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Post by waltkus72 on Nov 27, 2012 11:00:15 GMT -6
I was wondering how imperative or helpful is the AFCA convention for young coaches looking for a job. Do any of you have a personal experience in a hiring there, or directly from there?
I just finished my playing career and I'm graduating in the spring, and will be looking for a college coaching or high tier high school job. I'm up in New England, is it worth the travel down to Nashville?
Thanks guys
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Post by mholst40 on Nov 27, 2012 11:45:46 GMT -6
If you're going in blind with no connections, don't expect to get a job unless you're one hell of a hobnobber in the lobby.
A lot of coaches are looking for jobs in early January. You will be one of a thousand.
I don't say this to discourage you and you might be one heck of a social butterfly, but I know I had zero success looking for a job my first year out of college when I went to the AFCA Convention.
If you have the money laying around go for it, but I personally wouldn't break the bank for the AFCA Convention.
Now, if you already know some people I think it's a great place to interact, visit and network with them.
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Post by Coach Vint on Nov 27, 2012 12:05:10 GMT -6
If you are looking to coach college football, go to the AFCA convention. Also, work college camps to make connections. Be willing to work for very little money.
If you are looking for a high school job, get your teaching certification in a couple of states you want to coach. Then go to the state association convention and make contacts. Also go to clinics, as they always have a job board.
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Post by waltkus72 on Nov 27, 2012 12:19:32 GMT -6
@mholst That is what my previous coach told me as well. But then I heard from others the contrary. Coach Vint But what if it would mean I am going down by myself? It seems that it would be a bizarre place to be by yourself. The coaching staff that I just played for is not going. |
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Post by mholst40 on Nov 27, 2012 14:42:48 GMT -6
@mholst That is what my previous coach told me as well. But then I heard from others the contrary. Coach Vint But what if it would mean I am going down by myself? It seems that it would be a bizarre place to be by yourself. The coaching staff that I just played for is not going. Going by yourself can be weird, but like I said, if you're good in social situations, you could network with no prior connections. It's probably not going to land you a job, but if you have the dough it's worth a shot. It's not the way I'd go looking for a college job, but that's because it didn't work for me. I was one of hundreds of resumes on a bulletin board no one cared about. The only people I knew were my former college coaches and a buddy who was a GA at a D2 school. Those connections didn't help a ton. I met some new people, but I didn't really make any lasting relationships with anyone. |
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Post by Luther Van Dam on Nov 27, 2012 15:33:13 GMT -6
If you are looking to coach college football, go to the AFCA convention. Also, work college camps to make connections. Be willing to work for very little money. If you are looking for a high school job, get your teaching certification in a couple of states you want to coach. Then go to the state association convention and make contacts. Also go to clinics, as they always have a job board. Completely agree with these statements. I attended for three seasons with the high school staff I was a part of. It is a great experience and I would suggest attending if you are able to afford it. If you know others that will be attending (coaches you played for/against or players you played with/against), that is a plus. On the other hand, if you are outgoing and can make conversation with strangers easily, there is a great opportunity to make some connections. I would not necessarily suggest walking up right away to a D1 HC and asking for a job, but instead talking with other young coaches. The GA forum is a great place to meet guys about your age that are looking to do the same as you. Also, the hotel bar is a great place to strike up conversations. |
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Post by waltkus72 on Nov 27, 2012 18:28:39 GMT -6
I'm not hearing many success stories of the AFCA and people getting employment from them
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Post by blb on Nov 27, 2012 18:32:31 GMT -6
I'm not hearing many success stories of the AFCA and people getting employment from them Well, if it were that easy... |
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Post by davishfc on Nov 27, 2012 18:36:28 GMT -6
I'm not hearing many success stories of the AFCA and people getting employment from them Well, if it were that easy... I know...right? When and where is the convention this year  |
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Post by waltkus72 on Nov 27, 2012 18:44:11 GMT -6
It's in Nashville. I have the means to go, but I'm trying to figure out if the investment is better this year or a year from now, when I have networked more and hopefully got onto a staff. I was looking for someone to prove the rationale in attending.
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Post by Luther Van Dam on Nov 27, 2012 18:45:33 GMT -6
It is certainly not an ideal place to land a job. I knew a guy whose staff had been fired - he was ST Coordinator at a D-1AA program and had been coaching in D1 for about 6 years, including a stint with a BCS program.
After they were fired, he went to the convention as a member of the "All-Lobby Team" looking for work. He was looking for ANY job... and came home empty handed.
It is just one example, but I think it shows how tough it can be.
He has been an assistant in HS since, has become certified to teach, and will hopefully be getting a HS HC job before long.
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Post by Luther Van Dam on Nov 27, 2012 18:48:44 GMT -6
That being said, I still think it is worth the experience to attend. I would just not get your hopes up too much about leaving with a job - but you might get hired there - some people do.
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Post by mariner42 on Nov 27, 2012 21:58:50 GMT -6
I'm not hearing many success stories of the AFCA and people getting employment from them Because it doesn't happen. I was at AFCA last year and had some great conversations and really enjoyed myself, but there were something like 5,000 other people there doing the same thing. I got to speak to the QB coach from Buffalo and came away super fired up on coaching. I got to speak to the DC from Wisconsin (Chris Ash) and came away really impressed with his commitment to technique and fundamentals. I GOT TO TALK LINEBACKER PLAY WITH LOU FREAKING TEPPER!!! But, at the end of the day, if you go for a job, you'll come away lacking. If you go for an experience and for networking, maybe you'll get an opportunity a few years down the road. Hell, there were like, 300+ people in the GA forum, which is rough when you consider there's like, 100-200 GA jobs available. |
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Post by shields on Nov 28, 2012 4:38:31 GMT -6
I recommend AFCA. The past two years I have traveled solo and met guys I keep in touch with now. Maybe you'll come away with a job, maybe not, but you start the networking stuff that might lead to something down the road if not right away.
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Post by wingtol on Nov 28, 2012 11:19:35 GMT -6
Never been to the convention so can't really help you there. Know guys who have coached in college though and all of them got their start by talking with their college HC. They usually have good connections with other schools and might know of places looking for GA's or even high schools looking for coaches. I would say that is the best place to start.
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Post by airraider on Nov 29, 2012 7:51:22 GMT -6
Anyone attending this in Jan? Will be my first one, pretty pumped.
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Post by blb on Nov 29, 2012 8:18:49 GMT -6
Every serious Football coach should attend at least one AFCA Convention during their career, just for the experience if nothing else.
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Post by fantom on Nov 29, 2012 9:06:53 GMT -6
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Post by mholst40 on Nov 29, 2012 10:53:49 GMT -6
I'm pretty sure I will be attending although the plane tickets are expensive right now from CA.
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Post by mholst40 on Nov 29, 2012 10:53:50 GMT -6
I'm pretty sure I will be attending although the plane tickets are expensive right now from CA.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2012 12:51:11 GMT -6
I'd love to go since it's only a 4 hour drive for me, but unfortunately it falls right along our first 3 days back to school. Maybe next year  |
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Post by mariner42 on Nov 29, 2012 13:22:16 GMT -6
I want to go, but I'm so broke right now it's not likely to happen |
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Post by goldenbull70 on Dec 17, 2012 22:48:20 GMT -6
I have attended two of the AFCA conventions during my 8 years of coaching. As mentioned a lot already, don't go expecting to leave with a job. It was interesting to look around at the job boards and see a guy who GA'd at USC and a guy who was at Notre Dames resume and what not. It was a great experience, heard a lot of great speakers, made some connnections and had fun learning football for 4 days.
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Post by emptybackfield on Dec 18, 2012 17:43:19 GMT -6
If anyone makes the trip, holler at me. I'm in Nashville and would love to meet up for a few brews.
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Post by austinator on Dec 19, 2012 23:18:50 GMT -6
I'm from the Nashville area and currently live about an hour north. This is the 2nd or 3rd time the AFCA has been in Nashville in the last few years it seems like
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Post by airraider on Dec 20, 2012 2:15:20 GMT -6
Our head coach, Oline coach, and myself are all heading up... gonna learn some football and get a little wild... cant wait!
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Post by jgordon1 on Dec 20, 2012 10:18:03 GMT -6
I have been to many conventions and never have heard of ANYONE ever getting a job from there..I have heard of people getting interviews but they were set up BEFORE the convention. I think a MUCH better way to go is the camp circuit route.. People can actually see your body of work..what type of guy you are and if you are a dog.. I have been to a few of these camps and I can tell you that you CAN separte yourself..I have seen college coaches who are just DOGS, they are coaching a the FCS level and lower and think they are big time dudes and just Dog it..I can't believe my eyes. a guy I coached w/ at UMass went to LSU camp for years, was "stuck" at the 1aa level but this guy was the most enthusiastic hard working guy you ever saw...LSU interviewed him for the job one year and he blew away all the so called big time guys because he knew his chit...he is now coaching in the NFL
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Post by emptybackfield on Dec 20, 2012 10:24:32 GMT -6
I have been to many conventions and never have heard of ANYONE ever getting a job from there..I have heard of people getting interviews but they were set up BEFORE the convention. I think a MUCH better way to go is the camp circuit route.. People can actually see your body of work..what type of guy you are and if you are a dog.. I have been to a few of these camps and I can tell you that you CAN separte yourself..I have seen college coaches who are just DOGS, they are coaching a the FCS level and lower and think they are big time dudes and just Dog it..I can't believe my eyes. a guy I coached w/ at UMass went to LSU camp for years, was "stuck" at the 1aa level but this guy was the most enthusiastic hard working guy you ever saw...LSU interviewed him for the job one year and he blew away all the so called big time guys because he knew his chit...he is now coaching in the NFL Seconded. There are a lot of dipshits coaching at the D1 level because of who they know. As far as the convention... It's more geared towards college coaches trying to network and get a (or another) job. I went a few years ago and found that I could get a lot more out of sitting on my couch watching Glazier presentations online or going to visit some D3 school in Indiana. However, I agree with the above statement that every coach should try and attend one just to experience it. There is some value to be had, but just not as much as some people would lead you to believe. I live 15 miles from where the convention is taking place and I highly doubt I will even go. |
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Post by airraider on Dec 20, 2012 15:32:23 GMT -6
This year they are doing the high school academy... or something like that.. geared more towards the high school coach... who the heck can afford to coach college anyways??? lol
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Post by coachvann on Dec 20, 2012 20:33:29 GMT -6
AFCA gears things to hs and college coaches. It is a great place to network if you are looking for a job. Don't network in the lobbys unless you have that personality. Great place to network is the breakouts and the smaller sessions like the FCA functions or state association meetings. Bring your resume to post. I know there are allot of resumes up there but you never know. I will be looking on the board for someone who teaches science and I will try and do my interview there as that will save us money.
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