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Post by flexspread on Mar 6, 2008 15:15:30 GMT -6
I am in a situation where I will be taking over a program that has had one season of .500 ball in the program's 25 years of existance and that was 4 years ago. The team was 0-9 this past year but I really believe that there is some talent here (they were incredibly young last year) but they haven't been real motivated to work hard (numbers however have been very high for a school this size). I really don't want any coaches who were on staff last year, they seemed real negative and I don't believe they would be best for the kids. Right now I've got my DC who will teach PE and who will be fresh out of college (he played college ball and has helped out in some HS camps) who has great LB knowledge, seems real enthusiastic, positive and motivated, he's in it for the kids and I think will work out real well. For my other 3 assistants, I don't have any teaching openings at this time so I am considering going with one guy who has volunteered at a near by HS last year that was very successful and 2 guys who have a similar outlook as my DC, who have playing experience but no coaching experience aside from camps they may have helped out with. All 3 of these guys are still in college. Has anyone ever been in a situation like this before? What are some pros/cons to it? What should I expect? I have tried recruiting coaches from nearby programs to give up their coaching spots at their current school but continue teaching there while they coach at my school but have had no luck (my district doesn't have the $ to pay coaches and the surrounding schools are much larger classifications). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
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Post by coachsky on Mar 6, 2008 15:47:18 GMT -6
Wow - sounds like you have a lot "new" coaches.
Playing experience is awesome, however it normally takes a while to learn how to coach and communicate effectively.
Servel years ago I took over a Freshman team with 4 out of the 6 coaches pretty green, former players, some had coached other sports. I was green myself. We had a successful year, however I had an enormous workload in getting them prepared, learning our schemes, learning the techniques that needed to be taught, learning how to run drills efficiently and effectively.
With an all new coaching staff you will have a huge load in preparing them. You'll have to be very organized and have your ducks in a row.
I would also warn you that you will need to look at your staffing plan. If you intend to be a HC and Coordinator you'll have trouble if you dont bring on an assistant Coordinator to support you. When you have a new staff you need to be available to get around at practice and "coach your coaches" . If you double up working with QB's you wont have time to evaluate your staff.
When I was in a similar situation, I had an assistant OC so that I could be free to move around during indy and group time.
I'd keep trying to recruit some more expereince, I would talk to some locals and try to get some retired guys out to help you early in camp and support your new coaches. We have about two or three retired coaches that we ask to pop in and out of our spring and summer camps and don't necessarly coach the kids, they offer our coaching staff advice and observations. It's great to have their eyes and wisdom.
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Post by bluecrazy on Mar 6, 2008 16:48:09 GMT -6
When I took the Job I have now, I was told by the A.D. that they did not want any of the old assistants to come back. I ended up with all green coaching staff, average age 24, but very enthusiastic. Had to teach everything I wanted done, and had to stay with it all year. If I seen something I did not like, I would talk to the coach after practice when the kids were not around. Had one problem with one of the coaches wanted more control than he had. Such as substitution, and he was part time. He picked an argument with the D-coordinator after a game, in front of the kids, the A.D. and everyone. Needless to say, he was gone.  You Can do it, just know that it takes more work than normal. And make sure to spell out, in advance, your expectations, and what their jobs are in practice and game night.. Good luck! |
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Post by optionguy on Mar 6, 2008 17:17:46 GMT -6
Yes, I have been in a similar situation, and I enjoyed it immensley. I had six assistants, one with four yr coaching experience, but the other five were all first year coaches, ranging in age from college sophmore to new college graduate.
All of them, fortunately, had playing experience in high school, and some in college. Best of all, the five newbies played for me while in MS and/or HS, and the experienced coach had been with me his entire coaching career.
These guys brought a level of energy and enthusiasm to the program that made every day enjoyable for the kids and for me. I had to teach them a lot, because playing and coaching are different "animals," but they worked hard to learn. It was a very good experience!
A word of advice, teach them, but let them contribute and let them learn; be positive with them, and constantly emphasize the need to alway be on the same page!
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Post by midlineqb on Mar 6, 2008 17:18:33 GMT -6
I agree with what is being said by the others; it can be done but will require a lot of work on your part coaching the coaches. I was in that situation several years ago when all three of my assistants were what they call in Kansas, Rule 10 coaches--they work in the community but coach at the school. I spent more time coaching the coaches than I did coaching the players.
I gave the coaches DVDs that I had on coaching specific positions that had drills for them to get ideas from, I had meetings with them where we would go over schemes, etc. I did not coach a defensive position so that I could go from group to group to see how these coaches were doing and after practice could talk them about what they were doing wrong and what they were doing correctly.
I did all of this while teaching 6 classes out of a 7 period day. We were able to be fairly successful, but it was a very stressful situation. It would have been a better situation if these coaches had been able to see and speak to the athletes during the day as they passed in the hallway. The only contact they had with the athletes was at practice and games.
Good luck in your endeavor.
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Post by kurtbryan on Mar 6, 2008 21:28:48 GMT -6
Couple of Things in Addition to the aforementioned posts: 1. No matter what, EVERYthing stops at your desk and with you 2. So, in your round table meetings with your staff, politely but firmly let them know to never start a sentence with this: "OK, this doesn't get back to (the Head Coach)," 3. Item # 2 applies to every situation unless they are planning a surprise birthday party for you  4. You will need to set up regularly scheduled meetings with your staff to review, O/D/ST, plus all of the other things NON - X & O related, etc. 5. Wise to put forth and send out a calendar of events with every important item and date/time to all players, coaches and families in your program. Always send a copy to your AD and Principal 6. Lastly, it's a Good idea to hold a gathering at your place with your coaches and their wives or girlfriends in the summer - so the ladies know what to expect prior to training camp * On all items, an Ounce of Prevention is worth a Ton of medicine after the problem occurs. KB |
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Post by flexspread on Mar 6, 2008 22:22:33 GMT -6
Thanks for the pointers coaches. I am still looking for at least one experienced coach and I am hoping we have something open up in the district (it's still early) but I am excited about these guys. I know it will be time consuming because all of them come from a successful background and we are going to be trying to turn a program around but I honestly think I am better off going with FNG's who are energetic, enthusiastic, positive and willing to learn than I would be with a few coaches who have been in the program and have been "hardened" from the experience and are negative. I really like KB's suggestion
"2. So, in your round table meetings with your staff, politely but firmly let them know to never start a sentence with this: "OK, this doesn't get back to (the Head Coach),"
3. Item # 2 applies to every situation unless they are planning a surprise birthday party for you"
I hadn't thought of this but I can absolutely see the benefit in it (plus maybe I'll get a surprise b-day party out of it). I've got calendars, videos, books, and will have several meetings throughout the summer. The other plus that I have is that all of these guys will be coaching the same positions they played in HS and will be coaching the same style of offense and defense they played in, so hopefully they will have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done. I am planning on being able to roam during Defensive time but I don't believe I will be able to do so offensively. Thanks again guys.
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Post by kurtbryan on Mar 7, 2008 8:47:51 GMT -6
Flexspread:
Good start, and remember to SHAKE up your staff annually even though you may not have any turnover of coaches - in other words, have a coach or coaches actually coach different positions from year to year or such. It makes them better coaches and forces them to stay sharp.
* Roaming during Defensive time - OK, but I run the Scout Team O, to ensure it goes fast and smooth. Plus the Def. knows why I am doing it - to help them, etc.
KB
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Post by fatkicker on Mar 7, 2008 9:18:56 GMT -6
my first year was in 1998......at a small private school near the university i was attending.....
there were 3 assistants......the header had 20 years experience and all of us green horns were 21 years old....2 with no experience and 1 with 1 year experience......
it was a fun year......he taught us......we energized him.....
he never chewed us out for screwing up.........which we did often (running drills that didn't make sense, running players for minor infractions that he would have let go) ......he'd let us find some lame a$$ drill in a book, let us run it, and discover on our own that it was a waste of time........at the time i thought he liked to watch us screw up for pure entertainment, but he was actually teaching us to coach........
enough rambling.........you could be that guy.......teach young coaches, feed off their energy, and still have a successful program
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