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Post by splitricky5 on Oct 11, 2005 10:32:41 GMT -6
How do you handle a stubborn head coach? I feel that I am a great play caller waiting on an opportunity, and the job that I have now is frustrating me to no end. I am not writing on here looking for a response as much as I am writing on here to vent my frustrations. I am a line coach for a very small school with very limited resources. My head coach is hell bent on running the ball between the tackles play after play with a line that can't bench their own body weight. I would love to do a lot of different things with the group, but my cries are falling on deaf ears. I have to tell you that I am getting frustrated beyond belief. Just had to get that out. Why is it that some coaches are determined to bang even when the other teams X's are bigger than their O's?
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Post by tog on Oct 11, 2005 12:06:23 GMT -6
go somewhere else
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Post by tog on Oct 11, 2005 12:07:50 GMT -6
not trying to be harsh or a smartass either
just been there and done that, best thing to do is leave on good terms with the man and find a job at a better place
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Post by Coach Huey on Oct 11, 2005 13:10:52 GMT -6
i agree with tog. i've been places where my "philosophy" didn't mesh with that of what the program (i. e. head coach). i worked hard and did my job the best i could while there, then searched for another job. does no good to rock the boat while there.....it is best just to keep opinions to yourself and be positive as possible in doing your job to the fullest. if you like the place your at, you might find a way in the offseason to meet as a staff & brainstorm ideas that can improve your program. this might lead to a moderate change in the offensive scheme. however, if you feel that the scheme will not change and you do not feel that you can be as productive a coach in that scheme (i.e. happy, team player, etc.) then i suggest you politely look for a new place to coach. but don't be rude or abrasive about it. (not saying you are, just giving advice)
many coaches have been in your shoes. how we handle these situations will help or hurt us in the future.
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Post by splitricky5 on Oct 12, 2005 7:13:09 GMT -6
Let me adjust and ammend comments made earlier. What I meant to say is that I have the potential to be a great play caller. What makes me feel this way is the fact that we had a scrimmage earlier in the year where the staff was split up (old coaches vs. young coaches). I ran our offense and mixed in some of my own ideas. We consistently drove the field and had a few big plays. We won the scrimmage by two touchdowns versus the offensive and defensive coordinator. Instead of discussing what I did differently, I was told we're never going to do that on a friday night. I don't mean to sound arrogant and I apologize if I come across that way. The head coach and the other assistants are all good guys. I am just so frustrated when I see the potential of this group. I needed to yell at somebody. Thanks for listening.
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Post by splitricky5 on Oct 12, 2005 8:32:22 GMT -6
Point taken.
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Post by brophy on Oct 12, 2005 8:49:14 GMT -6
this is why this forum is so great - great feedback, wealth of experience, and VENTING...  In my brief experiences, the X's & O's are the EASIEST part of the game.....COMMUNICATING those ideas are the real challenge (to the players / rationale to staff members) and that, my friends, is "Coaching"...eh? Coach Wil - those tapes go out today your way....have a great game this weekend! |
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Post by bulldog on Oct 12, 2005 10:13:22 GMT -6
I echo Coach Huey's comments.
You may have lost the confidence of the HC. When you ran your own stuff during the scrimmage, what was the HC's reaction? 'Wow, that great!' or 'What the hell is he doing?'
By running your own stuff you showed disloyalty. I would fire a coach who purposely went against the program. Scrimmages are times to execute your offense and defense, it is not time to invent new plays. The results do not justify your actions. Do you think the kids realized that you were inventing new plays? Do you think the kids interpret your actions as supporting the HC? or undermining him?
What would you do if your kids started to make-up their own stuff? How about if your tackle started to block the FS instead of downblocking like he is supposed to? Would you accept his reasoning that the FS is making all the tackles?
You have to realize that as a staff member, your job is to follow the HC's lead. Whether you agree with him or not. In the Marines, we had a saying, you salute the uniform not the man. The idea was that you owe the loyalty regardless of your personal feelings.
The strength of a program is not in the X's and O's, it is in the leadership you present to the kids. The good football programs that I have seen usually have tremendous coaching staffs. They communicate well and present their system so that they have unity amongst the team.
Anyone can call plays. When you have the better team (or better scheme), you look (and feel) like a genius because stuff works right. There will be plenty of times when your stuff does not work. Be humble.
The time to change your offense or defense is the off-season. Be prepared for the HC to run what he wants - and be prepared to support his decisions 100%.
If you want to add some stuff, first ask the HC if he is receptive. Then, do some research. Visit the local college's staff. Get film. Present your ideas to the HC. Be prepared to show why your ideas will work. Have film that shows what you want to do. Do not make up your own stuff. Find a college that runs what you want to install. If you want to run spread, visit Texas Tech, Las Vegas, Utah, Bowling Green, Florida, or one of the many teams that run the scheme. Get their cutups. Talk to their coachs. Ask how do they block a certain play. What is the ball handling? How about the defenses reactions to the play? You will be amazed at how receptive college staff's will be to you. A lot of them have formal spring sessions for HS coaches.
Again, realize that even as a OC or DC - your philosophy may not be relevent if you differ from the HC. It's his program. It's good for everyone when the staff is unified. If you can't fully support the HC, you should move on. My advice is to learn what you can while you are there. Then, re-evaluate your situation after you meet with the HC in the post-season. Coaching football at any level is full of frustration. Get used to it.
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Post by splitricky5 on Oct 12, 2005 10:25:28 GMT -6
Bulldog,
Thanks for the advice. By my own stuff I meant using the draw, throwing the curl-flat. I used routes and plays that we have in the playbook, but we never use. I used many of his plays but on top of that I used motions and formations we don't normally use. (i.e. Motioned the back out of the backfield to the split side to get a shift out of the LBs and threw the curl flat to the other side.) The head coach didn't seem to care one way or another. It was kind of like "that's nice, but we're never going to use that."
I'm just trying to learn as much as I can while I am here and preparing for future jobs. I really appreciate everyone's advice. I just needed to get some things off of my chest about something that had me frustrated. I'm sure I sound naive and/or full of myself to some of you. Believe me, that is not my intention. I guess I need to work on my patience and keep my nose to the grindstone. I appreciate all of the help and ideas that this website has.
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Post by tog on Oct 12, 2005 10:56:27 GMT -6
another thing to realize is that stuff like that works well in a scrimmage early just because other teams just aren't ready for it
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Post by brophy on Oct 13, 2005 10:25:28 GMT -6
maybe this is a discussion in and of itself....but I have to ask
HOW DO YOU BUILD TEAM CHEMISTRY WITHIN YOUR COACHING STAFF?
Is it JUST working together for a long time? Is it JUST hiring the right individuals? Is it JUST being subserviant to the Head Coach (who provides strong leadership / direction)?
I believe the number one element in coaching (staff) is L-O-Y-A-L-T-Y. I believe EVERY assistant should strive to be a head coach, and in doing so, attempt to take on as much responsibility / ownership in a program as possible - being self-sufficient and flexible in teaching methodology. What is the best way to get-along/go-along?
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Post by bulldog on Oct 13, 2005 11:44:50 GMT -6
It starts with a HC who hires assistants who have the right qualities. If you have not read the article by Urban Meyer from the summer AFCA manual, you should get a copy. I had a hard time swallowing some of what he said, but his message was clear. He holds his assistants incredibly accountable. He holds THE WIVES of his assistants accountable. He mentioned that if the wive of one of his coaches was talking smack at the grocery store, the assistant would be fired. Blind loyalty is all he will accept. He also stated that a standard interview question is whether the assistant aspires to be a HC - if the coach answers that he does not want a HC job, then Meyer will not hire him. (BTW - I have heard that Meyers is a complete grinder).
I agree with Brophy that Loyalty is the first quality needed in an assistant. If the HC has to work to gain staff unity, then he needs some/all new staff members(or he shouldn't be the HC). It seems there are problems with staffs that forget about unity and team work. The offense blames the defense. Or a coordinator blames a position coach. We expect out players to look inward when things don't go right. Some assistants forget this when things go bad.
When I interviewed for my current position, the interview was really not about football. It was meant to discover what type of person I was . . . how I react to situations, how I support the HC, etc. That is where it starts.
In a high school program, it is also important to have Freshman and/or JV coaches who are extensions of the varsity staff. They have to have the same set of standards. And everyone has to be held accountable to this same set of standards. This is up to the HC.
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Post by tog on Oct 13, 2005 11:47:10 GMT -6
i moved this to the general board to see if more people will have ideas about this
it is turning into a good conversation that we all need to think about
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Post by brophy on Oct 13, 2005 12:45:05 GMT -6
regarding the Meyer discourse...does anyone have a copy? I've heard a similiar speech from other coaches in the past, but not this one. I really enjoyed when the AFCA archive pdfs were free.
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Post by splitricky5 on Oct 13, 2005 13:11:26 GMT -6
Tog, feel free to change the name of the post and/or delete all of my ranting. This is a good topic, and this is all information that I can really use. Thanks guys.
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radar97
Sophomore Member
Posts: 103
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Post by radar97 on Oct 13, 2005 13:38:31 GMT -6
I agree that you have to have loyalty, but you can be too loyal. If you are two loyal sometimes needed change does not happen. It's not just the head choaches program it is everybodies program. To listen to bulldog he supports a dictatorship. In my opionon a great staff has input from all. I think if your young or old you should always be learning and making valid suggestions. You should not have to write a doctrate to get a new play run. The best part of a coaching staff is the heated arguments and debate. When you put your stuff or other people things to the fire is when it get tested. If they survive the firey debate they are propably good if not then you go to something new.
Split ricky pick your head coaches brain find out why he likes what he does. Why always run inside, why not the new stuff. If you find out why then maybe you can use this info to help you persuade him on soem of your things. Then if that doesn't work I agree it is time to leave.
Be postive always life is to short to be a grouch. Make you situation better or get in a better situation.
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Post by tog on Oct 13, 2005 14:00:50 GMT -6
it's all good if there is respect there
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Post by Coach Huey on Oct 13, 2005 15:16:50 GMT -6
coach once told me this: "you will always find flaws in someone else's program......then, when it's your program, others will find your flaws"
think what he meant is that many on staff have ways they would handle certain things....we all want to believe that our way is the right way to do something. regardless of whether or not you agree with the program, you should abide by the program the entire time you are involved in it. there are proper ways to ask questions about why the hc does certain things. if he knows you are loyal to the best interests of the program and it's continued development then he will be more likely to share ideas and listen to yours.
i am new to where i'm at and we did make some drastic changes to many of our approaches. i am fortunate to work for a hc that is open to ideas from guys that can show definitive reasons for making any type of change. i was able to address the pro's & con's of what they had been doing and provide 'facts' so to speak about the pro's & con's of what i had been doing. we were able to mesh the 2 together to create what we have now.
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radar97
Sophomore Member
Posts: 103
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Post by radar97 on Oct 14, 2005 7:22:50 GMT -6
I agree with you huey. All I was saying they were assignating split and saying he is disloyal for running a different part of the offense. It is not easy being a young coach and trying to feel through things. He comes on here saying he is at an old school program and wants to run some new school things. The coaches on here act like he commited treason. The only advice I was trying to give him was to learn from his situation. Find out why things are being run like they are, I'm sure the head coach has his reasons or he will not be at that school very long.
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Post by splitricky5 on Oct 14, 2005 7:46:33 GMT -6
Back to putting together a staff. When you guys hire a new assistant, is it mostly guys you know/guys with a good resume/guys who have played ball/guys who have coached in college/etc?? What do you look for?
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Post by Coach Huey on Oct 14, 2005 8:19:02 GMT -6
many times it is the "fear of the unknown" that causes coaches to hire guys they know. they have worked with these guys before or have seen them in action so they feel comfortable with them.....don't feel the need to "gamble" on someone you don't know if you are already comfortable hiring the guy you do know
(this has both helped me and hurt me)
coaches get hired based on where they have been / what that program has done and how much the hiring person knows of that program. this would be the "resume" thing somewhat but typically helps if the program you're coming from is visible. typically, assistants from these successful programs are hired away by other staffs because that staff wants to capture some of the success. still, this somewhat goes back to "being known" as in the hiring person knows the coach through the reputation of the program.
(this has gotten me some interviews and a coordinator's job)
i had some input into the hiring of the staff here (offense). i was able to bring in one guy that i had been coaching with. the reason was that he knew the offense we were going to be installing since it is what we had been running at our other school. he is a good coach...but, did i consider anyone else that might have been better?.....no........i went with who i knew and didn't take the chance on the "unknown".
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