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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:04:19 GMT -6
I ended up taking the long road while getting into coaching. I was a decent HS player, went on to play college ball but my knee and back did not hold up on the synthetic turf. I wanted to coach afterwards, but did not think I wanted to become an educator as a career. Fast forward 12 years, I still had that desire to coach, did some volunteering with kids in a variety of sports, and studied. Went to clinics and camps, learned and asked alot of questions (the game had changed a quite a bit). Began looking for a way to transition careers into something that would allow me to coach. Two Christmas's ago, the wife surprises me with the gift of all of the manuals and tests to become ASEP certified (requirement of my state) and a whistle. The rest of my family followed the trend with Amazon.com gift certificates and paid for the upcoming clinic registrations. Pounded the pavement for a few weeks and got a few offers to be an assistant coach. Changing my career right now, working part time and back in college, coaching football and lovin it. Good story Coach.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:06:43 GMT -6
Played D3, and junior year my OC and OL coach asked if I had ever thought about coaching after I was done. It sparked my interest and I became a graduate assistant at my alma mater shortly after graduating. Learned a lot, took a job at a college prep academy in Virginia- worked up to being an OC, then took a HS OC job in Northern Virginia as I worked on my teaching certification. Now I'm back home in Delaware coaching HS football. I've had opportunity to coach at higher levels, but I decided that HS is right for me- yes you'll sacrifice some things at the lower levels, but I'm in a better position to be with my wife and start a family. You never see your fam if you coach at higher levels! My advice would be to seriously think of how you can accomplish your goals. It sounds like you have a plan- just be sure that you realize unless you're teaching it WILL be difficult to find an employer that will be flexible enough to let you out early to go to practice. Coaching is a MAJOR TIME COMMITMENT and it doesn't fit in with the typical 8-4/9-5 workday! Good luck dude and focus on that degree! Hey man- it's the greatest job in the world. Honestly, I truly believe it is a huge committment, I'll post my story after I'm done responding to the rest. But I really respect that you stayed at the HS level for your family, there are some things more important then football.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:09:25 GMT -6
I was extremely lucky coming out of college. I played D3. Got a degree in history w/ a few education courses with the plan all along to be a coach/teacher once I got done. Spring of my senior year I interviewed for several small school GA jobs, none came through. in april or so, i got an e-mail from a friend who was teaching at a private school in VA. They needed an HC and history teacher. I thought I'd give it a shot. I mean who really wants a 1st year teacher/coach as HC? (The answer is a school that probably doesn't care too much about athletics and football, specifically.) Long story short, I got the job. in terms of football, it was the longest/toughest 5 years of my life, BUT the school paid for my Master's degree w/ VA certification, met my wife there, and I gained a WEALTH of experience and on the job training. Decided (sort of) to move on and moved to a different part of the state, took a job as an assistant at a medium size public school and have loved the job here. I LOVE teaching and coaching so I would advise getting certified, but if you're in a state that allows lay coaches then find a job that'll work w/ you're schedule, b/c there are few things more annoying an HC than off campus coaches that show up late to practice/meetings. I'd personally advise going the small college or HS route, but that's just my opine. Hahah that is lucky, but some advice teachers have been giving me are to keep all connections, network, and don't make enemies... you never know who can come through for you. Great story, and thanks for the advice.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:11:38 GMT -6
I loved talking X's and O's with my head coach during study hall in high school. I went on to play one year at a DII school and I made some bad decisions, one being quiting football. I was immature and angry so I stayed away from the sport for about 2 years. Then I took a summer job umpiring and coaching flag football. I fell in love with it again because to see these 10 year old boys want to learn how to play the game, it reminded me how I felt playing the game. I helped out with a HS program my sr year in college which was fun. They were making the change from the T (which they ran for over 30 years) to some one back spread. I learned a lot from that coach. When I moved up to the Twin Cities, I was lucky enough to get on the middle school staff. After 4 years of that I was promoted to the HS working with both O and D line and being the O cord for the freshmen team. NOw it looks like I have an oppertunity to become the varstiy d-line coach if situations occur. I have learned more these last few years from some very wise individuals. They have taken me under their wing and helped me grow as a coach, teacher, and as an individual. The game has taught me to be humble. Learn from your mistakes. Absorb everything you can, but don't hesitate to ask questions. This is a wonderful sport. Nice job man, good luck to you and the D-line job, it sounds like you'll get it. Thanks for the advice.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:14:34 GMT -6
Senior year of high school i was a decent player but nothing too great. I loved football and would rather be at a football field then at home so i started coaching 3rd and 4th grade flag football. We were a terrible team, but it was a lot of fun. Then I went on to college to play ball. As i said before i wasnt a great player so i never really got to see the field, but my position coach was part time and could not make it to college before practice so it was basically up to me and the other guys that played our position to coach ourselves. Well the starter and back up turned to me. I took it on myself to learn the x's and o's of our defense so i could help my buddies out and coach them up a little bit. After four years of college ball i looked for a job teaching. Found a great gig teaching, but there wasnt a coaching position open so i volunteered my time at the rival high school coached varsity safeties. Best thing i have ever done. Now i am looking into going back to school to be a GA and get into college ball. Thats awesome, you'll get back to collegeball for sure. What's a "GA" by the way? Thanks
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:32:42 GMT -6
MY STORY... in length...
I just turned 21, I'm a college freshman in Connecticut. Here it goes..
As a kid growing up, my dad was a HUGE NY Giants fan. We lived in a town where the main sport was soccer and there wasn't even a recreation football league or team. As soon as I was old enough to be signed up for flag football, my dad and mom moved me and my brother to Southington, CT. That Summer I was signed up, and played flag for 4 years... I played tackle from age 8 to 16. Town leagues, I had the same coach for 8 years, he was a great great guy, I learned alot from him about life and the game. He taught me everything I know (That being said I don't know alot) With him as the coach we won 5 town championships in the 6 years he was coach, which was the last 6 years I played.
Well now you might be saying "16 years old? Why weren't you playing high school ball"... Simple, my town had over 140 kids trying out for the team that year. Funny thing about freshman football at the high school level, you got cut for not being "in shape". That being said I was 5'6 120 pounds at the time, but very fast and a great receiver (Still am, I love my hands...just kidding I don't have an ego like most WRs). So 140 kids at tryouts... only enough equipment for 100 kids... I sat through half the season not playing, going to every game and practice just watching, hoping one kid would quit so I can get his gear. Nope, then I ran into my town football coach at the local Stop & Shop and talked to him. You can play townball as long as you make weight, so thats what I did. 3 years later, I graduate high school with like a B- average.
I don't apply to any colleges, my family never went and never put a big importance on school. Got a full time job at the Home Depot.. worked there for a year and a half before I almost went crazy of the repetition, I needed football. All I did was watch it, read about it, even go to parks with a ball and a couple friends to have a catch.
So at this point, I contact my old guidance counselor and I set up an interview with her. She said I might not have the grades to get into a college, but I applied to E.C.S.U (eastern connecticut). Fastforward 3 months, I get a letter in the mail saying "We regret to inform you that you have not been accepted." Ok, so I'm motivated, nothing going to stop me, not some stupid piece of paper. I immediately call the Admissions office at ECSU and ask for an interview with the Dean of Admissions. Fastforward 2 weeks, I leave her office with a notice saying "Congratulations, You've been accepted." I work the rest of the summer, and head to school Fall 2007. Fastforward 17 credits, 1 exgirlfriend and 3 months later, I get a 3.8 GPA in my first semester, I applied to UCONN and got accepted. So here I am, trying to read all about football, watching games over and over, trying to break down tape of the Giants games with the help of a man who introduced me to this website who also chats on the NY Giants messageboard (where i met him). He's helped me so much with advice, I really appreciate his help.
So in the future weeks I plan on talking to the Head Coach of the UCONN team Randy Edsall, and the head coach at my old high school and or the coach at Willimantic which is 5 minutes away from UCONN. Honestly, I'm motivated, determined, hardworking, I really don't think anything can get in the way of my dreams. I appreciate all your advice. Thanks.
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Post by goldenbull70 on Mar 3, 2008 21:33:26 GMT -6
I played high school football in NC. I spent 7 years up at Appalachian St but didn't play football there. I got my degree in PE K-12 and had about 10 interviews and no one wanted to hire someome with no experience. I happened to go down to my old high school to watch a playoff game and went to talk to my old head coach after the game. He asked the normal questions, what are you up to? school going well? etc. I told him I just graduated from Appalachian with a degree in PE K-12 and have passed the Praxis 2. At that point he told me that they just had a PE job open up. I went down and spoke to the AD two weeks later and about a month and a half later I had my first PE teaching/ coaching football job. I coached ol/dl my first year on JV. The second year I went to varsity and did dl than I switched over to ol on varsity this past year. I've been there almost 3 and a half years now.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 3, 2008 21:34:23 GMT -6
I played high school football in NC. I spent 7 years up at Appalachian St but didn't play football there. I got my degree in PE K-12 and had about 10 interviews and no one wanted to hire someome with no experience. I happened to go down to my old high school to watch a playoff game and went to talk to my old head coach after the game. He asked the normal questions, what are you up to? school going well? etc. I told him I just graduated from Appalachian with a degree in PE K-12 and have passed the Praxis 2. I went down and spoke to the AD two weeks later and about a month and a half later I had my first PE teaching/ coaching football job. I've been there almost 3 and a half years now. Thats great man, keep up the good work.
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Post by dal9000 on Mar 4, 2008 1:18:00 GMT -6
I gotta say, hustleandheart, the story of how you got admitted to college may be the highlight of this thread. It's excellent.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 4, 2008 2:19:25 GMT -6
I gotta say, hustleandheart, the story of how you got admitted to college may be the highlight of this thread. It's excellent. Thanks man, the funny thing that I left out was, I never told my parents I was applying. We have a nice close Italian family that gossips, I felt like such a loser I wasn't at school, but when I got accepted, and told my parents, they were ecstatic, I'll never forget the look on their faces, my grandparents faces, and aunts and uncles, it was good stuff.
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nexthc
Junior Member
"The Golden Rule"
Posts: 439
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Post by nexthc on Mar 4, 2008 9:50:50 GMT -6
H&H... Thanks for the comments! You keep work hard up also. Remember, "If you think that you know everything, that is when you need to get out of the game."
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Post by revtaz on Mar 4, 2008 12:56:38 GMT -6
I had played football until about 9th grade. Family moved to a school district in NH that did not have football. I decided to put that on the back burner for a little while.
I get to college and I am doing intramural flag football and just basically getting any chance I can to play it. But what I really liked doing was the sideline stuff. Getting the guys up on the sidelines and making it an organized mess if you know what I mean.
Decided to go volunteer with a Pop Warner club that was close to my school. Did that for two years and then got the break of my life. A guy that worked with my Dad coached at a high school and they had an influx of freshmen and they needed coaches. I was a volunteer for two years. Worked my @ss off and eventually started to work my way onto the varsity staff in some form or another (Working the phones, breaking down tape, scouting, etc.). Eventually I was offered a pretty decent Coordinator position at the school that I ended up working at and am now currently there.
I love this sport and I wanted to learn as much as I could. Thanks to the guys that picked me to work at the high school that I was at, they taught me a lot of what I know.
Taz
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 4, 2008 15:36:42 GMT -6
H&H... Thanks for the comments! You keep work hard up also. Remember, "If you think that you know everything, that is when you need to get out of the game." I read that quote before, haha, and trust me I know NOTHING.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 4, 2008 15:38:55 GMT -6
I had played football until about 9th grade. Family moved to a school district in NH that did not have football. I decided to put that on the back burner for a little while. I get to college and I am doing intramural flag football and just basically getting any chance I can to play it. But what I really liked doing was the sideline stuff. Getting the guys up on the sidelines and making it an organized mess if you know what I mean. Decided to go volunteer with a Pop Warner club that was close to my school. Did that for two years and then got the break of my life. A guy that worked with my Dad coached at a high school and they had an influx of freshmen and they needed coaches. I was a volunteer for two years. Worked my @ss off and eventually started to work my way onto the varsity staff in some form or another (Working the phones, breaking down tape, scouting, etc.). Eventually I was offered a pretty decent Coordinator position at the school that I ended up working at and am now currently there. I love this sport and I wanted to learn as much as I could. Thanks to the guys that picked me to work at the high school that I was at, they taught me a lot of what I know. Taz Thats great man. I'm noticing one common theme in all these replies... "work your @ss off"
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Post by safetycoach34 on Mar 4, 2008 16:53:49 GMT -6
GA stand for graduate assistant at most schools you coach a position/recruit/gameplan like a full time coach, but instead of getting paid you get your masters work paid for and sometimes housing. there is often some sort of a stipend for your daily expenses. Good look at UCONN im sure they could use a hand up there volunteer to do anything to get your foot in the door
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 4, 2008 17:21:02 GMT -6
GA stand for graduate assistant at most schools you coach a position/recruit/gameplan like a full time coach, but instead of getting paid you get your masters work paid for and sometimes housing. there is often some sort of a stipend for your daily expenses. Good look at UCONN im sure they could use a hand up there volunteer to do anything to get your foot in the door Thanks for the explanation, and advice.
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Post by smokeadapancake on Mar 5, 2008 13:17:19 GMT -6
Funny story... I played ball through HS and then life took over and I didnt see a set of pads for 10 years...
I ended up in Germany, which if you dont know, it a freaking loooong way away from fall Saturdays in the south. I kept a huge passion for the game...many a late night night was spent on the CPU watching my Tigers (AU type) play..
One day I got a message on MYSPACE of all things... I new team was starting up in the local area and they asked me if I wanted to play... I came out to a "practice" and a few months later I was coaching the O and a friend of mine that brought out with me was coaching the D..
I have stepped into it pretty deep and my partner and I are most likely in over our heads..but man are we having fun!!
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gac8666
Sophomore Member
"Living in obscurity" Denver Broncos Offensive Line
Posts: 215
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Post by gac8666 on Mar 5, 2008 19:10:07 GMT -6
My story....
I played middle school football 7th and 8th grade.. I made the varisty as a freshman was a three year starter at center for my highschool. My offensive line coach was a young coach who I had known since I was in the 5th grade (my brother played under him when we was in highschool) always thought I was going to be a coach, and I was "another coach on the field" for him my three years starting.
I signed with a D-1 AA program out of highschool, started there as a freshman then left because of a bunch of reason program direction, lack of administration, school wasnt any good.
So then I was just going to school so the day after I transfered from playing football I went back to my old highschool and to my old coach and told him im here to coach and I want to work directly under him and do all the little things like equipment room, film eval, scouting reports anything just to get on the staff. He said I got one better he gave me the offensive line spot (mine and his old positions).
So at age 20 I was the varsity offense line coach. We had 2 kids go D-1 and have some real good young players. I still go to school full time, but I also work at the school full time and im always around him and were always talking football. Which my now EX- girlfriend didnt like. But oh well! Im always reading books, watching film, watching DVDs, asking to go to clinics everything.
Right now im trying to finish college and win a state title at my school. After acouple years im going to try and get a graduate assistant job at D-1 school.
But I owe my ex head coach, and now boss everything and hes taught me everything I know.
The key is you HAVE to be willing to work LONG HOURS for basically free just to get started. You just have to out work everyone. Watch more film, read more books, stay after practice with kids, before practice. Working hard and sacrifice is the only way.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 5, 2008 19:24:40 GMT -6
My story.... I played middle school football 7th and 8th grade.. I made the varisty as a freshman was a three year starter at center for my highschool. My offensive line coach was a young coach who I had known since I was in the 5th grade (my brother played under him when we was in highschool) always thought I was going to be a coach, and I was "another coach on the field" for him my three years starting. I signed with a D-1 AA program out of highschool, started there as a freshman then left because of a bunch of reason program direction, lack of administration, school wasnt any good. So then I was just going to school so the day after I transfered from playing football I went back to my old highschool and to my old coach and told him im here to coach and I want to work directly under him and do all the little things like equipment room, film eval, scouting reports anything just to get on the staff. He said I got one better he gave me the offensive line spot (mine and his old positions). So at age 20 I was the varsity offense line coach. We had 2 kids go D-1 and have some real good young players. I still go to school full time, but I also work at the school full time and im always around him and were always talking football. Which my now EX- girlfriend didnt like. But oh well! Im always reading books, watching film, watching DVDs, asking to go to clinics everything. Right now im trying to finish college and win a state title at my school. After acouple years im going to try and get a graduate assistant job at D-1 school. But I owe my ex head coach, and now boss everything and hes taught me everything I know. The key is you HAVE to be willing to work LONG HOURS for basically free just to get started. You just have to out work everyone. Watch more film, read more books, stay after practice with kids, before practice. Working hard and sacrifice is the only way. Very good story man, yeah thanks for the advice. I'm willing, and I'm currently in contact with 2 High Schools in the area now trying to get a volunteer spot on any level of the team.
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ramsoc
Junior Member
Posts: 431
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Post by ramsoc on Mar 6, 2008 2:10:44 GMT -6
My then girlfriend's aunt signed me up to be a coach her son's Pop Warner team. The head coach made me the OC, and I've been in football (PW and HS) ever since.
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Post by kurtbryan on Mar 6, 2008 21:39:07 GMT -6
This is a great question and some wonderful stories have been posted, very much enjoyed the reading. OK, here goes the short version: 1. Ever since I was about 8 years old, I was drawing up plays, organizing a football game, and/or outlining a makeshift football field with Cornmeal poured from several bags. It was damn funny when the Birds swooped down and started eating up our sidelines when I was 9 years old. 2. During college, I served as a gopher & assistant coach on the colleiate staff and learned much from the quality coaches onboard 3. I became a passing game coordinator for the local H.S. before I graduated from college and it was a great experience 4. I sent a letter to my H.S. alma mater A.D. and heard back almost a year later that the current head coach (still one of my great friends today) was looking for an OC. 5. I drove down, interviewed over some cold beers and we talked for the whole day about football, life and such 6. I was the OC for six fun years, before my buddy left to coach WR at the collegiate level 7. I became HFC and the rest has been a fun, tough and enjoyable history to date. KB
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 8, 2008 2:17:03 GMT -6
This is a great question and some wonderful stories have been posted, very much enjoyed the reading. OK, here goes the short version: 1. Ever since I was about 8 years old, I was drawing up plays, organizing a football game, and/or outlining a makeshift football field with Cornmeal poured from several bags. It was {censored} funny when the Birds swooped down and started eating up our sidelines when I was 9 years old. 2. During college, I served as a gopher & assistant coach on the colleiate staff and learned much from the quality coaches onboard 3. I became a passing game coordinator for the local H.S. before I graduated from college and it was a great experience 4. I sent a letter to my H.S. alma mater A.D. and heard back almost a year later that the current head coach (still one of my great friends today) was looking for an OC. 5. I drove down, interviewed over some cold beers and we talked for the whole day about football, life and such 6. I was the OC for six fun years, before my buddy left to coach WR at the collegiate level 7. I became HFC and the rest has been a fun, tough and enjoyable history to date. KB That's awesome, Coach.
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Post by k on Mar 8, 2008 14:50:58 GMT -6
I get a letter in the mail saying "We regret to inform you that you have not been accepted." .... I applied to UCONN and got accepted. Wow not getting into Eastern and then getting into UCONN a semester later is a pretty big jump. Good for you.
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Post by coachweav88 on Mar 10, 2008 12:04:08 GMT -6
I got a grad assistant job where I graduated from/played at. Then coached at my HS alma matter one year. Volunteered for 3 years at a local school. This fall, I'm not sure where I'll be at. I'm currently a sub trying to land a teaching job.
if you want some good coaching experience and can't find a paid coaching job, VOLUNTEER. For you, I'd start with youth and work your way up. Work on learning fundamentals (blocking and tackling) schemes will come later.
DIII great Ron Schipper once said at a clinic, "guys who know their x's and o's are a dime a dozen. Find someone who knows how to teach good technique." That stuck with me.
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Post by cenglish56 on Mar 10, 2008 17:58:12 GMT -6
played four years of high school and four years of college ball. realized my college coaches lived a pretty good life just altking football all day. Was a GA under my college head coach, then took a job at a D3 school for two years. Wife and kids came then I began teachiing and coaching(got a job at one of the best high school in my hometown area then left there after three season to be a DC at another school been there veer since). . just never left the game been around football every year since I was in 7th grade. Im 30 now. game is addictive. cant go away from it if I wanted.
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Post by davecisar on Mar 10, 2008 18:02:29 GMT -6
15 years as volunteer youth coach. Buddy from work had son playing on youth team start up, coached there for 5 years with him until I started my own free thing in the inner city- no program there for those kids, bad area etc. First year as a backfield assistant, then Head Coach for 14 years, 11 different teams ( bigger org with multiple teams) 3 seasons with my own child.
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Post by tiger46 on Mar 10, 2008 21:20:42 GMT -6
I got into coaching youth football by being lied to. It was the first year for my 8yr old son to play tackle football. I took him to practice. Organization's president told me that the HC for my son's team was out of state on a family emergency and asked me if I could just help out with drills until the HC got back in town and assembled his staff. This went on for a couple of weeks- still had yet to see the HC or a coaching staff. A week later the pres. calls me to tell me that there's a coaches' meeting and that I'll meet the HC. The HC never made the meeting. But, I learned that one of the other guys getting in the way the last three weeks was the HC. I got really excited about the next day's practice. I get my son to practice nice & early. I see the guy the prez said was HC. I walk up to him. Before I could say anything, he sticks out his hand, introduces himself and asks, "Are you the head coach?" I said, "No. I thought you were." About that time, the prez hustles up. He says, "I decided to make him HC." He points at me and says, "Do you mind being the DC? I got another coaching coming to take over as OC." The third coach happened to be the another guy I had seen walking around looking just as lost as the HC and I looked. None of us had ever coached before. We had no idea about what we were doing. It showed. We were horrible coaches. We went 0-10. We were never even competitive. Parents hated us. We were blamed for anything and everything that went wrong. It was a terrible experience. We had been thrown to the wolves. Next season, I got invited back to assist an entirely new coaching staff. I couldn't believe anybody would've wanted any of us back. I met with that new coach. My most important duty would be to pay my son's $180.00 fee. My position would be something like equipment hander-outer and storage shed monkey, probably because the new HC figured that a windowless equipment shed was sufficiently far enough away from the practice field and his staff to keep me from damaging the team. I was going to accept but, I hadn't yet paid my son's fee. I didn't have the job if I didn't get that done. League's coaching certification was in a week. The next day at work, I happened to walk past two co-workers. One was talking about his football team that he coached. I stopped, puffed up my chest and proudly told him that I was a football "coach", too. Over the next few days, we talked. He coaches boys in a poor area. They'd never have a chance of playing youth football without the kind of league he coaches in. He asked me if I'd be interested in starting up an 8-9yr old team for him. I accepted. It's hard work. Next season will be my third.
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Post by hustleandheart on Mar 13, 2008 0:21:10 GMT -6
I got into coaching youth football by being lied to. It was the first year for my 8yr old son to play tackle football. I took him to practice. Organization's president told me that the HC for my son's team was out of state on a family emergency and asked me if I could just help out with drills until the HC got back in town and assembled his staff. This went on for a couple of weeks- still had yet to see the HC or a coaching staff. A week later the pres. calls me to tell me that there's a coaches' meeting and that I'll meet the HC. The HC never made the meeting. But, I learned that one of the other guys getting in the way the last three weeks was the HC. I got really excited about the next day's practice. I get my son to practice nice & early. I see the guy the prez said was HC. I walk up to him. Before I could say anything, he sticks out his hand, introduces himself and asks, "Are you the head coach?" I said, "No. I thought you were." About that time, the prez hustles up. He says, "I decided to make him HC." He points at me and says, "Do you mind being the DC? I got another coaching coming to take over as OC." The third coach happened to be the another guy I had seen walking around looking just as lost as the HC and I looked. None of us had ever coached before. We had no idea about what we were doing. It showed. We were horrible coaches. We went 0-10. We were never even competitive. Parents hated us. We were blamed for anything and everything that went wrong. It was a terrible experience. We had been thrown to the wolves. Next season, I got invited back to assist an entirely new coaching staff. I couldn't believe anybody would've wanted any of us back. I met with that new coach. My most important duty would be to pay my son's $180.00 fee. My position would be something like equipment hander-outer and storage shed monkey, probably because the new HC figured that a windowless equipment shed was sufficiently far enough away from the practice field and his staff to keep me from damaging the team. I was going to accept but, I hadn't yet paid my son's fee. I didn't have the job if I didn't get that done. League's coaching certification was in a week. The next day at work, I happened to walk past two co-workers. One was talking about his football team that he coached. I stopped, puffed up my chest and proudly told him that I was a football "coach", too. Over the next few days, we talked. He coaches boys in a poor area. They'd never have a chance of playing youth football without the kind of league he coaches in. He asked me if I'd be interested in starting up an 8-9yr old team for him. I accepted. It's hard work. Next season will be my third. haha Oh man, that is crazy. Good luck to you in the future.
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CoachJ
Junior Member
Posts: 307
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Post by CoachJ on Mar 13, 2008 7:47:50 GMT -6
I was just out of college. I played college football for 5 years and then coached there for 2 more years until i got my masters. I came back to my hometown to work in the business world and basically leave football to going to watch games. I was sitting around the summer after i graduated and thinking i had too much time on my hands. I had 3 other friends doing the same. We all loved football, so i got a wild hair and emailed our local youth organization (that I grew up playing in) to see if they needed help. They refered us to one of the teams in the league. I called the team manager and said I was willing to do whatever and I had 3 friends ready to do the same. He told me his 7th-8th grade team didn't have any coaches and we could just take over the whole team. So as first year coaches, we took charge of this team. We started off with a stellar 0-3 record and not scoring a single point. Pretty frustrated, but we had a good group of kids. Not too much size or speed, but hard workers. We made a tweak in our offense to include some misdirection and veer option and we started rolling. We fought our way to the division championship game, 1 game from the league championship. (In our league at the time winning division games were more important). In the division championship, we went up against the powerhouse team of the league. They had us down 13-7 going into the 4th quarter. Now we are believers in conditioning (which most youth teams don't do) so i thought we would be ok. We rattled off 28 unanswered points and headed to the championship. In the league championship we kept it pretty close until a kid broke loose for a score (89 yard run) right before halftime where we let him run around for ever missing tackles left and right (some guys missed twice). We ended up losing 21-7. So our first year we were 6-3 league runner ups.
I have been coaching for 6 years now and all but one of our original staff is still together. None of have kids old enough to play sports yet, so we have never had a kid on the team. We look at it as a way to give back to a league we all played in.
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Post by kboyd on Mar 13, 2008 8:04:35 GMT -6
I had been drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL out of Minot State University back in 1993, but was cut due to health problems. I was heading back to MSU to finish my degree when I got a call form my QB from the previous year asking me if I wanted to come down to Garrison, ND to be an assistant. I had always had an interest in coaching so I jumped at the opportunity. I coached one season there and had a tryout with the Toronto Argonauts, so I thought I'd try playing one more time. I didn't make it but was offered three more tryouts from other CFL teams, I declined them and went back to coaching. That year (1994) I moved back to Canada and started coaching at my old high school and have been there ever since.
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