Post by dubber on Oct 23, 2011 21:09:22 GMT -6
Over the last couple years, I've been living the dream: hot wife, successful business (in the midst of recession), homeowner, AND football coach.
I love to build stuff. Not things like garages and birdhouses, but organizations, and especially the processes vital to the organization.
My other passion is people. Building relationships and helping folks reach their potential is my purpose and joy in this life.
Football coaching encompassed both these passions.
Also, (and here's the rub) so does my business.
A rare opportunity presented itself........one where I trade autonomy (IE the time freedom to coach) for an AMAZING professional opportunity that encompasses the aforementioned joys and drives.
I literally will be whistling Dixie every day on the morning commute.
For the immediate (and perhaps permanent) future, I will not be coaching.
There was a time in my life I could not imagine that........I wondered how other people could just come home after work and NOT coach.
There are things I always wanted to do in this profession, that now may never materialize.......
I never got the chance as a player or coach to win a post-season championship.
I never got the chance to coordinate (though that became less of a driver as I matured).
Really though, the hardest part is leaving young men whom I love.
I am leaving a perfect situation. A staff full of men who I'd let raise my kids, blue collar kids who respond well, great facilities, and some AWESOME classes that could get us over that championship hump.
Despite all that, I am at perfect peace with my decision.
The point of this thread is to share some things I've discovered. Most of you all know this, but here goes:
1.) People are the prime factor in your success.
This starts with administration. The only reason I can think of to NOT take a job you want and are ready for is if the admin lacks support.
Staff. You don't need them smart, you don't need them "innovative", you don't even need to like each other, but you MUST have a passion for helping young men. That, and loyalty.
Players. Your recruitment (don't skimp on this) and development (weight room AND speed training AND muscle memory skills) are the most important aspects of your program.
The program is for the players.......the lessons taught of overcoming adversity and teamwork cannot be replicated in other avenues. Teaching someone how to battle is one of the best gifts you can give them.
2.) Details. Period.
You MUST care about HOW you do more than WHAT you do. The biggest fights on our staff are over this point right here.
It's NOT if we need to run 4 verticals or not, it is over HOW we teach it, rep it, and tweak it.
3.) Offensively, make sure you create as much stress as possible. Be series based. Look (and know how to look) for over-pursuit and cheating alignments, and have a way to attack those over reactions.
Make the defense respect multiple players and multiple spaces.
Finally, if you haven't built a solid screen game, figure out how to.
4.) Defensively, make the offense execute.
5.) Special teams. They are not 1/3 of the plays, but they are 1/3 of the game. As our 2011 team can attest, they will get you beat.
Finally, it really is an honor and privilege to do this thing we call coaching. Perhaps it will fall to me again (though right now I can't see it), but if it does not, I have been blessed.
I will continue my weak attempt at prose over at Brophy's, and I will continue to be a Huey's member.
I owe you all alot, and I thank you.
Warmest Regards,
Coach Burks
I love to build stuff. Not things like garages and birdhouses, but organizations, and especially the processes vital to the organization.
My other passion is people. Building relationships and helping folks reach their potential is my purpose and joy in this life.
Football coaching encompassed both these passions.
Also, (and here's the rub) so does my business.
A rare opportunity presented itself........one where I trade autonomy (IE the time freedom to coach) for an AMAZING professional opportunity that encompasses the aforementioned joys and drives.
I literally will be whistling Dixie every day on the morning commute.
For the immediate (and perhaps permanent) future, I will not be coaching.
There was a time in my life I could not imagine that........I wondered how other people could just come home after work and NOT coach.
There are things I always wanted to do in this profession, that now may never materialize.......
I never got the chance as a player or coach to win a post-season championship.
I never got the chance to coordinate (though that became less of a driver as I matured).
Really though, the hardest part is leaving young men whom I love.
I am leaving a perfect situation. A staff full of men who I'd let raise my kids, blue collar kids who respond well, great facilities, and some AWESOME classes that could get us over that championship hump.
Despite all that, I am at perfect peace with my decision.
The point of this thread is to share some things I've discovered. Most of you all know this, but here goes:
1.) People are the prime factor in your success.
This starts with administration. The only reason I can think of to NOT take a job you want and are ready for is if the admin lacks support.
Staff. You don't need them smart, you don't need them "innovative", you don't even need to like each other, but you MUST have a passion for helping young men. That, and loyalty.
Players. Your recruitment (don't skimp on this) and development (weight room AND speed training AND muscle memory skills) are the most important aspects of your program.
The program is for the players.......the lessons taught of overcoming adversity and teamwork cannot be replicated in other avenues. Teaching someone how to battle is one of the best gifts you can give them.
2.) Details. Period.
You MUST care about HOW you do more than WHAT you do. The biggest fights on our staff are over this point right here.
It's NOT if we need to run 4 verticals or not, it is over HOW we teach it, rep it, and tweak it.
3.) Offensively, make sure you create as much stress as possible. Be series based. Look (and know how to look) for over-pursuit and cheating alignments, and have a way to attack those over reactions.
Make the defense respect multiple players and multiple spaces.
Finally, if you haven't built a solid screen game, figure out how to.
4.) Defensively, make the offense execute.
5.) Special teams. They are not 1/3 of the plays, but they are 1/3 of the game. As our 2011 team can attest, they will get you beat.
Finally, it really is an honor and privilege to do this thing we call coaching. Perhaps it will fall to me again (though right now I can't see it), but if it does not, I have been blessed.
I will continue my weak attempt at prose over at Brophy's, and I will continue to be a Huey's member.
I owe you all alot, and I thank you.
Warmest Regards,
Coach Burks
