Your System or Coordinator's System?

Here's my story:  link

Update:

This year we did run a shift to some 34 look versus 10 personnel 2x2 sets, but overall it didn't really change a lot of what we did.  In the off season, I had worked to marry the 42/34 looks to have the same verbiage and stunt/blitz calls.

Ideally, HC hires a coordinator who shares his overall philosophy and vision and coordinators run with it. In my case, I've been a DC for 2 different HC. One said run a 3-4, and he pretty much let me run with it and do what I wanted to do with it. The second had been a DC and he said run my D, heres how you do it. And I pretty much have put my terminology and personal spin on his system.

I bring in my own systems. If I was able to hire an established, successful coordinator then I would not have issue w/ him bringing in something. But most of the time at the HS level when you start a new job you don't really know what you're getting on staff, so you're really taking a gamble to let somebody run w/ it IMO.

I am the HFC. My offense I am still the play caller my system. I have told my STC what I like and he runs with it. It has been my DC's system for the past 4 years I am going to have more input on it this year.

How does that work?  Does the HC hire, or try to cause to be hired, coaches to be coordinators who he knows to be good at systems he's already decided he wants installed or maintained?  Or does the HC just say, I know you don't know from this system, but here's what I want, tell me as we go along what should be altered or decided within it according to what you see developing on grass?  Or does he pick coordinators based on their mgmt. ability, they tell him they know this, that, & the other, and he picks from among the things they know?

Think it depends on how competent the coordinator is, and how must trust is in the relationship.

Initially brought in my systems bc I didn’t know the guys I’d be working with.

Developed significant trust with the DCs work ethic, prep, and leadership and gave him the defense as his own, pretty much just checked in with the plan, hashed out any questions on the rare chance there were some then let him do his thing. He left for another job opportunity so I went back to the system originally brought in (partially personnel driven as well). The guy that was then named DC was on the staff from day 1 and again, was someone I had a trust with due to watching his work ethic and prep. While the base was a system I gave we sat down and went through it in some give and take, as the season went on he added additional tweaks. I don’t foresee it happening but if he came to me and said “I think the blank defense would be much better for us bc of XYZ” I’d more than likely sign off on it.

If I had no one I trusted I’d just do both but I’m not married to something if there is a guy capable and it is sound/benefits us.

Even if I was to get a guy I trusted, he would still have to run something I want our team identity to be. I've got some friends who are amazing offensive coaches and I trust their skills, but I'm not going to head coach a team slinging the ball 70% of the time.