What makes a great clinic speaker?

One who stays on topic and goes into detail about the topic. I'd rather that he had an engaging delivery but I can live without it if he has good info. Video is nice as long as it complements the talk rather than replacing it.

Having the balance of actually demonstrating some technique while talking, showing video of the basic drill progression of the technique, showing video of the technique happening in team or practice. After that, it is a huge bonus if the guy has some sense of humor & humility (admits that his 2 Big Ten bound Guards & FCS FB & Div 2 SE is what makes the play a TD).

The best examples that come to mind are probably Rick Darlington from Apopka, FL & Bolden from Colerain, OH.

I like the coaches that think outside the box. The innovators. But not A-11 innovation. The coaches that take simplistic concepts and show a wrinkle that I never saw coming. Guys that see the game from a different angle.

I also like the guys that make you feel like you're getting information that no one else in the world knows about..."guys I really shouldn't be telling you this, but..."

A coach who doesn't spend the first 20 minutes explaining his accomplishments. We get it, you've already got us in the room and you're the guy up there speaking which lends you credibility already. Don't waste time talking about how great your program is to validate yourself.

One that doesn't blow smoke about how he doesn't have very good athletes. Heard a guy from Texas speaking at the OU clinic a few years ago. His QB, RB, backup RB, and WR and a few others all had BCS offers. Well hey there bud, we'd be pretty damn good too if we had all that talent. But all he talked about was how his kids weren't very good or athletic.

Like others said someone who is innovative. Or tells how they adjust and what their philosophy is behind those adjustments. I don't want to hear about your numbering system for IZ. I want to hear about your different ways of running IZ and how you put the D in a bind with different/looks actions.

And I want to play those guys. 

The problem is that there aren't many universal terms unless the speaker dumbs it down far enough that it's only useful for beginners. 

I'll tell you who I avoid like the plague now that I am a bit older are guys who have a topic like "Installing the hybrid 6-1-4 defense will multiple coverage's and blitz packages" for an hour clinic talk. You know you ain't gettin chit from that!

I like to tray and find the guys who are honest, not the we don't have much talent except the 7 guys with offers from Power 5 schools on our team as others have said. Guys who are engage with the audience. Guys who get into detail, I like sitting there and listening to a guy talk about one play for 25 mins as he shows video and talks technique assignment adjustments all that good stuff. And guys who aren't afraid to show a play get shoved up their ass once and awhile, makes me feel like they are more like all of us when they do that.

A good clinic speaker is one who understands what actually wins football games (mastering a technique, great athleticism, simple and sound schemes); furthermore one who grasps the process of implementation and how much information and technique a HS player can actually master. This speaker then must realize how to delineate this in a short period of time in a logical fashion.

From my perspective, any X & O stuff is only as strong as the specific techniques utilized to execute it; there is a far too common assumption that any sound technique fits into any sound scheme, this is false. So, before delving into their Xs & Os (or at least in conjunction with them) I would prefer the speaker to explain the technique required. Now, if we are there to learn technique then drill break downs are a must (once again not all drills are beneficial to every scheme/technique). If a coach is not willing to go into this I would think that they simply do not understand their principles fully enough to explain them, or they misplace too much emphasis on the wrong aspects of the game.

In addition to this, I would like to hear of how they implement techniques/schemes/etc. and see how much time they spend on this specific aspect. This allows me to gauge the time it would take to perfect what is being taught, as well further evaluate the speaker. If he only explains something once to his players, and has them walk through it twice, then expects them to execute it perfectly in a game situation; I am going to assume he is successful despite his coaching, not because of it.

On a side note, I noticed how many above posts are negative in their descriptions (not saying what they want a speaker to do, but rather what they DON'T want a speaker to do). I would say this is a fairly strong indictment against clinic speakers as a whole.

Who rates you? The guys running it or coaches in the session?  Because if it's coaches in the session I wouldn't worry about it since I had no idea you could rate speakers and I bet others didn't either. 

Guys who are experts in their areas, have great enthusiasm, and are excited to be there. Being well-organized and staying on topic is important as well. You can tell great teachers when you see a guy speak at a clinic.

Never knew that.  As I am sure many guys don't, bet that has an effect on the rating for sure.

To comment on the topic, I cannot stand guys who get up there and just tell stories/jokes. I can rattle off a list of them. Sprinkle some jokes in there, sure. Tell a story at the beginning to get going, but don't waste half the session or more that stuff.

Since he was mentioned earlier, I love Mike Leach but don't go watch his clinic talks. He hasn't talked about anything worthwhile the couple times I've seen him.

Also, I wouldn't go into the NFL coach sessions with high expectations. #1 they are so paranoid to give away their "secrets" #2 they are not accustomed to giving many talks and #3 they may or may not be responsible for the position they are currently in, some have ridden the right coat-tails to get where they are

If you want to learn about the NFL you should attend a COOL clinic. It's more than OL technique, pass protections, and run plays. I've learned a lot about various fronts and blitzes. How to run screen plays. I've even used some blocking techniques I learned there with other offensive skill positions

Those are universal. Most people on here know what those are. If you don't know what something means during a clinic talk then you should write it down and look it up. Or ask somebody what it means. You're there at the clinic to learn... and drink beer... but also there to learn something new. It might not be applicable right now but it might be in a couple years. You never know when something you wrote down in a Glazier clinic a few years ago might give a slight edge vs a district rival this year. That's why we have to write these things down. The beer makes the memories from clinic talks foggy.

Not to sidetrack the thread, but I've been coaching for a while, certainly not as long as some on this board, and not only do I not know what a 2 Jet protection is, but this is the first time I've ever seen or heard the term...