Questions for you Head Football Coaches/AD's

could not agree more.
Every year we run into that same problem, We have kids who need physicals, etc and we offer free physicals twice a year.
Trying to get them in is like pulling teeth.

I was a head coach very early in my career. I was lacking in an understanding of the importance of keeping it simple and not having too much offense.

I knew the X's and O's and didn't understand why our players couldn't pick up and remember all the things we tried to put in. We probably run half as many things now as we did my FIRST year as a coach. I guess I was trying to impress everyone with how much I KNEW.

Also, I wasn't prepared for dealing with unscrupulous parents who would do nearly anything to get their kids playing time or eligibility by falsifying documents, etc.

I learned very quickly that there was a HUGE difference between making a suggestion (as an assistant) and making a decision (as the HC).

It's like being a parent, you're never as ready as you think you are when it happens.

Coach, you hit the nail on the head with those points.

As a 2nd year HC I am blessed to have a team manager who does all the paper work, medicals, permission forms, bookings, ordering the works. I can not imagine doing that plus the responsibilities of HC.

This has been an interesting year. It is the first time (before a position coach & DC) that I have actually had to lead and set the tone for the whole team. I remember the past I was quite close with our past HC working along side getting to know eachothers family and such. We would have conversations and he would ask me what I would do, I would always have some response. I can echo the comments that it is one thing to suggest something and another to actually carry it out and deal with the consequences. It is like I have to make sure to think before making a final say on something, the responsibility is huge I was not ready for this. But the best way to get ready is to do it!

Last season I had a group of coaches that I was essentilly given, they were "recomended" by our board of directors & parents as guys who knew the kids and had relationships there. The problem was trust ........... The program had been good we had turned it around from 0-8 to 2 back to back Div 2 championships. The previous HC and myself discussed that this was the year to make ourselvs a true D1 team (then he was let go). So instead of trusting my coaches I micro managed and reacted instinctively and instantaniously to everything. The coaching staff that we had degraded and it was on me. This season I surounded myself with "my guys". These were the people I trusted the people I felt were the best fit. So far it has been amazing I coach DB's, and not once this season did I comment on a DL drill or a LB technique or go over to the offense to make "suggestions". This season has been very little actual coaching and more game planning.

Sorry to ramble:

1) Least prepared for the managment of coaches, egos, players feelings, the overall team message, the philosophy
2) Dealing with the aftermath of poor decisions in the off season
3) If I could do it over again and give any advice: "surround yourself with people that you can work with, trust, and have similar core values" the football stuff X's & O's will all fall into place.

This past season was my first and as I reflect there are a few things I will share, mostly agree with those above...

1) The paperwork crap sucks, get it done ASAP, if you can appoint someone on staff to spearhead it allow them to do so...

2) Have clear rules and make sure that the administration and the parents are aware of them...this prevents headache down the line when you want to suspend a kid.

3) Huge difference between being a coordinator and a head coach. The decisions are now on you, that suggestion you made as a coordinator or assistant was easy, but you did not have to factor in all the other reasons to make a decision

4) Be prepared to make that hard decision...make the decision, adjust and move on...

5) Hire a LOYAL and COMMITTED staff. It is better to have fewer coaches that you can count on versus a ton of coaches that are not committed.

6) Most important, care about the kids...my new favorite quote is "They (kids) don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

If you get the kids on your side and they are willing to run through a brick wall for you then the rest of the job will be fun...

Notice, I didnt say a word about X's and O's...if you are hired as a HC, you probably have a clue about how to coach the game...of course you want to always get better, and there are better coaches than you....but that is the easy part...the rest of the part is where the magic happens!!

Or they can just hire people who boast and brag on messages boards but never back up their arguments. People who chime in about all of the players their schools have continuing their careers yet that they didn't actually coach... They can also hire those who never seem to understand what is being discussed, yet feel ok about calling out outstanding coaches and mocking them by calling their teams "some little SW TEAM from the middle of the country" Or they could just work on footwork... because that is what is necessary to do paperwork.

Buck--no, not at all to you. Referring to the person who replied to your post.

Great question. Not a head coach yet, but I can definitely see the draw to becoming more conservative once you're the man.

Well said.

Great question on aggressive VS conservative

I find that now as a HC I pick and chose my spots a bit better based on momentum or feel in the game. This being said it was a tough decision learned and I am sure I will learn more as I go along.

I remember a time as a DC when we were in a city final I thought we should kick the on side after we had scored in the 2nd quarter we had them on the ropes. Our HC thought otherwise as to not give them momentum our D had been stifiling all 1st half. We still joke around about it to this day. This past year as HC I thought our only chance to beat these guys was to run our fakes and get them on the ropes early well it backfired and our fakes put us in bad positions hahaha, wow what a learning curve!

I just completed my first year as HC, tenth coaching.

What do you feel like you were least prepared for? Dealing with parents. Although I had done it plenty, being the HC is a different animal.

What was/is the hardest part of your job? Paperwork, especially POs and fundraising stuff.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you have done differently? I would've done more things the way I wanted. I tried to please everyone (principal, AD, parents). Most times I did that all of them ended up unhappy about something, along with myself being unhappy. Half the time I was even wrong about what they wanted changed, lol.

Also be sure you want THIS job. Be sure they want YOU to be the coach. Don't take first job to come a long. Make sure you are a good fit. Admins come & go. If you do not like the area or community they will perceive it. Understand you need help.

My first job I had too big of an ego. I CAN DO IT ALL! I DIDNT NEED ANYONE"S HELP!

Boy was I wrong. Great learning experience.

Last thing, remember the kids come first. Help them acheive all they can and you will be successful.