Amount of Control given to Assistants

I'm a head coach and do it about the same way knighter does it.

I don't want to do everything, nor can I do everything. I play a big role in defensive game-planning even though I'm the OC, but I try to give the primary defensive coaches as much freedom as possible, so long as they work within the system. With that in mind, I do not think I'll ever be one of those head coaches that allows the coordinator(s) to have free reign.

When Bill Curry was at Kentucky he asked legendary Eastern Kentucky University coach Roy Kidd how he had such continuity and thus consistent success. Kidd's reply: He hires good people, BUT he insists they run his system.

My coaching mentor didn't fully trust me w/ the D until I showed him I was responsible. It took me about four years before he fully trusted me w/ the D. I got frustrated at times, but once I earned that trust I knew I had something special. Then once things couldn't get any better I jumped ship to become a head coach. What was I thinking?

IMO, you give the assistants the amount of responsibility they have proven they can handle. On our current staff we have 4 assistant coaches who all have been head coaches. Our header has given the 4 coaches who have been head coaches a lot more responsibilty by our past and current performances.

I really have very little problem giving responsibility to someone who is willing to put in the time and effort. My problem comes from coaches who have a few years experience under their belts(3-5) years and feel they are entitled to more responsibilties. I have had coaches in the past who very rarely showed up in the off-season, missed our team camps, and yet had the nerve to say that they deserved more responsibility. Work hard and put in the time and you will earn the respect of your head coach and also more responsibilities.

Zexx 14

Experience, willingness to work, coaching ability are all factors in deciding how much responsibility to give an assistant. Above all, is the trust a coach needs to have that the assistant is doing what the HC wants done. Too many times, a hot shot assistant does his own thing and ruins the chemistry of the team.

I'm only asking because last year, my friend & I were brought in to "run the offense" for a new coach. This coach had NEVER been on the offensive side of the ball, he was a defensive coach, and a DC before getting the head job. But after he brought us in, and approved our offensive schemes and personel decisions over the summer, we show up for camp, and he is calling the offense, and not listening to my friend or myself when either one of us was in the box, on the sideline, etc...

It was EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING!!! Now this year, he is shuffling all the coaching personel around to coach different positions then we did last year.

agree with you edwards, you say micromanaging, i say tutoring or mentoring, but it is all in a good way

i teach my assistants to run it the way i would run it if i am kicked out or dead

Heres the thing...a coach has a job, its to coach his assistants so they can coach. I am meeting with my middle school staff for the second time. the first time i met with each of them individually to discuss coaching philosophy and expectations. i gave them coaching contracts and a program vision etc. this time the meeting is to iron out the specifics of the drills and materials i want each of them to have mastered by our first practice. each already knows what he will have ownership over and each knows that they must have drills that apply only to our schemes and beliefs. we will go over several details including tackling progressions, etc...i mean you just dont want to contradict each other on the field. best to iron out everything in the off season. for what its worth, neither is being called "coordinator" but both have jobs on each side of the ball. both are green. as they become masters of their positions and develop nice position manuals and understand more about the game then getting a bigger role is next. I am coaching them so they can coach the kids, not to micromanage stuff....i cant just show up and say "you coach the backs" and let them go off and do whatever they want...they have to be taught WHAT AND HOW I need things done and as they "get it" they "get more". I trust them because i have already explained just how important trust and loyalty are. some new guys have lurked around and asked to be part of what we are doing but i can not give them anything more than a "video tape" role for now. I want to get to know them first. My staff has to be "my guys"...and im part of someone elses staff so i have to be "his guy"...Ill let you know how all this works out.

What about coaches who want to be on the staff, but really don't want to put in the time? Kind of like the kid who wants to wear the jersey around the school, but doesn't really do much on the field to help the team in any way.

See EGO post I created early. Some of that applies here.

I am not a head coach, and have only been coaching for 5 years, and I was a little miffed by the post that said a guy w/ 3-5 yrs experience shouldnt ask for more responsibility until I read on and saw he was talking about lazy guys b/c after 5 years I have become OL coach/ special teams coordinator/ off season workout coordinator, and I believe am next in line for OC if ours leaves (rumors are everywhere that he will) I have busted my butt for my HC for 5 yrs, and he does not believe in micromanaging, we have an OC and a DC who make all the decisions, and he sits in their meetings and offers suggestions but never demands. As the OL coach he will come over and watch our drills and practice, and maybe offer a few pointers, usually he just nods his head and says keep workin'em. He is a great guy to work for and I love him like a father for the trust and faith he has put into me, and that makes me want to work even harder for him.

Coachcalande, I missed it the first time I read it, but you talk about giving ownership, thats a word our HC uses alot, he wants all his assistants to feel like they are a part of our team and our success (and I guess failures at times too!LOL) but he gives each assistant something to be in charge of. Now of course less experienced guys get less to be in charge of, but if you work hard for him he will reward you and that makes you want to stay and work even harder for him.

I agree w/ Coach Calande when he said you have to 'coach your assistants so they can coach'. Also, even if you are a coordinator, I believe it is the head coach's right and authority to veto or change any call during a game. Whether you (as OC/DC) like it, agree w/ it, or not-- the head coach has his butt on the line.

Now, having said that, I also feel that if a HC gives you the authority to call plays, defenses, etc. then there should be some mutual trust and respect. Don't give someone a title just for name's sake.