Stop coaching because you disagree with techniques

Go with what the head coach wants. He has final say. If you presented your case I am sure you were heard. If the technique is not effective at the varsity level I m sure your HC will change the coaching points. You may be right about the technique and you may be wrong. Time will tell but I would be upset with my freshman coach if he did his own thing rather than what technique I wanted taught.

Wrong as in putting our players in a bad position, I think the technique is ineffective.

I'm sure we'll still win games (we have a ton of talent), and I'll always do whatever the head man wants us to do. The thing is I've coached a lot of different things and have worked for a number of different coaches and have been able to buy in to what they wanted. This just feels different; as much as I try I can't seem to see the benefits of this.

That's what I was wondering, have any of you coached something that you don't agree with and how did it turn out for you?

If you feel that strongly about it than find another place to coach where you will be able to teach the DL technique that you want.

In our program our HC would tell you "See the DC" and our DC would say "Do what the line coach wants."

A thought is that you could always teach both techniques (of course approved by whoever has that authority).

What is the specific techniques that we are debating here?

dcohio is dead on correct.

I was a first year DC for a first year HC. Our defense carried us that year. We played a bunch of sophomores (9), but they were scrappers. Our offense averaged 4 fumbles a game, because it was our first year to implement the triple option. At the end of the year, the first year HC calls me in and tells me that he wants me to change the defense. He felt that with the aggressiveness and passion that our kids had for defense, it was affecting their energy levels on offense. No lie. I sat there with my jaw on the floor. He wanted me to go to a "bend don't break" defense. I told him to go "flute" himself. I told him that I preach to the kids that either your "all in, or all out" and I was not "all in" with this decision. Needless to say, I ended up leaving a place that I loved, and that loved me. I took a job as a DC at a bottom dweller, and had to endure a 2-8 season. My old team went to a "bend don't break" defense and averaged giving up 39 points a game, no lie. The next year, I got a break and hooked up with a great friend of mine that knew my philosophy and passion. He hired me as his Asst HC/DC at a bigtime program and we have been slaying teams since. However, this past season my old coach from that first year called me asking me to come "coach up" his new DC with my defense. I did it because I still felt a since of loyalty to him, for whatever reason. They went 3 rounds deep with those sophomores (which are now seniors). I went to their playoff game, and I still wanted to be there, even though I was happy with my current job. I make twice as much money, but this place just was a great fit for me. The kids, the community, and the small town football passion.

To this day, I regret not thinking it through. I am not one to look back and have regrets, but this is one that I have.

The point is, think it through. I went through a year of hell all because I let my pride and ego get in the way, and in the process those kids that I loved so dearly suffered. Sometimes it's chess, not checkers and in the end, if you "do right", things will work out in your favor.

I would have left, too. I don't see this situation as being similar to the OP's. Its one thing to get worked up about a technique or a play. When you work with others you have to compromise. This was a philosophical difference, though. As I read that, the HC is telling me, "Defense isn't as important as offense". I don't think I could work there.

Your exactly right, it was most definatley philosophical. However, the point I was trying to make is for him to think this entire thing through. The bottom line is you can't change people. You can state your case, your beliefs, your techniques, but as long as there is somebody in charge other than yourself, you either have to conform or move on.

I would highly consider to think all the pro's and con's through before uprooting and leaving. It worked out for me, but even today I felt like I quit on those kids.

Just my advice.

Yeah, Sandstorm's situation is different in that it is about an entire philosophy as opposed to a technique that will be used only when slanting. I can't see myself getting so worked up about a technique that I would stop coaching or looking for a new coaching job.

I don't like shoulder blocking, but it's the technique my HC wants the lineman to utilize. After coaching shoulder blocking last year, I still don't like it but I'm not going to leave my job over it, either.

I look at it this way. If you are on the lower levels I hate to say it you do what he HC and position coaches tell you to do. Your job is to get those kids ready to move up the ranks, so if you are teaching something different then it is counter productive by the time they reach the varsity level.

Now if you are a varsity position coach and the HC says I want you to do it this way then you have the opportunity to plead your case and try and work it out. Also I think before you take a job that whole issue should be discussed before you commit to coach. Now you also have to be open to improving your knowledge and looking at different ways to do things. But if you know before you are hired that the HC wants it this way and it isn't going to change then maybe it's not the best fit for you.

DO what you gotta do.

But if you stick around you better be able to sell what the HC wants and do it. Be on the same page. If not all parties are better off to part ways.

Kinda what I was thinking.

What would you tell a player if he disagreed with something you wanted him to do. And who knows you might learn something new.

Coaching 101 = Do not argue in front of squad, hash out disagreements in private. That's what staff meetings are for.

And once decision has been made and meeting is over, put on a united front.

Head coach is not always right, but he is always the head coach.

If it comes to the point where you just have too many philosophical differences that you can't support the boss, then you have a decision to make.

How our defensive linemen are slanting wouldn't be the tipping point for me.

# 2 rule of success Never Take ANYTHING PERSONALLY

There are always going to be things that you disagree with as an assistant, on some level. I coached OL in a program where the HC just wanted us to secure the first level; even on what should be combo blocks. It wasn't working and we struggled to run between the tackles because he wouldn't let me rep combo blocks. He wanted straight double teams; taking the DL into the second level and cutting off flow.

Did I agree with this? NO.
Did it work for us? NO.
Would he give on it? NO.
Was it sound? NO.

Now, we were still successful; our pass pro was solid and the OL was very good at blocking the perimeter on sweep plays. However, I still took a ton of grief over the fact that we didn't run Power, Counter and Iso well. But, I bit my tongue and repped the h-ll out of those straight double straight double teams. By the end of the season, we could manage a few yards between the tackles when we needed it.

Now, what you are describing is a much simpler technique; slanting and running long sticks can be run several different ways. With reps, the DL will pick up on it and you'll still be successful. So, the bottom line is simple; if you disagree with something, but it works, calm down.

Also, I agree with dcohio; if you're going to create a conflict over something like this then you should probably leave. There may be situations down the road that are FAR more difficult to deal with (as I described above) and you're going to have run whatever the HC lays out for you.

But, remember, if you resign over something like this, you're putting yourself in a bad situation professionally. It's going to be tough to get another assistant job if another HC catches wind of the fact that you left because of a DL slanting technique.