive influence in their lives. I get along pretty well with the head coach. He is not easy to approach about football though. He thinks when you make suggestions to improve the program it is an attack against him. However, if you ever needed anything you know you could count on him, he is very genuine.
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Post by husky44 on Feb 26, 2009 18:39:19 GMT -6
I forgot to mention, I coach LB's currently and did coordinate a defense where I was last at. I have coached the OL and RB's so I would not be heart broken to move to offense.
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Post by John Knight on Feb 26, 2009 18:43:05 GMT -6
You should probably go ahead and try to find a head coaching job.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Feb 26, 2009 19:44:33 GMT -6
Husky,
you already have proven yourself, after 7 years of coaching, after 3 years already on this staff, it would seem to me that you are a valued member of this program. I'm sure your skills would be missed if you weren't there.
By this time, if things were going to change there, they would already have done so. The personality of the HC is obviously what is the driving force of this program. This is likely to not change no matter what you have to say.
You stated, that "he takes any conversation of improvment as an affront to his personal abilities, or as you feel-the lack thereof.
So I think you've answered you own question there haven't you.
So, suggestions are obviously out, as you say.
With that in mind there are several ways to proceed:
First-stay or go.
Staying-will mean staying the same or confrontation and change,
Going- means self-confrontation and change.
These two things have normally governed it all. However, in the last year the economy has become the real #1 priority.
If you have a job right now, consider yourself blessed and position yourself to be able to maintain that job, has become the latest mantra. Right now, this might be great advice, I'm hearing a lot of people say that.
You said that your wife likes it..., big consideration right now, it's not just you moving on, you've got a wagon load.
So there's a vote right there to stay where you are.
OK then, with most votes going that way, how do you proceed?
Maybe you've answer that question too.
Let's look at possibly thought patterns.
You can be the best and the brightest.
You can begin a process of thinking positively about your current situation. Coach, football is fun, when it ceases to be fun-then look around for something else.
This is why I ask you if you could live without coaching?
Do you need the money? Maybe, maybe not.
A possibly strategy to disarm an insecure leader.
Be positive on purpose. Evict negative thoughts and words about the HC from yourself. Don't fill your evenings with how poor the program is and how....blah blah blah.
This will then help you being to see the leader in a better light.
That way when you follow this strategy you won't feel like a total hypocrite.
If you are going to stay and if you are desiring change, something have to change.
Since the leader won't change, you must change, or you will continue in the same path you are currently on.
Since suggestions only frighten the leader, replace your suggestions with questions.
Instead of "this is what we need to do," "this is what I noticed," "I really think that it would help us if we.."
Change to, "Coach, obviously you are successful, you've run this program for years, how do you do all this?"
"One day, not now of course, how do I advance myself to be able to handle a program as well as you have."
"Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"We all know that our DC-Coach X, is a very busy man, he doesn't have all the time he needs, is there anything we can help him with?"
Then go out and make yourself the most indespensable, most valuable, late-staying, early-rising, loyal to the max, enegetic, hardest working, best and brightest assistant coach that school has ever had.
The words will be something like this,
"Coach X (the DC), you better watch yourself, ol' husky44 gonna' get your job one day." from the mouth of the HC.
Or, you could just leave.
OJW
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Post by jgordon1 on Feb 26, 2009 20:00:44 GMT -6
Lots of stuff their OJW. What do you mean he doesn't prepare the boys well? Just because he has a title doesn't mean that he will be followed. What are you doing to make the defense better? Do you all break down film? Maybe you could offer some game plan suggestions. Are you coaching your position to the best of your abilty? Maybe you could do some groupwork together. Calling plays on Friday is fun but it is way overrated. I actually missed a game two years ago because my wife was having an operation. team let up 15 points our ave for the years was 17 points. They did better w/o me!!!! Just some thoughts
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Post by husky44 on Feb 26, 2009 20:45:48 GMT -6
OJW, very nice analysis. I constantly have to remind myself that I do whait I do for the kids. Giving them the best chance for success within my role is the best that I can do right now. I hear what you are saying about the job market. That has definitely crossed my mind. I have been leaning towards waiting this out at least one more year.
Jgordon, as far as not being a good DC here is an example. Both the DB and LB coach did not know what our defensive calls or adustments were until they were introduced during tw-a-days. We made weekly adjustments that had never been made in previous weeks or introduced during pre-season because our package was so basic we had nothing to go to. Suggestions were made by both coaches but this fell on deaf ears. The kids are really working hard during the off-season program and I hate for them not to see success because of a lack of structure or flexibility.
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