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Post by txtoks06 on Jun 26, 2008 6:05:35 GMT -6
Hey coaches out there. I was recently (few weeks ago) hired as a head football coach at a small school. This is my first year as a head coach and I need some advice...
The program hasn't been good for a while. No winning records in the last 10 years and a 1-8 record last year with dwindling numbers. Last night I had my first meeting with the coaches that run the junior high program. Just to give you an idea..I'm only 26 years old. The junior high "head" coach has been coaching for longer than I have been alive and he is from the town that I am coaching in and before the meeting starts he tells me he's a junior high coach because he doesn't want to work 7 days a week only 5 days a week. Anyways, after about 5 minutes of going through my expectations of the coaches (which I explained to him that I told these same expectations to the high school coaches) and what not..the junior high coach interrupts and starts to question my authority, asking if he was now working for the high school. I stay calm and say no you work for the junior high. He replies by asking "then why are you trying to tell me what to do? I'm the HEAD COACH at the junior high. I've been coaching for (x) amount of years and I know what I'm doing and we'll practice how we want. We run a really good junior high program" He was standing up by then. Anyways I calmly explained to him that the only way to sustain a successful program was for all of us to be on the same page and it wasn't his program and my program it was all of ours program. He really argued that he should get to do what he wants and he'll "try" to run the offense and defense that we give him." When we dove into how we want the offense ran he kept asking if he could change this or that or he would tell us that he couldn't run this at the junior high level with these kids. Honestly it was just inside and outside zone and he wants to run the wing t.
It was really discouraging. Do you think I should go the AD and tell him about this meeting? What should I say? Obviously I can't just storm in and say "fire this guy!" but I want to get my point across that I need that junior high program to be in sync with the rest of the program if there is any desire to be successful. And when I met with administration (all former football coaches) they all expressed that desire. Any advice would be appreciated guys. Thanks in advance.
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Post by coachneria on Jun 26, 2008 6:56:58 GMT -6
That guys needs to follow your lead. I agree in order to be successful you must run the same offense and defense at each level. If that guy was truly questioning your authority, have him come in for one on one meeting. If he does not conform I am sure that there is plenty of young guys eager to get a coaching job find them. If you can not fire him, then demote him.
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Post by justwingit on Jun 26, 2008 9:15:47 GMT -6
txtoks --- definately a tough situation. I had a similar situation when I was around your age -- came in for an interview and was probably going to get the job --- I don't remember why the jr high coach was in the interview but I explained what I wanted the jr. high to run and he let me know pretty plainly that he would be running his own offense and defense. coachneria suggests that you couold demote him or find a replacement but we all know that in some small schools that is not an option. Luckily for me I was offered another head coaching job the same week and took that instead.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 9:42:30 GMT -6
Well...DOES HE REPORT TO YOU?
In my district, as well as many if not most here in Louisiana, there is no "linkage" between the Jr. High's and the HS. Our set up is a bit different than many...our school district is the entire parish (county), and has over 52 schools in it (8 high schools with enrollments that vary from maybe 700 students to over 2000 students ) Now some situations are different, I believe Don Shows up in West Monroe has full control over anything sports related in the entire school district.
From MY experience base, I think you came off as way out of line. An arrogant young pissant. He is 100% right. I would have acted in the same manner as he did, and I would have questioned your "authority" as well because In OUR set up down here,you have no authority. From his perspective, HOW many different H.S. coaches have come and gone since he has been running the Jr. High. If I were that Jr. High guy, you would have probably been thrown out on your ear.
However, in TX, you probably could have the fired if that is the set up of your district.
How has his program done? How many kids play jr high for hiim? Do those kids learn how to block, tackle, and hustle?
IMO, the whole "running the same system" thing is one of the MOST UNIVERSALLY OVERRATED issues in football. The reason that schools who have this type of situation are successful is that THE TYPE OF COACH who is that dedicated and organized and has that detailed a plan probably does a better job of teaching the fundamentals of the game. Those teams usually don' have much group grabass time. The learn to play with pad level and leverage.
It all comes down to the organizational structure. DOES HE REPORT TO YOU? I don't mean by convention, I mean OFFICIALLY. If so, then get rid of him, and have the means to keep tabs on him to make sure he isn't a poison pill against your program (meaning, be prepared to get him fired from his teaching job too if he starts becoming a negative influence on the program from the outside )
If he doesn't officially report to you, but rather just by convention (meaning most other jr. high coaches kind of follow the lead of the H.S) then you did a very bad job of looking before you leap in this situation.
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Post by txtoks06 on Jun 26, 2008 9:50:24 GMT -6
I see what you're saying coachd although I don't think I came across as arrogant. All I did was tell him the basic expectations of a coach and he is the one who stood up and started yelling. I took the high road by remaining calm.Yes he only reports to me conventionally. But I did look into the situation before and I was told by the AD that I could have control over the Junior High program.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 9:59:12 GMT -6
I see what you're saying coachd although I don't think I came across as arrogant. All I did was tell him the basic expectations of a coach and he is the one who stood up and started yelling. I took the high road by remaining calm.Yes he only reports to me conventionally. But I did look into the situation before and I was told by the AD that I could have control over the Junior High program. Does HE (jr head coach) report to the AD? If so, then it is time for the AD to play the heavy. If not...well.. then what the heck does is the AD doing telling you that you have control. As far as arrogant...YOU GAVE SOMEONE who is NOT working for you YOUR expectations for HIS job. That is about as arrogant as you can get. |
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tedseay
Sophomore Member
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Post by tedseay on Jun 26, 2008 9:59:47 GMT -6
All I did was tell him the basic expectations of a coach and he is the one who stood up and started yelling...Yes he only reports to me conventionally. But I did look into the situation before and I was told by the AD that I could have control over the Junior High program. Perhaps, given the "official" situation, the best way to start off the relationship was not to tell him what you expected him to do. It may not be too late to try and start over, explain to him what you'd like to do by way of implementing your vision, and ask him if he would come on board to help you implement it. At this point, though, I would be surprised if some kind of apology would not be appropriate, along the lines of "I'm sorry if I came off as arrogant or out of line, I'd really like to get your support in putting together a winning program at the high school. That has to include total support from your program at the junior high if it's going to work." Good luck, coach. Sometimes the hardest part is acknowledging that you may actually have stepped on your crank at some point... |
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coachmpope
Sophomore Member
"QUIT TALKIN...LET'S PLAY BALL!"
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Post by coachmpope on Jun 26, 2008 10:02:34 GMT -6
YOU BETTER MAKE THIS THE BIGGEST PRIORITY THAT YOU HAVE. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GUY CAN KILL YOUR PROGRAM. I HAVE SEEN IT MANY TIMES. THAT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE A LOT OF GUYS LIKE HIM WANT TO CALL THEMSELVES "COACH' BUT DO NOT WANT TO DO ALL THE THINGS GOOD AQND BAD THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO HAVE THAT TITLE AND HAVE IT MEAN SOMETHING.
IF I WAS YOU I WOULD CALL IN THE PRINCIPALS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, ADS AND SIT DOWN TOMMORROW WITH THIS GUY AND IRON IT OUT. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE HIM OR HIM LIKE YOU BUT YOU BOTH HAVE GOT TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE ABOUT IT. YOU NEVER KNOW.....YOU GUYS MAY BE ABLE TO DO GREAT THINGS IF YOU WORK TOGETHER!
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Jun 26, 2008 10:03:27 GMT -6
Tough situation- sucky thing is that unless he reports to you officially I think it's out of your hands...
Talk to the AD at the Jr High- let him know what you need. Maybe he can get in his ear about being replaced if he doesn't come along.
One thing is that it appears he has been there for a long time, and that will always carry more weight than your arguement; if he's been successful you can't argue with his success.
BTW, I wouldn't care if people think you came off as arrogant- it's ultimately your "our" program but YOUR name is written all over it, so I would enforce my will too! Good luck coach
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Jun 26, 2008 10:04:31 GMT -6
IMO, the whole "running the same system" thing is one of the MOST UNIVERSALLY OVERRATED issues in football. The reason that schools who have this type of situation are successful is that THE TYPE OF COACH who is that dedicated and organized and has that detailed a plan probably does a better job of teaching the fundamentals of the game. Well put |
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Post by txtoks06 on Jun 26, 2008 11:23:09 GMT -6
All I did was tell him the basic expectations of a coach and he is the one who stood up and started yelling...Yes he only reports to me conventionally. But I did look into the situation before and I was told by the AD that I could have control over the Junior High program. Perhaps, given the "official" situation, the best way to start off the relationship was not to tell him what you expected him to do. It may not be too late to try and start over, explain to him what you'd like to do by way of implementing your vision, and ask him if he would come on board to help you implement it. At this point, though, I would be surprised if some kind of apology would not be appropriate, along the lines of "I'm sorry if I came off as arrogant or out of line, I'd really like to get your support in putting together a winning program at the high school. That has to include total support from your program at the junior high if it's going to work." Good luck, coach. Sometimes the hardest part is acknowledging that you may actually have stepped on your crank at some point... That is exactly what I said to him after he went off on me. I apologized if he thought I was overstepping my boundary, but I explained to him that if we are to have a successful program that we have to work together. But I never told him what to do. All I did was explain to him what I expect out of the high school coaches and I thought that the same should carry on in the junior high. And to answer the questions from earlier..same AD runs the JH and HS and the schools are actually connected (like I said small school) and are the only two in the district. I appreciate the advice and the point of views from both sides of the fence. Sometimes you get so caught up in your own opinion you don't look at it both ways. And maybe I should have expressed my views in a different way, but I do think that for this program to become successful we can not just stick with the status quo. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 11:40:15 GMT -6
txtoks06--
Well, if they ARE connected, and he does answer to the AD---20/20 hindsight says you should have scheduled that meeting with the AD present.
Now, as far as future goes, I think the next step is to the AD and Principal (if there is only one for all grades). You need to find out RIGHT NOW..do we have ONE football program, or TWO football programs. If they say ONE, then--you tell them "Well, then this is how it has to be" If they say TWO...then you show them the inefficiencies of that plan, and ask them if that is something they can work on in the future...lol
As I said in my first post, it depends on the set up. In this set up, it seems like there could EASILY be "one" football program. That said, you need to really examine what is going on. If this is a situation where the Jr. High teams are successful, and the H.S. teams aren't, you need to look for the reasons why. If both teams are not successful, identify possible solutions to that as well.
From reading this, it sounds as if the status quo has been the school has TWO football programs. I think your best move now, is to try and get the AD to let it be known that there is only ONE football program...
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Post by fbdoc on Jun 26, 2008 11:51:58 GMT -6
Ouch - tough situation and now its a possible pissing contest. Here's my 2 cents, IF this guy is an "Institution" (as opposed to belonging in an institution) you should probably try to keep him around. Go ahead and acknowledge that you got off on the wrong foot while also letting him know you really want to run a coordinated program. Give in on a couple of things but let him know there are some things that are just not negotiable (Choose your battles). Make sure the AD and Principal have your back, but my suggestion is meet with him one on one - over beers? - to avoid him feeling like you are ganging up on him. If he just won't budge on anything ... then you might have to make the tough call. Good Luck.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 11:58:27 GMT -6
Ouch - tough situation and now its a possible pissing contest. Here's my 2 cents, IF this guy is an "Institution" (as opposed to belonging in an institution) you should probably try to keep him around. Go ahead and acknowledge that you got off on the wrong foot while also letting him know you really want to run a coordinated program. Give in on a couple of things but let him know there are some things that are just not negotiable (Choose your battles). Make sure the AD and Principal have your back, but my suggestion is meet with him one on one - over beers? - to avoid him feeling like you are ganging up on him. If he just won't budge on anything ... then you might have to make the tough call. Good Luck. Great point. I think you need to realize that so many variables are involved in situations. For example, the fact that you guys are all under one roof--makes a difference. The outcomes of the JR. HIGH games in the past are of great importance. As FBdoc said, if this is a guy who has been successful for 26 years...that is a much different situation than a guy who has been coaching for 26 years and has stayed at one place because nobody else really cared... |
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bhb
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Post by bhb on Jun 26, 2008 12:00:33 GMT -6
Tough situation.. I do believe that you were initially out of line.. That being said, he was out of line by standing up and yelling at you in front of the other Coaches.. The AD was also out of line for not making things clear to everyone involved..
So, as you can see, there's plenty of blame to go around.. Now the trick is to find a way for everyone to move on, while still saving face..
I think you need to approach the JR High program in a "what can we do for YOU" approach instead of what they can do for you.. Let them know you're there to help them, in any way possible- NOT to be a dictator to them..
I say let him run his schemes, but request he adopt your terminolgy.. If he says No, try to get him to use your tackling or sled progressions.. Whatever it takes.. You've got to let this guy "win"- but still help your program in the long run..
Time to get creative.. Darn, being a HC has less to do with football more and more every year.. lol.. You know what they say the difference between being a HC and an AC is - "about 36 inches- the difference of a desktop" .. The AC's side of the desktop gets to make suggestions- the HC side makes decisions.. So much more fun being an AC..;-)
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Post by tog on Jun 26, 2008 12:01:02 GMT -6
please tell me this isn't in Texas
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newb
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Post by newb on Jun 26, 2008 12:45:25 GMT -6
You might try to sit down with the guy and reason with him a little bit. Open up the playbook and offer to have him make some minor changes to it that he can run, but let him know that you want the basic concept of your system taught. That should give him some ownership of the program, but make sure he knows that you have the final say in what adjustments can be made. Besides, it's better to have to re-teach a few adjustments to freshmen than it is a whole other concept.
Bottom line is, you definately have to do something so you are not constanlty butting heads with him. If you guys can't agree on anything then the kids will ultimately suffer. It's better for them if you two can at least appear to be on the same page.
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bhb
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Post by bhb on Jun 26, 2008 13:04:54 GMT -6
DC,
I agree with your post- especially the latter part.. Bottom line is that there is a time and place to come in with the "there's a new Sheriff in town" mindset and as a 26 Year old, First year HC LATE JUNE is probably not the right time (not that there's anything wrong with young HC's-we all start somewhere- just a little late in the season to adopt whole sale changes right off the bat)..
Way too late to fire an entire staff for being insubordinate..For some this may not be a problem- but I know my 1st HC season I would not have been able to pull this off.. I was still making my bones as a HC and wasn't even sure of what type of Coach I was striving to become- dealing with a mass firing of the Jr High Coaches would have been difficult- especially when you take into account that the Jr Hi team has been in good enough hands to last 26 years- one more year will be fine.. This late in the pre-season I think you're advice to just let this season play out while you evaluate everything is the way to go..
It's really not fair to approach the Jr High Coach with a new system that you expect him to be able to be proficient enough at to teach the players this late in the game.. Observe, evaluate, and next season implement the changes you feel are necessary in, oh, say, January..lol..
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 13:12:22 GMT -6
Do you think I should go the AD and tell him about this meeting? What should I say? Obviously I can't just storm in and say "fire this guy!" but I want to get my point across that I need that junior high program to be in sync with the rest of the program if there is any desire to be successful. And when I met with administration (all former football coaches) they all expressed that desire. Any advice would be appreciated guys. Thanks in advance. Yes I do. Tell him that you have some major concerns with the Coach running the Jr. High program and from the meeting a homogeneous program is not possible. And why can't you walk in and say that? Who's program is it? Who's home will have FOR SALE signs in the front yard? A football PROGRAM is not an environment where there is a table of elders, there isn't a group of Chiefs making decisions. There is one Chief and everyone else are indians. I can tell you what has happened in my neck of the woods. We just hired a new HC. He held a meeting for all the Jr. High coaches. One showed up. Now, they are going to get to go ahead and coach this year because we had some HS staffing issues...but the HC has already said, the entire...ENTIRE...Jr. High coaching staff will be replaced next year. They are already fired and don't even know it. BUT...if you are stuck with Captain Big League for this year, here's what you do. Draw up a coach's manual. Have all expectations of the assistants, Jr. High, coaches outlined. Running HS offense Scouting on Friday night etc, etc. Give a copy to the AD, make sure he reads it and approves it. THEN, after this season when you are filling out the evaluations, just evaluate him. If you're Zone read and he's wing-t, that's not even close to the HS offense. Evaluate him honestly, that way you have documentation and send his a$$ packing. Don't be intimidated by his coaching experience, I've only been coaching for 14-15 years but I've already learned that the HC calls the shots whether I like it or not, regardless of age and I've also learned that PROGRAM is not grades 9-12...that's a team. A program encompasses all levels of football played in my school district. That 3rd grader putting the helmet on for the first time is just as much a part of my program as is my All State Linebacker. I believe you handled that better than I would have. I think somewhere along in there I would have had to interrupt him by saying "Well...you don't HAVE to coach here." Doing it right is more important than anything else at this point. Excellent points, however, as I said above, all situations are different. I think in this situation, the FIRST step has to be to decide if there should be one program or two in the school. What is the story behind the JH coach? Perhaps he took the job being told that HE was running his own program. Whether that is what is best for the HIGHSCHOOL program could be irrelevant (and rightly so, if he took the position based on that supposition). Unfortunately, txtokos kind of jumped the gun. With 20/20 hindsight this situation could have been researched and discussed a lot further before this meeting. Everything should have been outlined...and then addressed out in the open. |
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Post by charger109 on Jun 26, 2008 15:20:25 GMT -6
Well, that is a rough spot to be in. I guess the best way is to just win football games and do what YOU believe in. You are the Head Coach now and you have to go with your gut feeling at times. Overall, win games. You may be a threat to him, and he is trying to break you before you even put it all together. Good luck and I hope you do well Coach! You only live one time, so take advantage of chances like this one.
Don't talk about it! BE about it!
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Post by optionguy on Jun 26, 2008 15:55:05 GMT -6
I was that Jr. High coach; after years as an assistant in both HS and JH. Although I believe that the MS/JH team should use the HS's system, I very much appreciated the HS head coach for arranging a time at my convience to meet w/me and to sell me on using his system, which he did. This was a one-on-one meeting, and because of this relationship, when he moved to another school five years later, I initiated a meeting with his successor to discuss how we, the MS, could help his program. My point is this, build positive, rewarding relationships with those individuals who can support and assist you in building your program.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 16:02:03 GMT -6
DC, I agree with your post- especially the latter part.. Bottom line is that there is a time and place to come in with the "there's a new Sheriff in town" mindset and as a 26 Year old, First year HC LATE JUNE is probably not the right time (not that there's anything wrong with young HC's-we all start somewhere- just a little late in the season to adopt whole sale changes right off the bat).. Way too late to fire an entire staff for being insubordinate..For some this may not be a problem- but I know my 1st HC season I would not have been able to pull this off.. I was still making my bones as a HC and wasn't even sure of what type of Coach I was striving to become- dealing with a mass firing of the Jr High Coaches would have been difficult- especially when you take into account that the Jr Hi team has been in good enough hands to last 26 years- one more year will be fine.. This late in the pre-season I think you're advice to just let this season play out while you evaluate everything is the way to go.. It's really not fair to approach the Jr High Coach with a new system that you expect him to be able to be proficient enough at to teach the players this late in the game.. Observe, evaluate, and next season implement the changes you feel are necessary in, oh, say, January..lol.. I agree with that. You've got to fight the battles in order of importance. It is what it is this year. I would still draw up a Coach's expectation manual and evaluate the entire staff after the season. But getting the job as late as you did, sometimes the fleas come with the dog. But I do think it is entirely fair for you to request that he run certain parts of your offense. I'm sure there is at least something in it simple enough to implement. DC--the problem with this is that while txtoks06 seems to think this is "his program" through and through, and the AD told him he had control over the Jr. High---apparently the AD never bothered to mention to the JR HIGH guys that they answered to the High School program. (based on the conversations presented) Based off of that information, I would be pretty peeved if I were a Jr. High guy, and some guy came in with an expectation manual and schemes that they wanted me to run, I would be pretty put off as well. This needs to be settled from the TOP down. AD needs to communicate this to the JR. high guys, if that is how they want to take the program. Then depending on other circumstances (namely, what the jr. high coach was told when he took over the program... his talent as a coach...his teaching abilities..etc. ) they need to figure out the best course of action. |
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Post by optionguy on Jun 26, 2008 16:10:31 GMT -6
Do you think I should go the AD and tell him about this meeting? What should I say? Obviously I can't just storm in and say "fire this guy!" but I want to get my point across that I need that junior high program to be in sync with the rest of the program if there is any desire to be successful. And when I met with administration (all former football coaches) they all expressed that desire. Any advice would be appreciated guys. Thanks in advance. Yes I do. Tell him that you have some major concerns with the Coach running the Jr. High program and from the meeting a homogeneous program is not possible. And why can't you walk in and say that? Who's program is it? Who's home will have FOR SALE signs in the front yard? A football PROGRAM is not an environment where there is a table of elders, there isn't a group of Chiefs making decisions. There is one Chief and everyone else are indians. I can tell you what has happened in my neck of the woods. We just hired a new HC. He held a meeting for all the Jr. High coaches. One showed up. Now, they are going to get to go ahead and coach this year because we had some HS staffing issues...but the HC has already said, the entire...ENTIRE...Jr. High coaching staff will be replaced next year. They are already fired and don't even know it. BUT...if you are stuck with Captain Big League for this year, here's what you do. Draw up a coach's manual. Have all expectations of the assistants, Jr. High, coaches outlined. Running HS offense Scouting on Friday night etc, etc. Give a copy to the AD, make sure he reads it and approves it. THEN, after this season when you are filling out the evaluations, just evaluate him. If you're Zone read and he's wing-t, that's not even close to the HS offense. Evaluate him honestly, that way you have documentation and send his a$$ packing. Don't be intimidated by his coaching experience, I've only been coaching for 14-15 years but I've already learned that the HC calls the shots whether I like it or not, regardless of age and I've also learned that PROGRAM is not grades 9-12...that's a team. A program encompasses all levels of football played in my school district. That 3rd grader putting the helmet on for the first time is just as much a part of my program as is my All State Linebacker. I believe you handled that better than I would have. I think somewhere along in there I would have had to interrupt him by saying "Well...you don't HAVE to coach here." Doing it right is more important than anything else at this point. I am a MS administrator now, and if the HS's coach/AD came in to meet with our FB staff and AD in this manner, I would escort him off the premises personally, even though I believe whole-heartedly that the MS and HS athletic programs should be in full vertical alignment. It is the HS coach's responsibility to foster a positive, mutually beneficial relationship with the MS, if he wants the MS to be in accord with his vision for a successful HS football program. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 26, 2008 16:16:27 GMT -6
option guy.. a little different situation here though. The HS/MS are housed under the same building. It might be a 7-12 school or something like that. The AD is the ad for both the MS and the HS in the scenario presented here.
Again, just by going from the facts presented here, it appears that the previous situation was that there were two separate programs...a high school program, and a junior high program. The new head coach is looking to make it one program, and apparently has the AD's blessing..HOWEVER, the AD failed to tell this to the current JR. HIGH head coach.
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Post by txtoks06 on Jun 26, 2008 20:46:27 GMT -6
Thanks again for the advice guys. What a great site where you can learn from your mistakes and get other professional opinions. Thanks again
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Post by bulldogoption on Jun 26, 2008 22:56:17 GMT -6
If he has been coaching that long, he's probably good at it.
Like 5085 said -- total program unity is not the end all be all answer to success. Football is still a sport where a senior can show up and as long as he's fast, strong and likes to hit, he can be a difference maker. Not so in other skill sports like hoops, wrestling, baseball etc. Unity in those sports is more impt, IMO.
Yet your point is a valid one. The programs must work together, even if it doesn't mean they run the same schemes. If he is willing to give a little, I would call it a success. Would you like to change your schemes overnight? Lose all your "answers"? That is probably how he feels.
"wants to work 5 days vs. 7 days"....This statement makes sense to me. Success at the varsity level has gotten more and more difficult and requires time outside of actual practice time for players and coaches. JH is not like that. There are many parts of being a JH coach that are attractive for just those reasons. The time required is much less(I understand all the time that goes into preparing practices and making a successful team) AS COMPARED TO the varsity level where you have weight room, 7 on 7, scouting, film, etc, etc, etc. I don't think that's a knock against his commitment. It may be a testament to his commitment to something else.
I say if he will work with you a little, its ok. If he wants to be completely separate, that needs to change.
Good luck!!!
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Post by ajreaper on Jun 26, 2008 23:28:17 GMT -6
I'll tell you the crux of this entire situation- you have a coach that's wants to put forth as little time and effort as possible to earn his paycheck. Learning your system will require time and effort and he's not about that at all which means the sooner you can rid yourself of him the better. You got into this late but start right now with your expectations for players and coaches- do not wait, do it now if you let things go now there just that much harder to crack down on a year from now. You are the HC, the CEO of this program if he was a department manager and you laid out your expecttions and he acted like a horses butt (which he did) you'd reassign him or fire him and this is no different. Meet a second time with him and the AD, apoligize for nothing lay it out again for him and make it clear his performance will be evaluated each year and if he does not meet your standards he's gone- then he doe not have to work 5 days a week he can be "retired".
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Post by coachjoe3 on Jun 27, 2008 0:29:11 GMT -6
Agreed. The AD said he answers to you. Let us know what happened , Coach. And good luck! |
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Post by coachjoe3 on Jun 27, 2008 0:59:17 GMT -6
I am a MS administrator now, and if the HS's coach/AD came in to meet with our FB staff and AD in this manner, I would escort him off the premises personally Does this really fly though? Does the Jr. High coach acting the way he did really fly - even if the HC had no authority over him? Anyone can act professional when everything is sailing smooth. What does it say when we lose that professionalism when someone tries to rock the boat? As a parent, I'd be pi$$ed if administration and coaches were acting like this at my kid's school. It's about the kids, not about people throwing their weight around. Figure it out, move on and help me get my kid educated and let him learn a little football while we're at it. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 27, 2008 9:37:33 GMT -6
I'll tell you the crux of this entire situation- you have a coach that's wants to put forth as little time and effort as possible to earn his paycheck. Learning your system will require time and effort and he's not about that at all which means the sooner you can rid yourself of him the better. You got into this late but start right now with your expectations for players and coaches- do not wait, do it now if you let things go now there just that much harder to crack down on a year from now. You are the HC, the CEO of this program if he was a department manager and you laid out your expecttions and he acted like a horses butt (which he did) you'd reassign him or fire him and this is no different. Meet a second time with him and the AD, apoligize for nothing lay it out again for him and make it clear his performance will be evaluated each year and if he does not meet your standards he's gone- then he doe not have to work 5 days a week he can be "retired". I think this is a blanket statement, made with a great deal of ignorance to the situation including potential political land mines. This is not "thinking through" the solution as referred to it in the business world. Things that need to be considered: 1--Is the coach in question a good coach? Does he do the primary job YOU need him for, which is teach blocking/tackling/effort to the jr. high kids. Does he keep the enthusiasm level high, and deliver kids to the H.S. team. 2--What is the communities opinion of this coach? As FBDOC said, is he an institution, or just work for one. Is this a guy who has been committed to the area for many years? Is this a guy who has possibly COACHED many of the "important" boosters/board members. We don't live in a vacuum, and this is a real consideration. 3--What was the state of the program BEFORE the new HC arrived. I can't agree with ajreapers statement " " because we don't know the entire situation. It is important to consider the conditions that were in place beforehand. Has the Jr. High guy worked under the direction of the HC in the past? What were the conditions the Jr. High guy accepted the position under. 4--What is the best solution for what the NEW HC is trying to accomplish. Is it more important to win "this battle" or football games in the fall. They might be related, or they might be completely unrelated. |
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