Does a HC job change your personality?

I would also say yes it has changed me. It has certainly made football harder to get away from. Even when I set aside a couple of weeks after the end of the year banquet and vow to get away from it, I still have calls coming in, etc. I also think that being a head coach is one of the most political positions in the school and others want to know your opinon on school issues. Since becoming a head coach I have learned to be very careful when criticizing or praising things within our building.

I think you have to change just because of the nature of the job. I'd been an assistant for 23 years before I got my head coaching job, so I had the assistant part down pat. What I found out when I became the head coach was that I didn't have a clue as to just what was really involved. You are responsible for everything in the program. I spend as much time now if not more on administrative details/problems as opposed to actual hands on X & O's coaching. I am fortunate to have a great staff that helps lighten my load to a certain extent, however many things I have to take care of myself as that is the head coach's job. The change does not have to be a bad one, but I think it is inevitible just because of the nature of the job and the pressure that surrounds it. Between administrators, boosters, parents, the media, teachers and the players themselves, the amount of interaction with each group in itself can be overwhelming at times. I would echo bulldogoption in that it has made me more reserved and humble. Ours is a small town and as he stated I also am referred to as Coach wherever I go and get everybody's opinion whether I ask for it or not. You come to understand that before you were a small but important part of the program, but as the head coach you are the face of the program and your every statement, gesture, & action will be scrutinzed and left open to interpretation by the very same people mentioned above. Don't let becoming a head coach scare you, just prepare for it and understand that you will change, but that is not a bad thing.

Has becoming a HC changed how you are around the kids? I have always viewed myself as a "players-coach". I have always been very close to the players and I would not want that to change...I also know that your role has changed and has brought you more to the administrative side of things...which seems like that would naturally take you away from the players and the x's and o's. I look forward to that kind of pressure, but I want to still be me as a coach.

Its called the Burden of Leadership. It changes anyone.

And if it doesn't, WHATTHEHELLAREYOUDOING?!?!

What about the power trip aspect. I am guessing not too many guys would tell on themselves, but some assistants might have a candid viewpoint. I notice a lot of head coaches refer to their team as "I".

Example - Head coach talking about playing another team, "I've beat them 3 years in a row/ He's beaten me the last two years/ I think I have an advantage b/c he has to come here to play me/ etc."

This really irks me.

so, THATS what your problem is..........huh?

Isrood- right on the money, in fact the similarities between your situation and mine are scary right down to being an assistant for 23 years before becoming the HC. The amount of time that gets devoted to things not directly related to coaching football just boggles the mind. I don't think it has to change you at all- what changes is your responsibilities and your influence it's up to you whether that changes you or not.

I was a head coach for five years along with being an administrator in the school. I decided that I needed a change and became the AD and assistant coach at our rival school. Being an assistant this past year was great and my wife and friends said I am a totally different person (all for the better). I would have no problems being an assistant for the rest of my career. I enjoyed being a head coach, but only having to worry about certain aspects of the team instead of the whole has been wonderful. My only words of advise for young coaches is make sure you are ready. Its not as easy as you think no matter how much you think you know.

I would say that being a head coach actually has changed the way I interact with the kids too. An earlier post referred to being a "players coach." The one that they knew they could come to with problems, and the one they would point out a hot girl running on the track to, etc. As a head coach I have become much more aware of the small % of people out there who do not like me or something I have done. I am sure they were always there, but they aren't as vocal when you aren't the face of the program. I am more careful to make sure that my actions and words are "handbook appropriate." This also relates to the comment in the last post about being slower to react and thinking out the long-term impact of all of your actions.

coachvann,

I too was a players coach, the one they could come to with problems or just to talk. However now as head coach, I find that they are much more open with my assistants and tend to confide in them rather than me. In my opinion it is because my duties have changed, not necessarily me. I still have open lines of communication with the players and encourage them to come see me at any time, but the fact is that they are still more open with my staff. That is good as well because it is allowing my staff to grow in experience as well. I would also agree with coachbw in that I now find out who likes what I'm doing and who doesn't as the face of the program which wasn't the case as an assistant. So far as the egotistical trip, I try to avoid it (being and assistant for 23 years gave me a lot of experience in dealing with that aspect and I try not to act like those head coaches did) and my staff helps out tremendously in this area. We all get along very well and the rule of thumb on our staff is that if you don't have a thick skin and a sense of humor you won't survive. If they even sense a power trip on my part, the barbs will fly. We have a great time coaching and they help me keep my sanity. As I said before, it changes you sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes in major ways. But the changes help you grow not only as a coach but as an individual.

My first stint I was a prick! I tried to micro manage and do everything myself. I did not have a lot of confidence in my staff and did not trust most of them for good reasons. Had to keep all the assistants that wanted to stay. (good lesson learned)

2nd stint I have complete faith in my assistants, I have more patients for my younger guys trying to learn the game and help them as much as I can. I let my assistants coach and do their jobs and I do my job. It really has made for a great situation. Wisdom must come with age and grey hair and a few miller lites.