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Post by coachbw on May 14, 2006 9:37:07 GMT -6
What are the first things you would do if you had taken the head coaching job at a school that hasn't had recent on the field success. I know it is important to stress the weight room and increase numbers, but what I am looking for are what are the things you want to get done in the first couple of days/weeks. (Meet with players, hire a staff, inventory equiptment, meet with leaders of youth program et.) I am in the situation where I will have a week and a half between being hired and the start of summer. I want to make sure I get as much of the stuff taken care of as possible. Thanks for your help!
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Post by coachcalande on May 14, 2006 10:08:36 GMT -6
do something to get the players attention...do you have highlights of your last team?
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Post by coachcb on May 14, 2006 18:47:38 GMT -6
Maybe even try a meet and greet with players/parents and yourself. Set up a barbeque and get to know the kids and their families a little. I think the best thing you can do is come across with an open door policy.
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Post by sls on May 14, 2006 19:16:52 GMT -6
Fire any coach that is not going to be 100% behind you and cut any players that do not buy in!
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Post by coachjd on May 15, 2006 4:34:18 GMT -6
get your summer plans organized and on a calander and hand out to team, assistant coaches and parents. The barbeque idea is a good idea. Have a general meeting about what your expectations will be and what they can expect from you and what you will expect from the parents and players.
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Post by coachcb on May 15, 2006 9:28:38 GMT -6
Really make sure you lay down you're goals, philosophies and expectations with the coaching staff. Sit down with each position coach and tell them exactly what you want out of them in terms of skills taught, EDDs, etc... Don't make the mistake of letting them assume anything. Also, sit down with your AD and figure out what kind of stance you are going to take with difficult parents- is the policy up to you, or does the district have something in place.
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Post by fbcoach33 on May 19, 2006 8:51:38 GMT -6
Have a plan for all areas, kids will see through you if you dont have a plan for everything, offense, defense, special teams, weight room, practices, etc etc.
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Post by coachdawhip on May 19, 2006 11:11:11 GMT -6
Weight room, discipline, set up some type of meet and greet with the parents.
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Post by tcm57 on May 20, 2006 9:16:59 GMT -6
From the coaches above, you have some excellent suggestions.
I would add (and what we did when taking over a program with the longest losing streak in our state 5 years ago) is to organize and host a couple youth football camps for boys in your area. We made it a point to put our arms around our "future" and get our school football t-shirts on their backs and get them excited about our program.
It has worked very well for us and last year we secured the first playoff berth (second in our history) in 30 years at our school with some of those same boys who attended our summer camps.
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Post by coachdawhip on May 21, 2006 15:40:47 GMT -6
We are doing the same thing this year coach tcm, youth camps and we are probably going to go give free shirts to the local pop warner team
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Post by biggroff on May 21, 2006 20:51:23 GMT -6
I want to echo what SLS said in his post.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE COACHES THAT ARE 100% BEHIND YOU AND PLAYERS THAT 100% BUY INTO YOUR PROGRAM!
When they new coach came on board last year he brought me in along with 2 other coaches. We started June 1st. We fired half the staff, cut the 3 best players because of attitude, and brought up 4 sophs all in the first two weeks to make a point....NO POSITION IS SAFE AND WE DO IT OUR WAY! If you don't like it, don't play. We lost 4 of the first 6 but finished the season 4-5. The weight room numbers have never been better and we now have over 150 players in the program for our second year. Almost all (95%) the parents are solidly behind us. Myself and the head coach took over the Track team also and we won conference for the first time in 15 years.
People have to know who is running the show. You may cut some really athlletic kids to get the point across but there will be lots of kids who will respond.
As Coach Bear Bryant once said about taking over a program...
"Burn down the barn and chase out the rats!!!"
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ray
Freshmen Member
Posts: 32
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Post by ray on May 22, 2006 10:04:27 GMT -6
Remember that you will be making first impressions and it will be hard to change a bad one.
Also, you are starting to develop relationships with people that can help or hurt you down the road.
Last but not least be organized in everything you do especially if your are going to be the A.D.
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Post by tcm57 on May 22, 2006 11:08:20 GMT -6
biggroff is right on it in regards to LOYALTY. I had a great experienced coach tell me when I took over our program, that getting your staff right is the #1 priority - and the loyalty issue is without fail number one.
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Post by coachcalande on May 22, 2006 18:53:02 GMT -6
"Id rather lose players than lose control"
"id rather have a team of good people than good players"
man, you get those things right and youre rolling.
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3nout
Freshmen Member
SkinskillBoyz
Posts: 34
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Post by 3nout on May 28, 2006 11:00:06 GMT -6
Try to network with some Alumni. If your at a older schools get some off those guys involved in the program. Tradition can be a great motivator. Also preach this to your seniors to come back and do their part in sustaining/building the school and community to where it should be.
The more people you get excited about your program the less pressure you put on yourself to win right away.
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