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Post by hunhdisciple on Feb 22, 2017 10:49:21 GMT -6
I've never had a desire on any level, to be the HC.
I mean, aside from the purely fantasy situations of coaching an NFL team to back-to-back-to-back-to-back SuperBowl wins, I have no yearning for that.
Too much crap that I don't want to do.
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Post by coachcb on Feb 22, 2017 10:53:54 GMT -6
I have been an HC and it left a bad taste in my mouth. 1. I don't like being reasonable for a staff. I like to think I am a fair, objective guy that gives assistants a voice. But, there have been far too many times where I have deal with poor assistants or issues they have caused. I've done my best to educate them thoroughly on what we do and how to teach it but there always seems to be SNAFUs. For example, we basically had to scrap a simple, effective three step game one year because our QB and WR coaches couldn't get the job done, even after going through the technique and drills repeatedly. Some of this was due to inexperience but most of it was caused by poor attitudes. "No, a WR doesn't juke three times before running a slant route.." 2. The overall logistical side of things drove me insane. Our AD expected us to basically do everything but provide a bus. Travel plans, getting the kids fed, handling equipment issues, etc..etc..Finding someone reliable to take on some of this load was difficult and I ended up doing it myself. Little things pile up... We were on the road and I had called in an order to a Subway along the way for turkey and ham subs. It was a simple order: 10 ham subs, 10 turkey subs, 20 bags of chips and provide us with mayo and mustard packets. I called them in the day before and then double checked before we headed out. I told them when we'd be in to get them and but they hadn't even started the order. So.. We showed up for the game 15 minutes before kick-off because we had to wait for them to get it done. 3. Never forget that EVERYTHING falls your shoulders. And I do mean everything. You will be putting out fires consistently. They're usually small fires but they add up quickly. My situation was nothing out of the ordinary and serious issues rarely arose but dealing with three to four minor issues related to football on top of teaching and everything else gets old. This is about 99% how my experience went as a head coach. A lot of it my own fault, some of it probably not. There were some good times in there, but I didn't enjoy the overall experience. Some guys handle the load very well and enjoy it: kudos to them. I certainly wasn't as prepared as I should have been but things popped up that I couldn't have foreseen. I knew that I was walking into a tough spot and didn't have any delusions of grandeur. I knew that I probably wasn't going to churn out a championship quality team any time soon: I just wanted to get the program stabilized, get numbers up and win a couple of games. My highest goal was making it to the first round of the play-offs which was something we were capable of doing given the teams in our conference and the play-off set up. You could finish 3rd out of seven in the conference and go to the post season. My highest aspiration at this point is being a coordinator of some kind at the high school level. Give me an offense or a defense and turn me loose.
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center
Junior Member
Posts: 484
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Post by center on Feb 22, 2017 10:54:00 GMT -6
I will say that for all the headaches that go along with the job of HC, it was the single best professional experience of my life. A lot of personal growth and you make contacts that you can learn a lot from.
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SconnieOC
Junior Member
Just here to learn the facemelter
Posts: 411
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Post by SconnieOC on Feb 22, 2017 11:11:09 GMT -6
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Post by coachcb on Feb 22, 2017 11:23:16 GMT -6
For me....having been a coordinator and a HC......they are both very much one in the same IMO. I was also a coordinator who was allowed to have a boat load of other responsibilities (which I was compensated for), and there isn't much difference at least for me. I don't mind being a coordinator as I can just focus on football and not deal with all of the logistics and the politics.
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Post by mnike23 on Feb 22, 2017 11:26:05 GMT -6
I don't talk to a lot of head coaches that seem like happy/contented guys, now that might be in part due to the fact that they are the type of "never satisfied" dudes from the beginning which is why they got as far as they did, but I think they are just stressed out. I once heard at a corporate management thing that employees become stressed and work satisfaction drops when they are held accountable for results that are beyond their control. As a HC you think you are gaining more control over the program and that makes you feel good, but the flip-side is that you are now held responsible for more outcomes over which you have very little control. couple of football players get caught smoking weed in the grocery store parking lot - No discipline in your football program player fails a class - why aren't you keeping up with these kids academically? other school in town wins a title- why aren't we more like them? three starters tear ACL's - what are we doing to prevent injury? ...it goes on forever brother you said it there! when i was last head coach, i got fired for whatever reasons. but was raked over the coals for this: middle of a game, my qb gets picked off, hes going to make tackle and tries to ttake out kids legs, trailing kid blasts him and they get into word fight. starting d1 oline kid comes and was gonna kill this kid. so everyone got ejected and my qb gets 6 games? after his helmet was pulled off. i went to state and got it over turned. video showed nobody had line of sight to throw anyone out. that was week 1 week 2 after the game in lineup to shake hands, the kids holding the chains(kids? in opposing team jerseys??) told 1 of my guys he had agun in his bag and was gonna use it. so not being soft(inner city school, both of em). almost riot breaks out, the fake gun in backpack kid loses his mind and pushes/hits the cheer coach(my wife of course) and then my team went apechit.... both my fault right? so week 3 after the game i have to corrall my own kids from arguing with each other(oline kids that made the wrong call at los and caused a sack). they were arguing and it was heated, but not so over the top that it was a big deal. i have no control over my kids right..... so protecting your brother, your mother(so to speak) and 2 brothers fighting, doesnt happen in everyday life? that was my speech to 3rd principal in 3 years. guess it wasnt what he wanted to hear.... but you know what, of those 4 kids that were involved and 3 more in the soon to be riot, they are all in college right now playing ball and thank me all the time for teaching them LIFE LESSONS.
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Post by mnike23 on Feb 22, 2017 11:34:17 GMT -6
For me....having been a coordinator and a HC......they are both very much one in the same IMO. I was also a coordinator who was allowed to have a boat load of other responsibilities (which I was compensated for), and there isn't much difference at least for me. I don't mind being a coordinator as I can just focus on football and not deal with all of the logistics and the politics. was a coordinator for the first time in 5 yr last fall. absolutely fell in love with football again. was so much fun. did alot of stuff for the head guy, becuase I knew it needed to be done. this spring i left to be a coordinator closer to home, better school environment for kids and such. already have enjoyed the time there. someone said on here awhile back best job on the planet is an OC/DC. you are the head coach of half the squad, run your stuff, but dont deal with nearly anything. kid gets in trouble in class, HC discpline is _ _ _ _ pregame meal-not me equipment handout-helper but not coordinate how laundry detail-not sure, i run offense paint the field-hc overseas someone doing it, i run offense grade checks-over pay grade, i work on stats not grades, lmao. etc... best job out there is coordinator
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Post by fcboiler87 on Feb 22, 2017 11:36:29 GMT -6
Like some others have said I have done it but I don't have to do it again. I'd like to. But I'd only do it for a good situation where we could win a reasonable amount of games and I would be allowed to run things as I saw fit. Otherwise, no thank you. No amount of money would be worth the struggle and politics of a bad situation. As they say, there are more good coaches than there are good HC jobs. It's very true. To any young guy wanting to make it there, be patient and wait on the right opportunity, not any opportunity. I've got an opportunity to coach at a larger more successful school here locally next year. I'll just be a position coach and that's okay with me. I know now more than ever what it takes to be a good AC and plan to do so.
To the OP, it is a great quality to have that you do not want to be it. HC's need more people like that.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 22, 2017 11:59:56 GMT -6
Starting as the head of a small school @9 weeks ago, it has been interesting to see what they (boosters and parents) "expect" me to do. They said I have to coordinate with parents for lunches before away games. Just laughed. They said I'd need to run the concession stand. Just laughed. Said I need to get involved in different fund raising but the $ would go to main booster club and we would get some. Told them the budget gives me all we need. I don't get paid for anything off season. There isn't post season or longevity pay during the season, so I pretty much run stuff as a volunteer. I am retired so it doesn't kill me, though I won't run anything that doesn't help football. I've been fortunate to have won over 150 games so when they hired me I was in a pretty good position to tell them that I'll do what needs to be done but not all this extra fluff. Administration is fine with it. My whole point is that I will do all that I feel is necessary to turn the program around. It will not heavily invade on my retired life. I have a couple great assistants who teach in the school, one young one who was with me for 6 years at my last school. If the buy in doesn't happen (from the kids-don't really care if the parents do), I've done what I know can change it. No real stress. Unique situation, though, I know. So far about a dozen kids are pumped and working hard. We'll get there. Love it coach. Things don't have to be how they are IMO. I know guys who are doing well in it, and it's little things like turning their phone(s) off AS SOON as they go home. Like me, they have and love their hobbies. Vacations? Forget it parents and kids. Unless it's an emergency heaven forbid; then don't expect a response. Little League support? Absolutely. I'll be at games, but guess what...I have two young daugthers that are and will soon be getting involved with things that will take up weekend time, so the 4th grade LL game on Saturday at 2? "Good luck boys. Give'em he11!" Fact is; this profession is a lot like our society in terms with trying to keep up w/ the Jones'. Screw that. It's like the article that was on footballscoop the other day about how "Working longer doesn't mean you work harder." Do it my way and if that turns out great, then awesome. If not? Oh well. It doesn't define me. Truth be told; it's given me more than I've ever deserved as is in my 35 years on this earth.
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Post by dblwngr on Feb 22, 2017 12:50:17 GMT -6
I don't talk to a lot of head coaches that seem like happy/contented guys, now that might be in part due to the fact that they are the type of "never satisfied" dudes from the beginning which is why they got as far as they did, but I think they are just stressed out. I once heard at a corporate management thing that employees become stressed and work satisfaction drops when they are held accountable for results that are beyond their control. As a HC you think you are gaining more control over the program and that makes you feel good, but the flip-side is that you are now held responsible for more outcomes over which you have very little control. couple of football players get caught smoking weed in the grocery store parking lot - No discipline in your football program player fails a class - why aren't you keeping up with these kids academically? other school in town wins a title- why aren't we more like them? three starters tear ACL's - what are we doing to prevent injury? ...it goes on forever brother you said it there! when i was last head coach, i got fired for whatever reasons. but was raked over the coals for this: middle of a game, my qb gets picked off, hes going to make tackle and tries to ttake out kids legs, trailing kid blasts him and they get into word fight. starting d1 oline kid comes and was gonna kill this kid. so everyone got ejected and my qb gets 6 games? after his helmet was pulled off. i went to state and got it over turned. video showed nobody had line of sight to throw anyone out. that was week 1 week 2 after the game in lineup to shake hands, the kids holding the chains(kids? in opposing team jerseys??) told 1 of my guys he had agun in his bag and was gonna use it. so not being soft(inner city school, both of em). almost riot breaks out, the fake gun in backpack kid loses his mind and pushes/hits the cheer coach(my wife of course) and then my team went apechit.... both my fault right? so week 3 after the game i have to corrall my own kids from arguing with each other(oline kids that made the wrong call at los and caused a sack). they were arguing and it was heated, but not so over the top that it was a big deal. i have no control over my kids right..... so protecting your brother, your mother(so to speak) and 2 brothers fighting, doesnt happen in everyday life? that was my speech to 3rd principal in 3 years. guess it wasnt what he wanted to hear.... but you know what, of those 4 kids that were involved and 3 more in the soon to be riot, they are all in college right now playing ball and thank me all the time for teaching them LIFE LESSONS. DEAR LORD! You should consider writing a book or making a movie!
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Post by IronmanFootball on Feb 22, 2017 13:29:44 GMT -6
I liked being a HC 60% of the time. I'm under a good HC now and don't see myself being an AC for anyone else outside of 2-3 people at the HS level anyway. I have a lot of clout and can just focus on the stuff I like to do: speed/strength, college recruiting, O-Line, Hudl. No more media or parents for me Pros to being HC: You control the mission and vision of the program. It mirrors your personality. There's no disruption in the message so: If you want wild dudes that put their wieners on the glass at the Kiwanis club- that's your call. If you want guys to come out singing and dancing together- that's your call. If you want a ban on neon one-arm sleeves and coaches hip bumping- that's your call. If you want to hold up signs with legendary movie QB Johnny Walker on them- that's your call.
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Post by mnike23 on Feb 23, 2017 7:04:55 GMT -6
brother you said it there! when i was last head coach, i got fired for whatever reasons. but was raked over the coals for this: middle of a game, my qb gets picked off, hes going to make tackle and tries to ttake out kids legs, trailing kid blasts him and they get into word fight. starting d1 oline kid comes and was gonna kill this kid. so everyone got ejected and my qb gets 6 games? after his helmet was pulled off. i went to state and got it over turned. video showed nobody had line of sight to throw anyone out. that was week 1 week 2 after the game in lineup to shake hands, the kids holding the chains(kids? in opposing team jerseys??) told 1 of my guys he had agun in his bag and was gonna use it. so not being soft(inner city school, both of em). almost riot breaks out, the fake gun in backpack kid loses his mind and pushes/hits the cheer coach(my wife of course) and then my team went apechit.... both my fault right? so week 3 after the game i have to corrall my own kids from arguing with each other(oline kids that made the wrong call at los and caused a sack). they were arguing and it was heated, but not so over the top that it was a big deal. i have no control over my kids right..... so protecting your brother, your mother(so to speak) and 2 brothers fighting, doesnt happen in everyday life? that was my speech to 3rd principal in 3 years. guess it wasnt what he wanted to hear.... but you know what, of those 4 kids that were involved and 3 more in the soon to be riot, they are all in college right now playing ball and thank me all the time for teaching them LIFE LESSONS. DEAR LORD! You should consider writing a book or making a movie! that was year 3. how about year 1, we go to FCA camp. fellowship of CHRISTIAN athletes camp. a semi(not really) contact camp, alot of fellowship, food, football. a great thing for kids and coaches. right? well, 3 plays into our first scrimmage, the Left tackle gives up a sack. the qb(as he should) goes and tells kid to get his chit together and he has to protect his blind side. he cant see guys coming, etc, etc, I was STUNNED when i heard qb telling the kid exactly what I or the OL coach would be telling him in 5 min. heres where i really was STUNNED. the tackle, flips his mind and starts yelling back at qb, its not his fault, etc. and takes his helmet off and hits the qb in the side of the helmet and they are wreslting on the ground. AT FCA CAMP..... i was mortified. i begged the director of the program to let the inner city kids that are broke as a joke into the camp. he gave us money to help, etc.... and here we are at FCA camp dropping F bombs and fighting EACH OTHER!!!! we almost went home. but wasnt the last "incident" at fca camp for us. i could write a book. lol
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Post by mnike23 on Feb 23, 2017 7:15:55 GMT -6
I liked being a HC 60% of the time. I'm under a good HC now and don't see myself being an AC for anyone else outside of 2-3 people at the HS level anyway. I have a lot of clout and can just focus on the stuff I like to do: speed/strength, college recruiting, O-Line, Hudl. No more media or parents for me Pros to being HC: You control the mission and vision of the program. It mirrors your personality. There's no disruption in the message so: If you want wild dudes that put their wieners on the glass at the Kiwanis club- that's your call. If you want guys to come out singing and dancing together- that's your call. If you want a ban on neon one-arm sleeves and coaches hip bumping- that's your call. If you want to hold up signs with legendary movie QB Johnny Walker on them- that's your call. thats exactly the truth. it takes awhile, but thats the truth. i was a head wrestling coach for close to 15 years before I got my first football head job. my goal was to do both. i feel like they go so well together. the discipline aspects, adversity of the difficulties of TEAM and ME in the ultimate team sport and the me sport. as a head wrestling coach, we were angry, fighters. when we lost, i kicked chairs and was mad as hell. when we won, we all jumped up and down. the more we won, the less jumping up and down for me---i expected it and nothing less---when we lost, it became worse. i was infused with a hatred of losing, more so than the joy of winning. as a head football coach, i worked my tail off to try and instill those same things to the kids. thinking I could do it in a small time frame(2-5 years) and have the same type of fighters, running thru the wall and wanting to beat the team to a pulp. so i got a rough group of kids and they loved my fire. loved it. but couldnt see my fire for losing was even more intense. thus the losses became more ugly and the wins become less and less. being the HC of a football program is a joy. and is the hardest job in sports. you will deal with more crap than you ever, EVER knew exsited as an assistant.
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Post by s73 on Feb 23, 2017 7:25:25 GMT -6
FOR ME, it was a natural progression. Initially, I loved being an assistant for my 1st header & couldn't imagine NOT coaching w/ the guys I was coaching with.
But then....as I grew older I realized few people stay at a particular job for their entire careers. One guy moved on to admin, one guy took a job closer to home, one guy took a job for more $, one guy got riffed, etc.
Then...something strange happened, as I became more knowledgable, I realized I had my own ideas about what a successful team/ program looked like. As a newbie, young guy, I would blindly follow at times (plus we were successful which always helps). But...as time went along I found myself not always in agreement w/ the head guy (especially w/ less talented teams).
Rather than be "the guy" who sat and griped about the header I decided it was time to "spread my wings" & take on my own challenge of being a HFC.
That 1st 2 years was a REAL learning experience. I learned how much I didn't know. While it was tough it helped me to develop an identity. That has become the single most important thing to me. The 1st header I worked for had a definite identity but when things got tough he kind of abandoned it. Hence, I followed suit early on. TO ME, this became the biggest "no-no" of my career and through trial and error (much of it difficult and painful) I have solidly built an identity for myself over the last decade.
When you don't have an identity.....this game can become a sickness IME. FOR ME, when I was constantly "searching for something" it was a very obsessive and unhealthy practice. I went to every clinic I could get my hands on but had NO FOCUS. Once I finally landed a focus, coaching became much more enjoyable and after 2 VERY HARD years, I enjoyed being a HFC and SLOWLY success came our way.
I can say that I enjoy being a HFC but DEFINITELY don't believe it's for everybody.
PS - The only issue I still REALLY struggle w/ is as I become more experienced, I struggle to enjoy the wins as much as hating the losses. Wins can become more of a relief v. losses being devastating and depressing. This is something I really have to improve on. If it's not fun, what's the point?
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Post by jrk5150 on Feb 23, 2017 7:57:25 GMT -6
Why does a kid want to be a QB? After all, there's more pressure, more work, more you have to learn - why not just be a RB or a receiver?
Why do some athletes want the ball with the game on the line?
Why does anyone want to be a department head or even a CEO in the business world?
As a youth coach, I've been an AC, an AC with basically HC authority, and a HC. Being an AC with basically unlimited authority was great - I made most of the football decisions, but with no parent or administrative hassles. But truth be told, I prefer being the HC.
In my business world life, I have run a function/department (like being a HC), and I have been a senior contributor (think coordinator). Currently, I'm the #2 person in my function, I run the day to day stuff while my boss is in charge of the big picture. I work for a great boss. Have tons of day to day authority to run the department, my boss is great about deferring. This is a good situation. Yet I'm not all that happy. I want to be at the table. I want the big picture, I want the responsibility, I want the authority. That may not always be the case in my life, but for now, that's who I am.
I understand those who prefer to be a coordinator or AC. But right now, that ain't me. Not sure why. My AC situation where I essentially made all the decisions was pretty cool - I always kept the HC in the loop and ran stuff by him, but that was more about managing up - it was lip service, he never once in our 11 years coaching together went against my "suggestions". So it's not about the decisions. The parents and other coaches were aware that I pretty much did it all, so it's not about the recognition. Bottom line is that I want to do things the way I want to do them. I want the challenge, I want the responsibility.
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Post by spos21ram on Feb 23, 2017 8:07:35 GMT -6
Why does a kid want to be a QB? After all, there's more pressure, more work, more you have to learn - why not just be a RB or a receiver? Why do some athletes want the ball with the game on the line? Why does anyone want to be a department head or even a CEO in the business world? As a youth coach, I've been an AC, an AC with basically HC authority, and a HC. Being an AC with basically unlimited authority was great - I made most of the football decisions, but with no parent or administrative hassles. But truth be told, I prefer being the HC. In my business world life, I have run a function/department (like being a HC), and I have been a senior contributor (think coordinator). Currently, I'm the #2 person in my function, I run the day to day stuff while my boss is in charge of the big picture. I work for a great boss. Have tons of day to day authority to run the department, my boss is great about deferring. This is a good situation. Yet I'm not all that happy. I want to be at the table. I want the big picture, I want the responsibility, I want the authority. That may not always be the case in my life, but for now, that's who I am. I understand those who prefer to be a coordinator or AC. But right now, that ain't me. Not sure why. My AC situation where I essentially made all the decisions was pretty cool - I always kept the HC in the loop and ran stuff by him, but that was more about managing up - it was lip service, he never once in our 11 years coaching together went against my "suggestions". So it's not about the decisions. The parents and other coaches were aware that I pretty much did it all, so it's not about the recognition. Bottom line is that I want to do things the way I want to do them. I want the challenge, I want the responsibility. I don't really agree with your analogy. It's not the added pressure or football related stress that deter coaches from being headers, it's the non football stuff that turns them off.
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Post by jrk5150 on Feb 23, 2017 8:42:45 GMT -6
Sorry, I wasn't really trying to say it was the same thing. My point was only that there are a lot of situations where some guys simply want to be the man on the spot, regardless of all the other BS that comes with it. And some don't. I do agree that the non-football stuff brings a bunch of other considerations around this issue. As it does with business - being a department manager brings all kinds of crap into play that have nothing to do with the business of the department. A lot of people look at that job and think h*ll no, I'll just do my job...
And nothing I said was a knock at all. I have no idea why I want to be the guy in charge. Not sure that wanting it isn't a knock on me, frankly... :-)
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Post by raisingcanes on Feb 23, 2017 9:21:20 GMT -6
I'll be that guy. OC/DC is as high as I want to go. But would be content with just position coach if I find the right fit/program. Now I also coach baseball and I want to be a HC for that.
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Post by blb on Feb 23, 2017 9:59:33 GMT -6
Something I've noted that may just be anecdotal:
Not as many kids want to be THE guy, or compete to be him, as they did BITD.
It's like they figure out who is THE QB in their class during youth or MS Football, and that's that forever.
The last several years I coached we were lucky to have one in each grade. Some years we didn't.
When I was a Junior in HS I started out as fourth-string QB, one of three in my class.
Long way of saying maybe more coaches similarly don't want to be the Lead Dog as previously because the rewards aren't worth the responsibility, time, effort.
Being HC is a terminal profession anyway. Most leave it before they're ready, not on their own terms.
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Post by jrk5150 on Feb 23, 2017 10:37:20 GMT -6
Just curious - how many of you who don't want to be a HC were "the guy" as athletes? QB's? Took the last shots? Pitchers?
Again - not a knock. Not saying any of that is necessary to be a HC. Plenty of great HC's who weren't that. And one may have nothing to do with the other.
I'm more looking at it the other way - wondering whether kids who are "those kids" are more likely to turn into guys who want to be on the spot as the HC too?
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nhs40
Freshmen Member
Posts: 64
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Post by nhs40 on Feb 23, 2017 10:47:28 GMT -6
Just lost my position as HC. I would like to be HC again, but as so many others have already said, there is so much more to it than what you know. I had been an AC for 10 years before what I perceived to be the right opportunity arose. I had the opportunity to work with some great young men, and I would not trade that for the world. Again, as others have warned, you "young guys" that are chomping at the bit to get out there and have at it, be careful what you wish for...all of those parents that love what you do with their sons as an AC will be some of the first ones that stab you when you become HC. I don't mean to sound cynical (though, I know this does), because I really enjoyed the job. If things work out, I may have the opportunity to continue coaching as an AC (though it sounds as if our BOE and Super are against it) at my current school, but if not, I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Good luck to those of you just beginning the journey, be it as an AC or HC. You have the most important job in so many of the lives of these young men.
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Post by jared10227 on Feb 23, 2017 10:51:55 GMT -6
Just curious - how many of you who don't want to be a HC were "the guy" as athletes? QB's? Took the last shots? Pitchers? Again - not a knock. Not saying any of that is necessary to be a HC. Plenty of great HC's who weren't that. And one may have nothing to do with the other. I'm more looking at it the other way - wondering whether kids who are "those kids" are more likely to turn into guys who want to be on the spot as the HC too? JRK, I think you may be on to something here. I played the three major sports in high school. All-state in two of them. Wanted to be the dude with the ball or bat in my hand at the end of the game, even in basketball which quite frankly I was average, at best, at...and I want to be a HFC/AD somewhere in the near future. Now maybe I am a rare breed because I left a school across the road from my house to drive an hour and a half, one-way, to be an assistant at a powerhouse school in hopes that being here and taking on as many responsibilities as possible will prepare me for the road ahead. I am teaching 6 classes instead of the required 5, and completing my masters program to boot. Not saying that to brag or boast or anything of that nature...this is just what I am willing to do for the goals I have for myself. I don't ever watch TV, miss alot of family meals (which I hate), and only really get to spend time with my kids on the weekend. But its something that is important to me and I am trying like hell to accomplish my personal goals. I want to be the guy. I can accept the criticism that comes from running a program. I know that I won't ever make everyone happy, but I am always going to do the right thing when it comes to my athletes and my athletic program. Being at my current school has taught me TONS about how to do this and be very successful. After a while the kids understand what is expected and do what they are supposed to. The parents....many times they never "get it"...but thats ok too.
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Post by spos21ram on Feb 23, 2017 11:00:01 GMT -6
Just curious - how many of you who don't want to be a HC were "the guy" as athletes? QB's? Took the last shots? Pitchers? Again - not a knock. Not saying any of that is necessary to be a HC. Plenty of great HC's who weren't that. And one may have nothing to do with the other. I'm more looking at it the other way - wondering whether kids who are "those kids" are more likely to turn into guys who want to be on the spot as the HC too? JRK, I think you may be on to something here. I played the three major sports in high school. All-state in two of them. Wanted to be the dude with the ball or bat in my hand at the end of the game, even in basketball which quite frankly I was average, at best, at...and I want to be a HFC/AD somewhere in the near future. Now maybe I am a rare breed because I left a school across the road from my house to drive an hour and a half, one-way, to be an assistant at a powerhouse school in hopes that being here and taking on as many responsibilities as possible will prepare me for the road ahead. I am teaching 6 classes instead of the required 5, and completing my masters program to boot. Not saying that to brag or boast or anything of that nature...this is just what I am willing to do for the goals I have for myself. I don't ever watch TV, miss alot of family meals (which I hate), and only really get to spend time with my kids on the weekend. But its something that is important to me and I am trying like hell to accomplish my personal goals. I want to be the guy. I can accept the criticism that comes from running a program. I know that I won't ever make everyone happy, but I am always going to do the right thing when it comes to my athletes and my athletic program. Being at my current school has taught me TONS about how to do this and be very successful. After a while the kids understand what is expected and do what they are supposed to. The parents....many times they never "get it"...but thats ok too. What you're describing is the majority of coaches on this board. What 21 year old aspiring coach doesn't want to be the head man? With experience comes the reality of what being a HC of a competitive team entails. At 21, we wanted to be THE guy calling the shots. At 35, I still wouldn't mind doing that, but I don't want to be bothered with organizing fundraisers, ordering equipment, meeting with the boosters, parents, youth teams etc. I just want to coach and call the plays lol....Being an OC or DC is where all the fun is.
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Post by jared10227 on Feb 23, 2017 11:15:14 GMT -6
At 21, I had no desire to have 3 kids...lol
Or a wife.
I just wanted to keep playing and get drafted
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Post by seabass on Feb 23, 2017 11:42:26 GMT -6
Everybody has a unique skill set. I'm not saying everyone knows what that is for themselves but we are all suited for something. I do believe getting clear about what that is is important but I don't believe one skill set is more important than the other.
If you are a guy who is really passionate about a particular thing then that's where you should be! If you have no passion for anything...maybe consider doing something else.
If that particular thing is O-line play and play calling and you are indifferent about the rest, you should probably be a position coach or OC. The same could be said of the defensive side of the ball.
If your passion is about the "big picture", culture and you have a clear vision for that then you should find some good position coaches and coordinators to help you carry that out. If that means there is a bunch of other crap to deal with as a result of being the HC, you just deal with it because the "big picture" is so important to you.
Some guys are visionaries with deep convictions about their vision and being forced to follow another person who doesn't share enough of those same convictions is nearly impossible for them.
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Post by jared10227 on Feb 23, 2017 12:32:47 GMT -6
But I definitely get it with coaches that say they just want to be a Coordinator or position coach. I have a friend who coached for 17 years as a DL coach, guy made chicken salad out of chicken chit most of the time, and turned some fringe kids into kids that ended up at power 5 schools.
Once of the best coaches I have ever seen. Never even wanted to be a coordinator.
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Post by seabass on Feb 23, 2017 13:09:15 GMT -6
I think of the HC being the same or similar to a General Contractor. He knows exactly what the house is supposed to look like when it's finished. To get that done he has to hire the best sub-contractors he can find/afford.
The general might have some skill or specialty that he does on his own but most of the work will be "subbed out" as they say. The general is tasked with keeping the home owner happy. When the floors are perfect but the siding sucks...the home owner bitches at the general not the siding guy.
Some dudes want to be the general and some dudes just want to be left alone to make the tile look as good as it can be....both dude can make money!
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Post by dblwngr on Feb 23, 2017 14:27:41 GMT -6
Just curious - how many of you who don't want to be a HC were "the guy" as athletes? QB's? Took the last shots? Pitchers? Again - not a knock. Not saying any of that is necessary to be a HC. Plenty of great HC's who weren't that. And one may have nothing to do with the other. I'm more looking at it the other way - wondering whether kids who are "those kids" are more likely to turn into guys who want to be on the spot as the HC too? JRK, I think you may be on to something here. I played the three major sports in high school. All-state in two of them. Wanted to be the dude with the ball or bat in my hand at the end of the game, even in basketball which quite frankly I was average, at best, at...and I want to be a HFC/AD somewhere in the near future. Now maybe I am a rare breed because I left a school across the road from my house to drive an hour and a half, one-way, to be an assistant at a powerhouse school in hopes that being here and taking on as many responsibilities as possible will prepare me for the road ahead. I am teaching 6 classes instead of the required 5, and completing my masters program to boot. Not saying that to brag or boast or anything of that nature...this is just what I am willing to do for the goals I have for myself. I don't ever watch TV, miss alot of family meals (which I hate), and only really get to spend time with my kids on the weekend. But its something that is important to me and I am trying like hell to accomplish my personal goals. I want to be the guy. I can accept the criticism that comes from running a program. I know that I won't ever make everyone happy, but I am always going to do the right thing when it comes to my athletes and my athletic program. Being at my current school has taught me TONS about how to do this and be very successful. After a while the kids understand what is expected and do what they are supposed to. The parents....many times they never "get it"...but thats ok too. I think this is getting a little off base and maybe reaching just a bit. I say that because when I started this thread I didn't mention at all that I didn't think I could be "the guy", I just said I don't have any desire or feel the need to be the guy. In fact, I think I would probably be a pretty darn good HC and have been told this by many of my coaching peers. The reason I know I could do this isn't because of how fancy I was as a high school athlete (and I was pretty alright) or how I over achieve at my job (which I often do). The real reason is because I've been around and worked with a lot a great coaches who were willing to teach me a lot over the last 17 years. I've also been around a few HC's that definitely gave me a pretty good idea how to NOT do things as well! At the end of the day, I just really really enjoy the game and the kids that I get to teach and mentor. The perception from the outsiders looking in is that a good coach has to be on his way to a HC gig and for me it just hasn't been the case.
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Post by jared10227 on Feb 23, 2017 14:39:34 GMT -6
JRK, I think you may be on to something here. I played the three major sports in high school. All-state in two of them. Wanted to be the dude with the ball or bat in my hand at the end of the game, even in basketball which quite frankly I was average, at best, at...and I want to be a HFC/AD somewhere in the near future. Now maybe I am a rare breed because I left a school across the road from my house to drive an hour and a half, one-way, to be an assistant at a powerhouse school in hopes that being here and taking on as many responsibilities as possible will prepare me for the road ahead. I am teaching 6 classes instead of the required 5, and completing my masters program to boot. Not saying that to brag or boast or anything of that nature...this is just what I am willing to do for the goals I have for myself. I don't ever watch TV, miss alot of family meals (which I hate), and only really get to spend time with my kids on the weekend. But its something that is important to me and I am trying like hell to accomplish my personal goals. I want to be the guy. I can accept the criticism that comes from running a program. I know that I won't ever make everyone happy, but I am always going to do the right thing when it comes to my athletes and my athletic program. Being at my current school has taught me TONS about how to do this and be very successful. After a while the kids understand what is expected and do what they are supposed to. The parents....many times they never "get it"...but thats ok too. I think this is getting a little off base and maybe reaching just a bit. I say that because when I started this thread I didn't mention at all that I didn't think I could be "the guy", I just said I don't have any desire or feel the need to be the guy. In fact, I think I would probably be a pretty darn good HC and have been told this by many of my coaching peers. The reason I know I could do this isn't because of how fancy I was as a high school athlete (and I was pretty alright) or how I over achieve at my job (which I often do). The real reason is because I've been around and worked with a lot a great coaches who were willing to teach me a lot over the last 17 years. I've also been around a few HC's that definitely gave me a pretty good idea how to NOT do things as well! At the end of the day, I just really really enjoy the game and the kids that I get to teach and mentor. The perception from the outsiders looking in is that a good coach has to be on his way to a HC gig and for me it just hasn't been the case. Wasn't meaning to get off base, only trying to say that different personality types may be what make people want to or not want to be a head coach. I do agree with you that at some point there is so much on the plate of a HFC/AD or HFC that the focus of teaching and mentoring can easily be shifted to the day to day operation of the program.
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Post by seabass on Feb 23, 2017 14:44:13 GMT -6
JRK, I think you may be on to something here. I played the three major sports in high school. All-state in two of them. Wanted to be the dude with the ball or bat in my hand at the end of the game, even in basketball which quite frankly I was average, at best, at...and I want to be a HFC/AD somewhere in the near future. Now maybe I am a rare breed because I left a school across the road from my house to drive an hour and a half, one-way, to be an assistant at a powerhouse school in hopes that being here and taking on as many responsibilities as possible will prepare me for the road ahead. I am teaching 6 classes instead of the required 5, and completing my masters program to boot. Not saying that to brag or boast or anything of that nature...this is just what I am willing to do for the goals I have for myself. I don't ever watch TV, miss alot of family meals (which I hate), and only really get to spend time with my kids on the weekend. But its something that is important to me and I am trying like hell to accomplish my personal goals. I want to be the guy. I can accept the criticism that comes from running a program. I know that I won't ever make everyone happy, but I am always going to do the right thing when it comes to my athletes and my athletic program. Being at my current school has taught me TONS about how to do this and be very successful. After a while the kids understand what is expected and do what they are supposed to. The parents....many times they never "get it"...but thats ok too. I think this is getting a little off base and maybe reaching just a bit. I say that because when I started this thread I didn't mention at all that I didn't think I could be "the guy", I just said I don't have any desire or feel the need to be the guy. In fact, I think I would probably be a pretty darn good HC and have been told this by many of my coaching peers. The reason I know I could do this isn't because of how fancy I was as a high school athlete (and I was pretty alright) or how I over achieve at my job (which I often do). The real reason is because I've been around and worked with a lot a great coaches who were willing to teach me a lot over the last 17 years. I've also been around a few HC's that definitely gave me a pretty good idea how to NOT do things as well! At the end of the day, I just really really enjoy the game and the kids that I get to teach and mentor. The perception from the outsiders looking in is that a good coach has to be on his way to a HC gig and for me it just hasn't been the case. You found your niche and you are happy doing what you do. I think that's what we all want. Outside voices should never be an influence on that!
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