Sideline Behavior

The biggest blow ups I've witnessed were in the box and over the headsets, so the players didn't even know about it.

I have had it both ways. What we need to be carefull of is not questioning scheme in front of players. That will cause a divide on the team that will be cancerous.

But coaches do get yelled at and yell back about performance can be benifitial to the team as long as nobody get all but hurt about it. And if you do your in the wrong profession.

I frankly think its (losing your cool and yelling at an AC) a load of crap, and has a lot to do with ego. You gotta remember, many assistant coaches are also teachers at the school and working with these kids outside of football. If a HC goes and rips into the AC in front of the players then he is taking him down a peg in front of his students and opening up for his students to do the same; making it harder to be effective in both professions. To be honest if I had a HC flip out on me I'd tell him I'm a grown man and he needs to speak to me as such.

I think back to the story of when Lombardi was ripping into Bart Starr in front of his team, and then asking him to be a leader at the same time. Starr went to Lombardi privately and told him that if he wanted Starr to lead he had to quit tearing him down in front of his players. Lombardi listened and wouldn't rip him in front of his teammates anymore.

I think its best to provide a united front to the players, fans, and community. If you have an assistant who makes a mistake then reprimand him in a respectable way, keeping in mind he's a grown man who should be treated as such. Moreover, if your AC made a mistake, then it probably comes back to you as a HC for not coaching him up as a coach the right way- so look at yourself and what you could be doing better, and if you need to freak out on someone freak out on yourself.

Not a fan of ripping a grown man on the sideline.

But Saban had just got plowed and you know the adreline was at full steam and he couldn’t hit anyone. That and “run the DAMN ball!”

I know he blew up at Kiffin some, but who hasn't wanted to slap him? Just kidding. Just kidding

I think you know what you are getting when you sign up for coaching with Saban. That and a nice resume builder and fat paycheck.

Our HC is a spazz. He’s young and he freaks out about stuff but he’s pretty fair about it and he always apologizes afterward. It doesn’t matter if you are the waterboy or the defensive coordnator if you make a mistake you are going to hear it. At times he will justify it by saying his coach was worse but also acknowledged it as something he wants to get better at. He got me twice this year (once because we blocked a screen wrong and once because I lost my eyes on a play and he asked what one of my lbs did and I told him I had no clue) , but I knew it was my fault so I was already more critical on myself than he could ever be.

The thing about him is we as a staff love working for him so it doesn’t get to us. One of the players told me once “I don’t like when coach yells at me but you know what? The coach before didnt coach or care so I still am happy we have him.”

There’s a lot of tempers in this game so a lot this comes down to relationships. A little yelling is okay as long as everyone has mutual trust and respect.

The vast majority of head football coaches are autocrats or believe the autocratic style is best. It kind of goes with the territory.

We used to joke that a coach was a rookie until he'd been fired twice during games.

There's a lot of immediacy and testosterone during games. Stuff happens. I've been barked at during games. When I thought I was right i barked back. When I was wrong I took it. When it was over it was over.

Yelling at your own guys usually isnt anything big, like i said it happens

Yelling at other teams staff MUCH bigger problem

If were yelling at each other were good.

If he can legitimately explain why, I don’t have a problem with it. I’ve been on the wrong end of those conversations and as humiliating as it can be in some ways, I just always tell myself this is his show. The success and failure of this program hinges on him not me. So if he’s uptight and something isn’t to his liking, tear me apart.

At the college level I suppose it is or could be part of the game.

As a head coach I never chewed out an assistant during a game. I had two assistants get into once about subbing after the game in the coaches office once. I dog-cussed a narcissistic assistant once at a meeting. But that is about it.

As an assistant I have not been yelled at by the head coach. Yet.

I think it goes with the profession however, with technology and such I can see you getting yourself in bind with parents, players, community, administration, etc.

I always think there is a right way and a wrong way. I think those who have a good relationship with the HFC (you do your job to the best of your ability) shrug it off, the ones who don't or are always brought up struggle. I get ripped for stuff I have no control over i.e. slow internet speed, camera guy missing angles, assistant coaches miss labeling a play, countdown clock not changed 1 hour after the game, but it doesn't bother me anymore. It used to, but I just laugh and roll with it. There are other times I have gotten ripped in practice and games whether a wrong signal or kid screws up and the HFC comes after me and I do one of two things 1. admit it was my fault or 2. keep my mouth shut. If he continues coming after me when I stay silent I just admit "my fault" regardless so we can move on. We have coached with guys who deserve it (food on the field during pre-game, on phone, etc.) and they beat themselves up. If I notice it, I usually try to cut it off before hand and give them a heads-up on what is expected and appropriate at the time. If I catch them again or the HFC its on. I will let you know quietly then we will have a talk in the office.

It is a sport and profession that brings passionate people out. If I didn't have a guy who "lost it" at times I would worry however, there are plenty of coaches who are calm and reserved and it works. I think if you are going to yell and rip someone it has to be a certain way and in a certain place dependent on the situation.

Final thought:
The DC and myself got into it after a 7 on 7/scrimmage 2 years ago. He made a comment about a kid's poor performance and complaining about depth yada yada yada. I replied, "he's ok, he'll get better, be patient". It is 6 weeks before the opener. He goes off on me about coaching him up (I am an offensive coach and help assist the DB coach (CB's) during indy. We immaturely get into a screaming match on the field at the conclusion of this scrimmage. The HFC doesn't say anything to him just me. He says, "cut it out. you embarrassing me". He was right. I apologized. We got into the coaches office and all the other coaches were on pins and needles when we both entered the coaches locker room. The other coach (we are close friends and have worked together the longest and known each other the longest) started looking around and asked "what never argued or got called out". I apologized and see affirmed "we good". I learned a lesson that it is what you show and where that effects all parties involved. Fans, players and other coaches saw this embarrassing display. I should've just spoke to him later in the day when we or I cooled down.

Live and Learn.

There were some people saying this is fine because it showed players another side and he relates to them (joking around).  Pure garbage in my opinion!

I can relate to all that fkaboneyard! Thanks for sharing.

Guys get yelled at, it happens, learn and move on.

I’ve been corrected and yelled at and the kids on the field and in the classroom still listened to me.

I’ve corrected and yelled at other coaches in front of players and coaches before. I could be wrong but why wouldn’t I fix the problem right then and if it’s something we’ve discussed multiple times, or you make a half a$$ excuse, or you throw the kids under the bus why am I out of line for yelling at you or getting on you about? It may not be the perfect way to do it but everyone is accountable.