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Post by 10dencyofdeception on Sept 28, 2023 19:57:53 GMT -6
Our players look malnourished and undersized compared to all our opponents. We lose by a lot, and we have for years.
If you dare say anything about real issues talk of "I'm the alpha male" gets going and everyone is scared.
I think "what am I doing with my life?", most every week.
Question is: how do coaches coach for horrible programs and teams and maintain a healthy life?
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Post by cqmiller on Sept 28, 2023 20:49:40 GMT -6
They don't... turnover is ridiculous, parents are completely delusional, and as soon as you try to show them how to do things to turn it around they fight it. You either give-up and not care or burn out.
I gave up my HC job last year after working my ass off to win 10 games in 4 years with no support and a program that hadn't won 10 games in a 4 year stretch in more than a decade. As soon as the "coaches fault" bull$h!t started, I got out. They are back to 0-7 and the same issues persist.
I am now the DC at my alma-matwr and it's the same boat... I'm the last QB to beat our closest rival and the last QB to win conference (I'm 40 years old). Only 5 winning seasons the last 30 years. We can't get patents to get their kids to school, do homework, not take vacations in the middle of season, and of course the last 5 coaches who have quit or been run out in under 4 years are the blame. I hear rumors when the current coach quits they'll want me to take over, but no way. I'm actually drafting a letter explaining WHY I won't do it because I know it will come up.
Everyone all-in on Colorado so maybe a long list of the truth about the culture of the community and how the only people who put up with their $h!t for more than 2 years are former players who end up in the same disaster. If we win Friday then we are playing for conference title next week and we had 20+ kids miss practice each day this week.
What good coach is gonna stay for more than a year or 2 without dying of stress as a result?
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Post by coachd5085 on Sept 29, 2023 6:26:05 GMT -6
I think you are just seeing several common characteristics of society playing out on your football program. One major one is that people truly do not understand what it takes to succeed. In football, in life etc.
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Post by larrymoe on Sept 29, 2023 6:36:49 GMT -6
I think you are just seeing several common characteristics of society playing out on your football program. One major one is that people truly do not understand what it takes to succeed. In football, in life etc. It's part of the general societal shift to a poverty mindset. |
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Post by RunThePistol on Sept 29, 2023 7:38:21 GMT -6
I have been at really, really good schools in the past, only in my 9th year, but my current schools sounds like all of yall's. Glad I'm not the only one contemplating life over here.
That being said, in Tennessee, the NIL stuff has started showing up in pockets, so my question to all of you now is:
1) Have any of yall seen NIL make an impact yet?
2) Do you think that it will only create a larger gap between the "Have's" and "Have not's"?
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Post by bluboy on Sept 29, 2023 9:31:01 GMT -6
"...people truly do not understand what it takes to succeed. In football, in life etc." Totally agree!!!
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Post by MICoach on Sept 29, 2023 9:41:59 GMT -6
If you dare say anything about real issues talk of "I'm the alpha male" gets going and everyone is scared. Can you elaborate on what you mean by this? Either way, I think the toughest thing with coaching in these sorts of programs (I have experience) is maintaining a positive long term outlook and trying to make changes that will improve the program in the long run. We can all sit around and say that but it's really hard to maintain that focus when you're in the midst of a 1-2 win season and everybody at school wants to ask you about the game on Monday and Friday. We all want to win games and it sucks losing, which makes it hard to remember "the process." The deck can be stacked against you too. It's hard to sell kids on your S&C program when the team has been bad for a long time. Good athletes from other sports are less likely to come out for a losing team. Usually bad teams are also poorly funded. Kids don't commit as much when several coaches are coming through from the time they're in elementary school until they graduate. I don't have the answers...it's hard to turn around a program. On the other hand, it's a lot easier to be a high school Ryan Day and take over a good program and then maintain it...which I'd presume is why a lot of head coaches leave bad programs before becoming successful elsewhere. |
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Post by blb on Sept 29, 2023 10:14:03 GMT -6
Our players look malnourished and undersized compared to all our opponents. We lose by a lot, and we have for years. If you dare say anything about real issues talk of "I'm the alpha male" gets going and everyone is scared. I think "what am I doing with my life?", most every week. Question is: how do coaches coach for horrible programs and teams and maintain a healthy life? To answer your question, there is more to life than coaching-football. Balance is the key. Faith, family, diet-exercise, other interests-hobbies for ex. Coaching is a terminal profession, meaning most people leave it before they necessarily would have wanted to. If you're not having fun and winning isn't even a possibility most Fridays it's not worth doing. Lots of other good ways to make a life as well as a living. |
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Post by CanyonCoach on Sept 29, 2023 10:25:57 GMT -6
You can't make chicken salad out of chicken poop.
If I was to start over I would really push for more youth programing for speed/strength.
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Post by blb on Sept 29, 2023 10:32:12 GMT -6
I have posted this before but I'll say it again:
There are just some schools-communities where the environment, conditions, attitudes do not exist to have a successful HS football program.
I'm talking about consistently, not a one or two-year spurt.
I know this from experience-observation including several former players-assistants who became head coaches.
The best coaches don't always win.
If you're not on a level playing field with your competition, coaching doesn't matter.
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Post by MICoach on Sept 29, 2023 10:52:40 GMT -6
I have posted this before but I'll say it again: There are just some schools-communities where the environment, conditions, attitudes do not exist to have a successful HS football program. I'm talking about consistently, not a one or two-year spurt. I know this from experience-observation including several former players-assistants who became head coaches. The best coaches don't always win. If you're not on a level playing field with your competition, coaching doesn't matter. BINGO! There are some places where it's just straight up harder to be competitive. Some schools have less support from family, inability to raise funds, stonewalling from the district on spending money or hiring coaches into buildings, kids need to work to have any money...and usually these are all compounding on one another in the same schools. Meanwhile, they're in the same division/conference/district/whatever with other schools that can raise 10's of thousands of dollars in one event, have most of their coaches in the building, bring kids in on the weekend (and actually have them show up), etc. All high schools (and by extension coaching jobs) are not created equal. |
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Post by blb on Sept 29, 2023 11:10:22 GMT -6
Bottom line - don't let your desire to be a HC overcome your judgment on which job to undertake.
If you don't choose wisely - well, Grasshopper - that's on you.
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Post by bigmoot2 on Sept 29, 2023 17:32:17 GMT -6
Bottom line - don't let your desire to be a HC overcome your judgment on which job to undertake.If you don't choose wisely - well, Grasshopper - that's on you. I was told this early on but didnt listen. Took over a program that never had won, and still hasnt. I stayed around as long as i could because i was able to separate the wins and losses from everything else. It was a great teaching job, the kids were great kids, we just were too small a school and couldnt compete Friday nights. But i eventually burned out and had to go. THe biggest issue i had was getting assistant coaches who were worth a crap. Was never able to put together a complete staff. Ive seen posted on here several times " There are more good coaches than good jobs." |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Oct 2, 2023 0:23:55 GMT -6
I agree with much of what has been said before on this thread… but I’m going to add in some extra negativity because I am an old “get off my lawn” kind of guy…
The B.S. being brought up doesn’t just happen in bad schools/programs… it is happening everywhere. Even if we are now a bad program (we are 4-3… our upcoming game decides our season… prior to that in 11 years we made the playoffs every year and were in the semi-finals or better 7 times, played in multiple state championships where we’ve won and lost… and now we have 23 kids out for a program that used to have 50… and our school size is a little smaller, but not that much).
In talking to coaches in our region it is the same everywhere. 0-7 and 6-1 have the same issues we do… Parents, AAU, delusions, laziness, selfishness, etc. They all contribute. This is much more than a “football problem”.
I think you are just seeing several common characteristics of society playing out on your football program. One major one is that people truly do not understand what it takes to succeed. In football, in life etc.
There are still some places unfazed… Some of the private schools… the big “football factory” schools… and some proud rural schools who are on an upswing (I have a former player whose 9 man team is doing great… they just clinched their first outright region title in school history).
But in a lot of city schools, rural schools and poorer private schools… football and school athletics as a whole are dying. I see us having a Canadian or European model soon… which might eventually be ok. But I am a bit abrasive to change and know how sports in an educational setting can be so much more than just “sports”. It’s been a good run, but I don’t see how we will hang on too much longer.
20 years ago, it was rare to see a 50-0 score. Now, half the scores seem to be 70+ to 0. There are a ton of "have not's" apparently...
One of my former assistants from 25 years ago called last week and said he went and watched the team we coached together in the late 90s. He said they dressed 26 kids. We used to dress 90 (juniors and seniors and the occasional younger kid who ended up being a D1 and/or NFL player). It’s a school of 2300 for crying out loud…
For me, this is sad to see.
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Post by blb on Oct 2, 2023 10:54:25 GMT -6
In Summer 1980 I was in a Graduate-level Coaching Football class taught by one of my college coaches who was also one of the two mentors in my life.
One of the first things he said was "Football is in trouble. Be prepared to defend it."
I didn't know what he meant at all.
But over the years certainly have come to find out.
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Post by cwaltsmith on Oct 3, 2023 8:07:28 GMT -6
If losing doesn't bother you then I am not sure why your in coaching. So to answer your question... if you lose continuously it will drive you nuts and wear you down. However, I believe there are things you can do to improve that I didn't think about early in my career.
1. Provide food for them in the locker room. I am not talking about feed them a meal constantly, but have snacks readily available and push them to eat them... For instance, buy packs of cheese and peanut butter and crackers or the uncrustables or ice cream sandwiches... any thing really that can give them extra calories. I know some may come on here and say that bad calories aren't good. but when your in your situations, those kids aren't worried about getting too fat. calories are calories imho.
2. make them weigh in daily and log it.. make them conscious of their weight and trying to gain. That probably isnt politically correct in some places today but I think it helps.
3. Lastly, and I am sure you already are... make the weight room THE MOST IMPORTANT thing in your program. Even more than practice at first, bc if I am understanding you correctly practice doesn't matter much bc your so out matched.
anyway just my thoughts... hope things get better... our job is draining enough... and it can be brutal if no success.
one other thing... celebrate the gains... in weight and weight room... give kids shirts and clothes and food and they will love it.
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Post by CS on Oct 3, 2023 13:16:06 GMT -6
If losing doesn't bother you then I am not sure why your in coaching. So to answer your question... if you lose continuously it will drive you nuts and wear you down. However, I believe there are things you can do to improve that I didn't think about early in my career. 1. Provide food for them in the locker room. I am not talking about feed them a meal constantly, but have snacks readily available and push them to eat them... For instance, buy packs of cheese and peanut butter and crackers or the uncrustables or ice cream sandwiches... any thing really that can give them extra calories. I know some may come on here and say that bad calories aren't good. but when your in your situations, those kids aren't worried about getting too fat. calories are calories imho. 2. make them weigh in daily and log it.. make them conscious of their weight and trying to gain. That probably isnt politically correct in some places today but I think it helps. 3. Lastly, and I am sure you already are... make the weight room THE MOST IMPORTANT thing in your program. Even more than practice at first, bc if I am understanding you correctly practice doesn't matter much bc your so out matched. anyway just my thoughts... hope things get better... our job is draining enough... and it can be brutal if no success. one other thing... celebrate the gains... in weight and weight room... give kids shirts and clothes and food and they will love it. Any calories are better than no calories I used to keep bologna and mustard in my room cause some kids didn’t like the schools food and I wanted them to eat before practice |
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Post by CanyonCoach on Oct 4, 2023 8:34:15 GMT -6
If losing doesn't bother you then I am not sure why your in coaching. So to answer your question... if you lose continuously it will drive you nuts and wear you down. However, I believe there are things you can do to improve that I didn't think about early in my career. 1. Provide food for them in the locker room. I am not talking about feed them a meal constantly, but have snacks readily available and push them to eat them... For instance, buy packs of cheese and peanut butter and crackers or the uncrustables or ice cream sandwiches... any thing really that can give them extra calories. I know some may come on here and say that bad calories aren't good. but when your in your situations, those kids aren't worried about getting too fat. calories are calories imho. 2. make them weigh in daily and log it.. make them conscious of their weight and trying to gain. That probably isnt politically correct in some places today but I think it helps. 3. Lastly, and I am sure you already are... make the weight room THE MOST IMPORTANT thing in your program. Even more than practice at first, bc if I am understanding you correctly practice doesn't matter much bc your so out matched. anyway just my thoughts... hope things get better... our job is draining enough... and it can be brutal if no success. one other thing... celebrate the gains... in weight and weight room... give kids shirts and clothes and food and they will love it. About 6 years ago our school made a huge jump in coaches pay, that coupled with a very active Booster club compared to previous years have made this much more feasible. I decided that I will use 1/2 my coaches pay for my assistants and the team throughout the year. I know some of you will have wild impressions of that but prior to those changes I was spending about $5000/year out of pocket and we hardly had any support. Now we have...protein supplement after each weight room session, snacks at every practice that will go past 6:00pm, pre-game meals on the road, post game meals after games and team meals the day before games. Now I spend $3000 out of pocket and most of that goes to assistant coaches gear and out of season activities. |
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Post by cwaltsmith on Oct 4, 2023 10:12:30 GMT -6
Cost for these things is a concern... however, to me to start with it might be better to cut spending in other areas to fund this
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Post by coach55 on Oct 4, 2023 14:43:24 GMT -6
In Summer 1980 I was in a Graduate-level Coaching Football class taught by one of my college coaches who was also one of the two mentors in my life. One of the first things he said was "Football is in trouble. Be prepared to defend it." I didn't know what he meant at all. But over the years certainly have come to find out. Sounds like a very wise man. Imagine what his opinion would be today. |
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Post by 60zgo on Oct 7, 2023 11:12:27 GMT -6
I've said this in other threads but you need to find the right "fit" for you. There is indeed a right fit for every coach. You just need to find it.
Are you all about family and being close to home and having your weekends free? Guess what? Jr High might be the right fit. We need awesome Jr High coaches.
Are you all about mentoring kids from XYZ background? Rural? City? There is a job for that.
Love that turnaround feel? Job for that.
Winning tons and tons of games and championships? Well those are fewer and harder to come by. You may not get to be the HC anytime soon or ever.
There is a right fit for every coach. The problem is most of us spend a big chunk of our careers chasing championships trying to be the next Nick Saban.
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Post by coachd5085 on Oct 7, 2023 11:30:37 GMT -6
I've said this in other threads but you need to find the right "fit" for you. There is indeed a right fit for every coach. You just need to find it. Are you all about family and being close to home and having your weekends free? Guess what? Jr High might be the right fit. We need awesome Jr High coaches. Are you all about mentoring kids from XYZ background? Rural? City? There is a job for that. Love that turnaround feel? Job for that. Winning tons and tons of games and championships? Well those are fewer and harder to come by. You may not get to be the HC anytime soon or ever. There is a right fit for every coach. The problem is most of us spend a big chunk of our careers chasing championships trying to be the next Nick Saban. Solid sentiments, but almost guaranteed to be objectively false- as there are probably more coaches who fit in certain categories than programs do. The other issue -- in likely almost all of the programs you described, while reality puts those programs in one category, almost all of them will have the same expectations regardless of how unrealistic. That said, you are 100% correct that the fit is important. I am just saying there isn't a right fit for each and every coach. Not in a realistic manner. |
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