Coaching Work Ethic

3 of the last 4 young coaches we have hired are the same way. They do not want to put any time into it and take any help we offer with a grain of salt. We do have one young guy who coaches his rear off and does a great job and is not afraid to put extra time in.

I like this thread- I see the same things myself, through my eyes as a varsity assistant. You may have one or two coaches who are attending all the area clinics, ask questions during meetings, watch film and so forth. But the majority of the coaches are out there to be called a coach and get some pay. I do not know who said it, but the quote is: "Are you out here for something to do, or to do something?" When I become a HC one day, I am going to be upfront and ask that and explain my philosophy.

How many head coaches on this board have an in-depth preseason meeting with STAFF ONLY and discusses their roles and responsibilities to the team as a HC would with his players? I would be interested to read your "cliff notes" on such a meeting.

Bulldog- I hear ya man. Now, I am not sure what your HS playing days were like, but if you have the same passion with football as a coach, I am sure this strikes a note. But think back to when we were HS players. There were probably 4 or 5 of us who were HARDCORE. Went to all the lifts, went to camps, ate well, and did anything we could do to be champions. Think about the times you wanted to ring the necks of your teammates who were the weak links. I guess there will always be those individuals (coaches and players) in the high school arena who are out there to be out there.

I know of a program in NC that has a staff of nearly 12 coaches. 6 or 7 of them were once HC's and two guys were GA's of D1 programs. That program is damn serious now. It all depends what school you are at. How important is football.

No sir, Richmond County. The last several years (except last) they would play Independence in the western state semi-final. That would typically be the "real" state championship game before they would play the eastern champions.

Oh, Richmond. Yeah, we knew that they were serious when we saw that Ed Emory was their coach. We came down and scrimmaged them in a jamboree a few years ago. They were a tough, physical football team. We scrimmaged Independence the next year and we weren't very good and they were and it got ugly. I have a lot of respect for NC football.

you have created as we vs they setting. see I do not believe in seperate staffs. why should they buy into anything if they are just the JV or Fr coach.

i believe in one staff. now are there fr and jv games, sure. however, a coach who coaches the freshman, is also a varisty coach imo.

one staff, all working together, to advance one program. united we stand, divided we fall apart.

just my two cents.

I find myself in a unique situation. I actually started coaching coaching at the collegiate level first, so when I decided I was through with the grinder, and wanted to work with younger kids, I had no ego whatsoever. To me, I wasn't really impressed with being a "varsity" coach versus a "freshman" coach. In actuallity, everything was a step down ( a step that I chose to make) from what I had been doing in most peoples eyes anyway, so it didnt matter to me.

I will say that I am a bit taken back by the lack of continuing education I have encountered at the H.S. level. Many H.S. coaches I have encountered feel that they know what they need to, and don't try to better themselves in the offseason. That is a bit disappointing.

outstanding post- I agree that there are alot of em out there that dont continue to study and learn...passion is the thing that seems to be missing. anyone can say they love football but man showing it is completely different. it amazes me when a staff goes to a clinic (or doesnt ever!) and half of em just party the whole time and dont learn a thing.

When I interview an assistant coaching candidate, I try to find out why he wants to coach football, and why at our school. I also make plain the time (and other) demands being part of our staff will require.

However, sometimes (as a new head coach) you inherit a staff who may be "set in their ways" and resistant to change. Sometimes the head coach has little to say in who is hired for teaching-coaching positions, but must accept assigned personnel, and attempt to train them to some level of competence. And sometimes you're lucky to get a warm body off the streets. The latter appears to be especially true in urban and smaller schools.

It's just like when we were players ourselves, as swarm2ball noted above. You are going to have some guys who are passionate and intense about football, and will do whatever it takes to be successful. There will be others who like the game or coaching in general and want to be a part of it, but it is not a driving force in their lives.

In the last category often are beginning teachers whose willingness to coach may help them get the teaching position. After awhile, however, they may discover that the demands of coaching football may be more than they can take, or they no longer need the additional money.

I usually give assistant coaches two years to achieve a level of coaching maturity that allows them to be critical, contributing members of the staff. If not, then a change may have to be made and a replacement found - which is not always easy - and the training begins anew.

If you are in an area close to a college or university, you may be able to get former players or PE majors from their coaching classes on a coaching-only basis. This is usually just a short-term solution, however.

Sometimes you have to retain an individual who may be less than what you would like, but better than starting over, particularly if he is a member of the faculty.

When I was a young coach at my first head coaching job, the AD (a former football coach himself) told me, "You have to realize that football is not as important to everybody as it is to you." While I originally had trouble swallowing that whole, it has helped me keep some perspective and avoid an ulcer or two since.

What about the need for coaches, but the fact that many of them cannot commit to the job as much as you can? Sometimes you need coaches because others can't coach or other coaches are not on campus coaches and their jobs force them out.

Each year, it seems, staffs must "coach coaches". You put a lot of energy into your craft and now you have to coach an adult to do it the way your program demands.

Bottomline is you get things done. Figure out the persons strength and give them a little responsibility. If they cannot do it the way you want as an HC don't hire them and get it done with the guys you have.

Nothing upsets me more than coaches who take an apathetic approach to their jobs. Coaching is a profession and should be treated as such. If you're just one of those guys out there collecting a stipend, then get off of the field- there are younger guys that would gladly take your jobs.

This is an outstanding thread.

I know there has been some other threads and young coaches took some shots, me being one of them. In no way am I trying to say that all young coaches are bad, but we have had our share. We have also had to get rid of a coach who was on staff for 15+ years that just never pulled his share of the load and is now running our Jr High program and doing very well.

I really liked what BLB has to say about helping new coaches and giving them 2 years to fit in. We all have different view points, philosophies, etc.... and when a new guy comes onto a new staff the quicker they try and understand their roll and committ to the philosophy of the program (no matter if they agree with it or disagree with it) the better the new coach will fit in. And at the same time, the sooner we try and explain what we are trying to accomplish and help the new coach assume their new role the better everyone should be.

We don't have a lot of turnover - we have guys not being asked to come back. Employee retention is an issue for some places, but not on our staff. When we lose guys, it is due to life changes, not coaching issues. We have lost one coach to another program in 5 years - and that was because I refused to play his kid in front of better players, just because he was a coach's son. I have worked for many high tech startup company's and I can tell you from personal experience (in this field anyway), those that quit were usually uncomfortable with level of the committment.

The issue here is the JV/Frosh coach's desire to make themselves better coaches - their committment to the team and the program. It's not a matter of treating them right - or having an us vs. them mentality - or a lack of responsibility. Cliches' aside, this is solely about the coaches at the lower levels accepting their responsiblity to learn the system, and to get better at coaching technique - to actually show some passion about their jobs. Passion that they do not have, yet ask their kids to possess. The younger coaches are given the opportunity to learn, have eager mentors and have a nuturing environment. For the most part, they CHOOSE not to take the opportunities. I would love the opportunity to teach them the game and pass along knowledge.

For example, we just finished spring practice. The Frosh HC (who is new to his job) made a few of the practices -- so did one of his assistants. That's fine, because they had job conflicts. There are three other coaches who made zero practices and chose not to show-up. They are going to install a new offense and a new defense this year and they have two meeting's worth of knowledge. None of these guys has played-in or knows the system. They were invited to every single one of our practices and encourage to attend to learn the system and see it installed.

I really don't understand the apathy. I wonder why they coach - what is their motivation? I can see how important coaching is to them. It isn't the sytem or the program - it's the coaches and their attititude. These are mainly younger guys who feel that bonding with the players is more important than actually knowing the technical aspects of their job. (although apathy is not limited to the younger guys).

Quite frankly, I wish it was as simple as following the Golden Rule or giving them a motivational speech (they already have the responsibility of coaching a position). They are treated well, and are given every opportunity - they just choose to do the minimum. I'm sure we have all coached players like this as well.

I find that the "off campus" or vol. coaches find the job as a "neat hobie", they think that it's cool to be a coach. They really don't get what it is all about. Let them go!!!!! This takes time but ....you know the process, tell them in no uncertain terms, blah blah blah. they still don't come around. let the heads roll.
I have found that any program is better off being short handed without them, than they are having to baby sit them. I have always ended up haveing to RETEACH the things that the kids were suposed to have been taught etc.
You start cutting heads, the others will conform or quit. Trust me you'll be better off.

Thats great that you are different than the MAJORITY of guys that I spoke of. Keep up the Great work. I guess I'll keep you on. I still stand on my statement.