How to rebuild this program

So I am currently a position coach, hoping to become a DC in the near future. However there is a school that I would like to apply for the HC position when it becomes available again (it does every 2-5 years). 

So a background on the program. They are perennial LOSERS! They have 32 wins in the last 30 seasons. Only 2 winning seasons in the schools 50 year history. Last season, there was a running clock in 7/10 of their games. The school is located in a poor rural area. Nearest city is an hour away. Enrollment is slightly over 600. It does not appear that it is a situation where all the athletes are flocking to other sports either. Only a few good seasons in basketball and an average baseball program. On average, it appears there is around 25-30 players on the team. I would bet that is including freshmen.


I'm sure some are asking why in the world would you want to take this job. So for a couple reasons. First, the schedule. The conference has two really strong teams. The rest are at best average. A few only chance for a win is against this program. The out of conference schedule is very favorable. It's the only show in town in town. There is no worries about competing with other schools for athletes. Also, considering their success, there is decent attendance to the games. I've watched highlights on max preps and there are a lot more fans than I expected. Also, there are a few things that I believe could be quick fixes. Watching those highlights, technique is awful. They do not run a gap sound defense. There are players walking on the field between the whistle. These are things I can fix and quickly! Lastly, who wouldn't want to be the coach to turn this program around.

A few thoughts on how I would turn the program around. Obviously it goes a little more in-depth that this. 

1) Get buy-in from the players. Create a leadership council that consist of two players from each class. This is the teams voice for when it comes to making team decisions. Obviously I make the final decision, but it would give them some ownership.

2) Recruit, Recruit and recruit some more. You have to grow your numbers. I feel like having given some ownership to current players, this will cause them to help you recruit even harder. Also, you have to try to create energy around the program. I realize this would not be easy. But start with t-shirts and stuff. 

3)Keep it simple. Defensively, I would run a 4-4 cover 3 to begin. Stop the run and don't allow big plays. By keeping the playbook limited, it would allow us to focus on technique and tackling. I would allow the OC to run anything they want. Only stipulation is, they can't snap the ball until 3 seconds or less is on the play clock. I want to shorten games and keep it to where we have a fighting chance at the end. I don't want running clocks at the end of games, which has been the norm. Win or lose, I want kids to believe/ see that we are improving.

Questions for you.

1) I'm a Defensive guy. Always have been. What do I do if I'm going into the season and still can't find an OC. I know this is a common question, but how do I improve a staff that in all likelihood needs to be completed rebuilt?   

2) Raising funds in a poor, rural community. 

3) Lastly, I know several will say "I'd never accept this job." Just entertain me for a moment, pretend that for some strange reason you did. How would you make this a competitive program. 

No need to apologize, it's a fair question, perhaps even an interview question. Yes, I think their conference gives them a better chance to be successful on the field. I feel that some schools are in conferences that they simply can't compete in, I do not feel like this is the case here

What are the reasons I want to coach at a school like this?

There are a lot, but first is because I think the players deserve better. I feel sorry for a group of kids who week after week have a running clock in the second half. That every away game is the other teams homecoming. How demoralizing must that be for players who work hard all summer/ fall. Hard for them to believe if you work hard, you'll be successful.

I feel bad for the town. I coached against them in sectionals a few years back. Considering their history, they had a lot more fans there than you would have thought. In a town where there isn't a lot of good things happening, wouldn't be great if they had something to be proud of?

How would I define success?

I think at the end of the day everyone is always judged by wins. However, especially in a program like that, in order to be successful in the field, you have to be successful off the field first. You have to create that discipline in the classroom both academically and behavior. Attendance in the weight room and practice. Performing community service. I believe teams beginning by trying to build success on the field first. I believe successful PROGRAMS build success off the field first.

SO... With that being said, I feel like being competitive on the field would be a success. What does that look like win wise? Maybe some years that is 8 wins, some years it's 4. Them becoming better young men and making them competitive on the field would be a success to me.

Just be aware, that in a 30 year period, you may not be the first, or second, or third, or fourth, or fifth, or sixth or even seventh coach who took over the program who believed the same.

The key will be to investigate WHY previous coaches have not been able to do those things. It may not be something under your control.

There is a reason why Nick Saban took the Alabama Tuscaloosa job in 2007, not the Alabama Birmingham one that year.

first off this is an excellent list. Secondly, do that many schools really require a HC to retain the current staff. I've seen multiple stories on Huey of other coaches saying the same. That seems crazy to me that a school would hire a HC, then require them to retain some or all of the previous staff. It just hasn't been my experience with the schools

I'm not sure what options one would have to replace the staff in a situation similar to the one I described, but if humanly possible, I'd imagine I'd likely want to replace a large majority of previous staff.

While they may not force you to keep this staff member or that staff member etc... if they are teachers in the school it is often hard to replace them if they continue to keep their teaching position. Now, if you arent hiring teachers than thats a different story. However, I personally dont know enough non teachers who coach that would be willing to move.

vicvinegar

What are the school's facility like, especially the weight room?

You can make a huge improvement in simply putting a stronger team on the field. However, if they don't have a decent weightroom and lack the capacity to upgrade, you are going to start with one tied behind your back.