sooner
Freshmen Member
Posts: 88
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Post by sooner on Jan 7, 2006 19:13:13 GMT -6
I am interviewing this week for my first head football job, got an email from AD outling a few questions. I am going to include a timeline from the hiring date to the last game detailing every school visit and preparation. Can anyone give some other hints that might help?
1. Your plan for getting program where it needs to be?
2. List needs, wishes, and desires for the program and for you to turn around the program
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jmh21
Freshmen Member
Posts: 88
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Post by jmh21 on Jan 7, 2006 22:29:42 GMT -6
I'll be serving on a committee that will interview applicants for our high school's head football coach. For what it's worth, here's what I would like to hear. I hope these may spark some ideas for you...
Start with your foundation - what is going to be your cornerstone to success? To me, I think it's a strong feeder system so emphasize the importance of the school's youth football program. Tell them you want to lead the development of the program and be the person who will roll his sleeves up and make sure good coaches are hired and install solid fundamentals and ensure good numbers for the growth of the program. You should plan to conduct a youth football camp for 2nd thru 8th graders every summer and make sure the teams are promoted at the high school games as much as possible. Have your players volunteer to help with Saturday practices and games.
The next thing I'd like to hear is that you want to commit to develop the total athlete in speed and weight training program and that you would encourage all your athletes to play other sports. Our school is fortunate in that we recently upgraded our weight lifting equipment and I'm pretty sure the kids can lift during a period at school. I think if the kids aren't playing basketball and/or baseball then they should either be lifting, wrestling and/or running track or participating in field events. It is a good thing to strongly encourage athletes to participate in several sports. Your hope is to develop a community pride for the school and their sports programs.
I'd like to hear what you would consider to be a successful season. When and how should that success be determined? I think the ideal coach strives to create an environment so that every athlete can reach his full potential and you must unlock the key inside each athlete that makes them give all out effort in every practice and every game. Early on, your success may not be blessed with a great many wins, but the young players will be more fully developed so within three to four years, the team should be perrenial contenders for the district title.
Then tell the committee you expect nothing less than to compete for the region and state titles after building on and feeding off of and sustaining your program's growth. I would like to hear that you will put down roots in the community so to speak. I don't want to hear that you would consider us to be a stepping-stone for another job.
Success should also be determined by the type of young men your program produces - they will go to college, they will join the military, they will hold down solid jobs and become good family members - and while the coach can't take all the credit for this, there are many times where he is the one person in a kid's life who really cared about him and always will. I know of two guys who would never had a chance in life unless our coach had not been a part of their lives. One is a successful owner of a construction business and the other is a veteran of the navy. These types of successes may seem impossible to measure, but I firmly believe a coach can make an incredible, positive impact on a young person's life.
Sorry to ramble, but I just have a couple of more ideas...More likely than not, your program is going to be in dire need of funds. Tell the committee you have plans that will help solve the problem instead of just complaining about the lack of funds. Tell them you will use the players to help with fundraisers and build team unity at the same time with car washes, community labor, farm labor, etc. You'll also either update or create an alumni address list and solicit annual donations to build the program. There are several successful people on this list and many of them would give if they were asked in a respectful manner and were told specifically why the funds are needed and how they'll be spent. Then do the same thing for area businesses and seek four or five major corporate sponsorships. These ideas should provide at least a few more extra dollars to address issues such as the locker rooms, uniform, equipment and training needs.
Just some random thoughts there, hope that helps!
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ci
Freshmen Member
Posts: 48
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Post by ci on Jan 7, 2006 22:29:47 GMT -6
I have been a head coach for 25 years at three different schools. My advice is to establish some discipline within the program as a priority.
Next key problem is always assistants. You will have people who wanted the head job, and people who are on staff that have other issues. Can you place these people at the level you need? Do you have to retain them? Can you fire them if they don't work out? How many assistants are on the teaching staff? When a teaching opening comes up in the future, will you have some input on the hiring?
Thirdly, the budget? exactly what is it? does it change? Who decides what is purchased? My advice, put your $$ in helmets & shoulder pads. (You need to see all the equipment to determine the condition prior to taking the job....it's a lot easier to tell them that this is a need prior to taking the position)
Next is the schedule, who determines it and does it give your kids a chance to compete.
Lastly, the head football position is about the people around you. The athletes, as well the coaching staff, the ad, principal. Surround yourself with good people, good things can happen. If there is a weak link in this chain, it needs to be strengthened. Too many times we get caught up in schemes, x's & o's, etc and forget about the human element.
Best of Luck
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