Setting up a coaching staff

3 mentors in my career

Matt Dillon Head FB Coach at Cornell College (Mt. Vernon, Iowa) I played for him in HS, and he is a quality coach with a ton of patience.
Ed Thomas (and staff) Head Coach at Aplington-Parkersburg HS in Parkersburg, Iowa (traditional powerhouse in 1A/2A football in Iowa.
Jerry Walker (assistant coach) North Polk High School in Alleman, Iowa.

I was blessed to play for good coaches, who in turn have helped me to get better at being a coach. Do not considermyself good yet, but I am working on it.

Also Terry Allen (new head coach at Missouri State University in Springfield) is another quality coach who has been very influencial in my career (as well as all the staff at UNI where I played ball in college...played is a strecth!)

since i posted part of my expectations for my staff, thought I would add what I have. i got this from a coach I admire, and modified it to fit my situation.

Guidelines for Assistant Coaches/Evaluation of Assistant Coaches
“DON’T BE A “BUDDY” - BE AN ADULT.”

1. Be concerned about their safety.
Make sure they KNOW it.
Head and Eyes Up - Preach it-and enforce it - “Head up” at all times.
Correct Unsafe Techniques - Never tolerate an unsafe technique - correct it immediately.
Eliminate Brutal Words - Never use words like “stick”, “hurt”, “kill”, “punish”.
Drills Are Not To Amuse Coaches - The purpose of any drill we do is to make us better. Eliminate all drills that are not important to skills needed at your position.
Avoid Mismatches - Equalize players on the basis of skill and strength.
Be Alert - Watch for any kid who doesn’t seem healthy.
Watch for any equipment that may need repair or resizing.

2. Be a man of integrity, of character, and of high morals. (Practice the Six Pillars of Good Character. Be a role model in your interaction with our athletes)
Be Honest - The only way to teach honesty is to display honesty.
Keep Your Word - If you tell a player you will do something, make sure you follow through.
We DON’T Cheat - Don’t even consider teaching an illegal technique or stretching of the rules.
Keep Private Things Private - Don’t kid around about your private life, or theirs.
Model Good Citizenship - Expect the players to be good citizens as well.
Be A Gentleman - Expect the players to be gentlemen also.

3. Be an example of good work habits.
Be Dependable - Be there and be early. Be ready and demand it of the players.
Dressed And Groomed Like A Coach - Look sharp, take pride in your appearance.
Listen - Pay attention when another coach is talking and demand the same from the players.

4. Be ENTHUSIASTIC, be POSITIVE, and be ENERGETIC.
Love The Game And Let It Show - Act like you love football and you want to be out there.
Always Be Up - Be positive and optimistic. Never let the kids see you discouraged.
Coach The Kids Who Are There - Never let me hear any talk about the guys who aren’t there.
Be Energetic - HUSTLE!!! Don’t let yourself get tired...don’t let yourself get down.

ALWAYS Be Coaching - Keep your hands out of your pockets; save the socializing and game playing for later.

5. Respect the players.
Let Them KNOW You Care About Them - They do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Let Them Know You Appreciate Them - Non-starters, and starters alike - even the ones you don’t coach.
Use Their First Names - Learn their first names as quickly as possible.
Know Them As MORE Than Football Players - Get to know them outside the context of football.
Talk To Them - If you ever have to get on a player in practice, make sure you talk to him before he goes home.
Be There For Them - If a player needs to talk, take the time to listen.

6. Be a GREAT teacher.
Be Organized - Do YOUR homework.
Know What You Are Going To Teach - Be a student of the game, attend clinics. (If possible you will be required to attend a minimum of 2)
NEVER Teach What You Don’t Know - If you don’t know it, don’t teach it. NEVER just wing it. I will show you what I want taught and how to teach it.
Know HOW You Are Going To Teach It
Find Out How Players Learn - Be on the lookout for new ways to explain, new methods to teach. These methods are learned at clinics, camps etc.
Probe - Test and correct, question frequently. Find out what they know and what you still have to teach. Never assume they know anything.
Encourage Questions - Cultivate a willingness in kids to ask questions.
Know What “Excellent” Looks Like - Set high standards, and hold players to them. Never accept less than their absolute best in play, or in attitude.
Reward ONLY Success - Always make sure a player is successful in a drill.
Be PATIENT - Make sure they are very confident before doing anything at full speed.
Command Respect - INSIST that players be coachable and respectful.
Before You Blame A Player - Maybe he CAN’T do it, or maybe you didn’t teach it correctly.

7. Be hard-nosed and demanding.
Let Nothing Get Past You - Never let anything wrong slip past you uncorrected. We must eliminate the “little things” that prevent us from being successful.
Accept No Excuses
Correct Positively - Be sure players know why you are correcting them.
NEVER Ridicule, NEVER Be Sarcastic
Teach Them To Do It RIGHT - Instead of telling them what they did wrong
Question Them - “What should you have done?” “How can you make sure you don’t do that again?”
Cut NO Slack - Let them know you have high expectations for them.

8. Be impartial.
Play Performance Over Potential
Don’t Be Dazzled By Appearances - By size, speed, strength or looks.
See Who Can Play The Game - The only criterion that matters is how they play the game.
Find Out Who Wants To Do It - The guy who won’t do it is no better than the guy who can’t do it.

9. Watch what you say...and when you say it, and who you say it to.
Never Degrade A Player - Never say anything that insults a player or attacks him personally.
Avoid Sarcasm - It is too easily misunderstood.
Refrain From Profanity, Vulgarity, Blasphemy
Promote Brotherhood - Purge your speech of anything that might even remotely be construed as racist.
Eliminate “I” and “My” From Your Vocabulary - They are “our” players.
Never Show Up Another Coach - Never disagree openly, keep it for behind closed doors.
Don’t Get Personal - Don’t kid around with players about their personal affairs, or yours.
Never Criticize - Never make a critical remark to anyone about any aspect of the team.
Stay Off The Officials - Let me deal with them.
Be Friendly And Courteous - With parents, community, school personnel. Refer all concerns to me.
I Am The Team Spokesman - Refer all media inquiries to me.

10. Be totally loyal.
Never Let There Be Any Question About Your Loyalty
Defend What We Are Doing - If you can’t, you need to move on. Publicly defend every aspect of the program, including school officials.
Agree Publicly - We may disagree among ourselves in private, but we will be in total agreement publicly. Contribute your ideas and suggestions, but do your homework first.
Don’t Even Listen To Criticism - Of players, of staff members, of strategy, of school officials. Learn whom to avoid, learn when, and how, to walk away.
Above All, NEVER Badmouth a Player - Either he can’t do it, or we didn’t prepare him to do it.

11. Respect the chain of command.
Keep Me Informed - The overall welfare of the program is my responsibility. If it involves the program, it is my business.
Keep Your Antenna Up - Be alert for anything that concerns our program.

Do Not Keep Something To Yourself - Let me decide if it is important or not.

12. Do whatever it takes...building this program is everyone’s job.
Put In The Time- Are you in this for the right reason?
Make The Sacrifices- Some sacrifice more than others.
No Job Is Beneath Any Of Us- If it needs to be done, do it!
Help With ALL Aspects Of The Program (study table, recruiting, game planning, scouting, in-season and off-season player development, fundraising, etc.)- I can’t do everything by myself, I need help too!