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Post by rsmith627 on May 7, 2015 12:30:23 GMT -6
non rowers are usually drilling holes! This is great. Consider it stolen.
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Post by 1coachhansen on May 7, 2015 14:38:21 GMT -6
I had a very hard time with this in 2010. I went into a place as HC that I didn't do enough research on. I immediately realized I had to change the culture. I was coming from a private christian school and had just won a championship. I don't think I was being or wanted to be a jerk, I just had to completely change everything from how I found it and set high standards. My first team meeting I had 9 seniors. 3 of them were letter winners. By the first week 3 of them quit. Before the first game 3 more did something very stupid and I let them go. So I was left with 3 seniors and they just happened to be the 3 letter winners. I had to cut some other chaff from the junior group. I learned 2 major things from it all. #1 The frosh and sophomores bought in quickly, they didn't have bad habits and didn't have the culture or lack of from the previous regime. #2 You don't just change the culture of the players you have to change the culture of the entire place sometimes. The place I went to was a place of entitled excuse makers who never won anything. The parents of my upper classmen started a petition to get me fired because I cut a few kids and held others accountable. The booster president said I wasn't using my stable of talented running backs correctly and his son just happened to be one only getting 3rd string carries. (not 1 player on the entire roster ever played 1 snap of college football even though we had a middle of the road NAIA team in the same town) The admin had no backbone and really was a part of the excuse making culture so I got fired. They went back to the old ways. 4 years later no playoffs, no winning seasons, no college players and they fired the coach again, only this guy gets let go DURING the season after week 4 (he wasn't using his available stable of talent appropriately, apparently)! Wow coach, I really enjoyed reading your post... I have been in the same situation multiple times. My first coaching job was when I was 30, I figured I was ready to be a HC after being an asst. in the largest classification in the state. I took the first job that came available and long story short "entitled excuse makers" fits that situation perfectly. We went 0-9, and I left after one year. in my second HC job, it was at a school that had had some recent success and a few playoff teams, but well below 20 percent of the time. Again, "entitled excuse makers" fit again... went 0-9 and I decided to be an assistant coach again. In both situations it was like pulling teeth to get kids to come to summer weights... going to summer football camps, are you kidding?! what's that? In both situations I came in and said "i don't know what you guys did before, but we are going to do things differently" all that did was piss people off, and the PARENTS made more excuses for the kids than the kids did. So i moved on again, but as an assistant for 2 years, before I took over as head coach. I think the 2 years as an assistant allowed people to get used to me before we did things "my way"... after having only 1 winning season since 1963 we made 8 straight playoff appearences, 5 district championships, and a state runner up... going 10-1 my first year as head coach made my approach and high expectations much more acceptable I'm sure. Since that I moved to another cellar dweller for a chance to be AD and Head football coach. They were accepting of change there because they had been bad for so long. In 4 years we went from an 0-36 streak to back to back playoffs. I then took a head job at a school in the largest classification in our state. The had been mediocre at best in the 2nd biggest class for years, but bumped up to the largest class for my first year. Same thing "entitled excuse makers"... more worried about spatting their ankles for games then lifting weights. We went 1-8 in a year some senior mutiny. Unfortunately we had to play those guys because most of underclassmen were so ill-equipped to be on the field vs. D1 talent. By the end of the year, we had cut several kids lose and several "really showed me" by quitting. Started a bunch of sophomores on the line. We are so much farther ahead this year at this point than we were last year at this point. Going from a jet sweep spread team to a power running game team was not well accepted by several seniors and their parents... But the underclassmen had a good JV and freshman year and they have a better work ethic. Positive leadership, I won't necessarily say better, but not negative leadership like we had my first year. So my point is: I think that Losers breed losers, and you have a small window to find some success. That is your chance to change the culture.. you have to identify it and stick to your guns about things... So be a hardass? On certain things yes... but I've built many positive relationships with returning players in the one year I've been here. Our numbers are going up after one year as well. Once we start winning here, it will be cool to play football, at a definite basketball school. Boys won 3 titles in 4 years (many bball players don't play football) and girls had a streak of 11 out of 12 in the late 90's and 2000's. So there's that. We are also 65% Hispanic student population, and a very small population of them play football... it's year round soccer for most of them. Of our 65 kids at the football meeting yesterday, 27 were hispanic, so that seems to be on the upswing as well. So coach, I've been there, like I said. Be yourself, and if it's not a good fit and you don't get support, you were looking for a job when you found this one. Good luck.
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Post by coach2013 on May 7, 2015 15:51:44 GMT -6
I have been part of five major "turnarounds" in my career.
nice guys finish last...
theres some truth in that.
You can be professional and nice but being soft is out of the question.
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Post by John Knight on May 7, 2015 17:19:14 GMT -6
and no good deed goes UNPUNISHED!!!!
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2015 21:36:31 GMT -6
I have been part of five major "turnarounds" in my career. nice guys finish last... theres some truth in that. You can be professional and nice but being soft is out of the question. This is the distinction that I was trying to get at earlier. You can't be soft. Soft guys finish last. That's the key in any profession where you're managing people. Especially kids. Professional and likeable, but demanding... that's a good mix. Some would equate that to being "a nice guy," but plenty of guys like that become local legends as HS coaches. We had one in my hometown who took over a doormat back in the 50s and finished with a lifetime record of a little over .500 in 25 years as a coach--not that impressive on paper--but his former players and students still look up to him as a second father and rave about what a kind, decent man he was. He was very much a "nice guy" but definitely not soft. They always point out that he set high expectations for them all, but that he never blew his top at them and that loyalty was very much a 2 way street with him. After he retired when his school was consolidated, the football program and culture there died. IMO, being a jerk or being truly unrealistic in your expectations is just as bad as being soft. You have to use some common sense and have some people skills. We all know of coaches who like to berate and punish players just for the sake of asserting themselves. They'll justify it by saying they're out to "change the culture" or "instill discipline" or whatever. You can't be "that guy," either. Ask Charlie Weis or Eric Mangini. Some of the stuff alluded to in that article won't really fly at a typical HS, but it's needed at Herman's level. Try that at a typical HS and you'll find yourself without a job or possibly even enough players to field a team.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2015 22:27:25 GMT -6
I had a very hard time with this in 2010. I went into a place as HC that I didn't do enough research on. I immediately realized I had to change the culture. I was coming from a private christian school and had just won a championship. I don't think I was being or wanted to be a jerk, I just had to completely change everything from how I found it and set high standards. My first team meeting I had 9 seniors. 3 of them were letter winners. By the first week 3 of them quit. Before the first game 3 more did something very stupid and I let them go. So I was left with 3 seniors and they just happened to be the 3 letter winners. I had to cut some other chaff from the junior group. I learned 2 major things from it all. #1 The frosh and sophomores bought in quickly, they didn't have bad habits and didn't have the culture or lack of from the previous regime. #2 You don't just change the culture of the players you have to change the culture of the entire place sometimes. The place I went to was a place of entitled excuse makers who never won anything. The parents of my upper classmen started a petition to get me fired because I cut a few kids and held others accountable. The booster president said I wasn't using my stable of talented running backs correctly and his son just happened to be one only getting 3rd string carries. (not 1 player on the entire roster ever played 1 snap of college football even though we had a middle of the road NAIA team in the same town) The admin had no backbone and really was a part of the excuse making culture so I got fired. They went back to the old ways. 4 years later no playoffs, no winning seasons, no college players and they fired the coach again, only this guy gets let go DURING the season after week 4 (he wasn't using his available stable of talent appropriately, apparently)! Coach, was this school in southern KY? It sounds eerily like a place I know who fired their coach at midseason last year...
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Post by coach2013 on May 8, 2015 2:24:54 GMT -6
Its really not all that complicated.
Kids are complicated but the process isn't.
1) have a plan, communicate it. Take the emotion out of this and be matter of fact. You can be pleasant and say "Get on board, or get out of the way" 2) have expectations that accomplish the plan, communicate those and hold people accountable- make sure you have some forms of standard discipline. Lots of creative ideas on this site including spinning a discipline wheel and things like that. "you earned a trip around the field with big bertha"- create some consequences that are memorable and create chatter. Give them catchy names that kids can talk about at the lunch table. 3) let people know what they can expect from you and then keep your word. you are leading by example at all times. Obviously working hard at all times and showing people you care immensely about them and the program is huge. 4) when someone is unhappy, let them know if they choose to come back tomorrow, THEY MUST CHANGE , you aren't. You can be nice and gentle with this and make it clear "I am not going to change my approach- this is a Championship approach- you seem very unhappy in a championship environment- go home- tomorrow- if you choose to come back, do it with a different mind set- we will not be changing so if you are going to be happy, you are going to have to change." Make it clear that you have methods to help them adjust their attitude. This applies to coaches as well as players.
5)when someone quits- it is on them. They quit because they didn't find a way to function in a championship environment. Establish the culture, hold everyone to the limits within that culture.
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Post by windigo on May 8, 2015 9:47:11 GMT -6
I agree with the article. Too many people are confusing being tough with being an A-hole. Its always best to start out tough because it gives you more room as the culture changes. First impressions are everything. If your first impression is Mr. Nice guy its impossible to drop the hammer.
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Post by coachphillip on May 8, 2015 10:05:19 GMT -6
"All kids, at some point will think of their coach as an a$$hole. Remember the thing about a$$holes, if you start off loose then don't get upset when things get $hitty."
My old OL coach was a poet.
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Post by newhope on May 8, 2015 10:20:07 GMT -6
You can be demanding and hold players accountable and still be caring. Actually, that's probably the essence of being a good head coach.
Being demanding and holding both players and coaches accountable doesn't mean you have to be a prick, although those who don't want to be held to high standards might perceive you as such.
In my opinion, changing culture is about setting clear standards and then holding EVERYONE accountable. The hardest part sometime is changing the coaches who are there rather than the players.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2015 11:27:50 GMT -6
You can be demanding and hold players accountable and still be caring. Actually, that's probably the essence of being a good head coach. Being demanding and holding both players and coaches accountable doesn't mean you have to be a prick, although those who don't want to be held to high standards might perceive you as such. In my opinion, changing culture is about setting clear standards and then holding EVERYONE accountable. The hardest part sometime is changing the coaches who are there rather than the players. caring and demanding are one in the same if you same. If you really care about your kids, as so many claim to do, you had better be demanding.
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Post by eaglemountie on May 8, 2015 16:05:21 GMT -6
Expect their best and accept nothing less while being yourself. I'm not sure how else you do it.
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Post by blb on May 8, 2015 16:17:08 GMT -6
Be Positive but Demanding.
Explain to all why our way is necessary - what's in it for US - Goals-Objectives, Expectations.
Always want to believe in our players and our way, nothing can keep us from being successful but US.
It is possible to chew azz with a smile on your face.
Those that refuse to GWTP, do without.
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souza12
Sophomore Member
Posts: 179
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Post by souza12 on May 9, 2015 11:31:34 GMT -6
Tom Herman articleThis was an interesting article I read from Tom Herman. He says you can't change the culture as Mr. Nice Coach. I would tend to agree, but I am posting this for some discussion about this at the high school level. In a way, I have taken this approach as a first year HC. I came into a pretty good situation and a relatively successful program. But I won't do things the same way, I can't because I don't know how they did things, etc. So it has been apparent there is a culture change and I've been a fair person, but I wouldn't say I've been Mr. Nice Guy either. It has still been quite a shift and not easy for all those involved. How do you approach such things? Is Tom Herman right? What have you done to "change a culture" even if it was a reasonably successful one? I believe in any situation, our job is to try and better what we had. We of course have our own ways of doing it so it seems any time there is a coaching change, there is a culture shift of some sort. Thoughts? my personal opinion is that hes right.. but you wont be respect as Coach Dickhead either.. I think you set a clear, firm structure condusive to building a team and you hold them to those standards. treat your guys with respect while reinforcing the importance of your structure by holding guys accountable. I do not know what Mr. Nice Coach means exactly anyway lol
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