Anybody ever felt like this?

I dont know where you are located, but make sure to get yourself checked....Dantonio showed how vulnerable we all are.

Yes and it won't get any easier unless you really strive for some balance in your life.

Delegate as much as you can. Do away with unnecessary busy work. Don't obsess about things you can't control.

Enjoy the cameraderie of your staff and players, the process of preparing for the games, and the competition itself, win or lose.

Being head coach at any level is not normal life style.

One thing that helped me later in my teaching career was to take a sick day from school maybe once a month during the season. I found that sleeping a little late and doing my football stuff at home once or twice a season helped me recharge.

Why are you getting five hours of sleep?

I say sleep a bit more, eat a bit better, exercise more frequently. Those are the 3 things that I neglect during the season to some extent and I always feel MUCH better after I get back after those 3. I'm eating better this season than ones in the past, but I'm having a hard time getting my sleep and exercise and that's rough on how I feel.

you must keep the 4 wheels of the bus in balance, or you're in for a shaky ride:
1-Spiritual
2-Physical
3-Social
4-Occupational

Play with your own kids more (if you have any). I find a good tackle and tickle goes a long way.

Thanks for the advice, all of it is appreciated and taken to heart. I don't think you can avoid getting out of balance this time of year, but I do think I can do a better job controlling how far it goes.

Someone asked me about the 5 hours of sleep thing....I'm a small school coach who has to gameplan both offense and defense. I also teach 6 classes a day. If I get home at 7:30, I'm going to hang out with my wife and kids till they go to bed at 10:00. Then I usually take an hour just to do nothing, by myself. After that I start in on whatever has to be done for the next day (film, scout cards, script, wristbands, etc). I usually finish up and am asleep by 1:30.

Last night I cut the wife and kids time a little shorter, didn't waste time just unwinding, and got to bed much earlier. Still have a small headache today, but I feel much better, much more rested.

You are not alone. I go through the same thing every year to a degree. I think most coaches do. I'm with you on the schedule. I teach 5 class periods a day at the high school and am the OC/Strength Coach. I have two small children at home and I have the same strategy at night. Get home between 7:30 and 9:00, play with kids and give them their baths. Eat my dinner, talk to my wife, and put the kids to bed. Then I dive in working on school work, football work, watching more film, etc. I usually go to bed between 12:30 and 1:00 and spring out of bed at 6:00am to do it all over again. I have been struggling with voice issues this year, just can't get it back up to full strength. Home game weeks are the really rough weeks because we have "paint night" after practice on Wednesday and then the JV is on the road on Thursday so we have three really late nights in a row. Barely see my kids Wednesday thru Friday on home game weeks. One little trick that has allowed me more quality time with my family, on JV game nights (Thursday) after our Varsity run through I meet my wife and kids for dinner out on my way to the JV game. The HC, DC, and I have all three started doing this. The other coaches go to JV pre-game and ride the bus with the JV team to the game and the three of us get there before kick-off to oversee things. The three of us have also been going to the stadium during our planning periods on Wednesday to get a head start on painting and it has cut about two hours off of paint night.

I completely agree with the idea of taking a few sick days during the season - if your administration is cool with you being at practice when you missed your classes.

We paint the game field for game night. All lines, hashes, and other adornments.

It might be psychological, but I feel like I am dragging a bit every year until I get that hour back during Daylight Savings Time. Not working out is probably the biggest thing, though.

My suggestion: Don't coach HS football like it's NFL or D-I football, unless your teaching job (Texas, e.g.) is tied to it.

And if you choose to do that, well...

I went to see a doctor this week during the school day. I'd never met him before, but he's a football guy and his kids played at a local high school. He knew who I was and was familiar with our program. I could tell by the questions he asked that he was thinking it was stress and the grind of the season. Everything checked out fine, except I found out have slightly high cholesteral....always assumed that by my love of good food.

Anyway, the funny thing was, I've had high blood pressure for a few years now. BUT, when they checked it, I was 120 over 80....IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT SHOULD BE A STRESSFULL FOOTBALL SEASON!!! I made a decision this summer that I was done obsessing over all of the things I can't control. I wasn't going to worry about keeping this job anymore. This year, I'm just hanging loose and letting it fly. I guess it's working!

I think I just had a virus or something, because I've felt a little better each day this week. I do appreciate all of the responses though.

Feel exhausted all the time. It is affecting my work

I dont think I have sleep apnea but I know I very rarely get a full night...always waking up thinking about something that I can't shake. Just assumed it was my personality but my wife has been hassling me about it as well so maybe after the season I will get it checked out. I love what I do but with a kid on the way, have to make sure it is just a personality quirk and not a serious issue.

And with the way coaches, both high profile and not, have been falling sick I'd like to think I will stop the "it will pass" phase and hope more coaches do the same.