Coach and Coordinator Podcast

What is a Quickcast? You already know the Coach and Coordinator Podcast for interviews that touch the many areas of the skillset and mindset that makes a successful coach. In our quickcast we focus on a coach’s most powerful insight on a single topic. We pull out the most useful, interesting and helpful ideas into an episode you can consume in 15 minutes or less. It’s our uptempo version of the podcast. With a library of over 1,000 episodes, we have plenty of these nuggets to share with you to help improve your own mindset and skill set as a coach. Enjoy! Jason Mangone Head Coach of D3 Suny Brockport. He was named the 2017 AFCA D-III Coach of the Year after guiding the Golden Eagles to a 13-1 record, the best in school history, and a berth in the national semifinals. The Golden Eagles are consistently at the top of D3 offensive rankings. Today Mangone shares his insight on Simplicity. Simplicity - Having less is more powerful over time and allows you to coach better and your players to execute more effectively. Coach Mangone shares how selecting an offensive menu is much like managing what’s in your closet. An enemy of simplicity is overage…having calls in the game plan that you never actually use. Coach Mangone explains the importance of maximizing your repetitions in practice by simplifying your game plan. The result is player confidence. Mangone shares his approach to adding wrinkles and how to keep it the same for the guys upfront. He discusses his rule on when final additions can be made into the game plan so that they can have everything ready for game day. We all get intrigued by the success of others offense, The reality of putting new plays into the offense and actually getting the play the confidence that you need as the play caller can be at odds. Coach Mangone explains the danger in doing this and how it affects practice. How new plays affect the practice plan and a way to add wrinkles into what you already do rather than re-creating the wheel. Simplicity allows you to better find the answers and adjustments you need to be able to stay ahead of the defense. Mangone points out that it’s the difference of being a guy who calls plays and coordinator. Thanks to Coach Mangone for sharing his thoughts on why keeping it simple can help your offense have success and for you to be most effective as an offensive coordinator. Check out our show notes for links to resources that will help you develop as a coach and coordinator at coachandcoordinator.com and follow me on twitter @CoachKGrabowski

From the Archives: Let them Score? Coaching analytics and in-game strategy. Rob Ash - Championship Analytics, Inc. In this strange 2020 season, the things we talk about but usually don’t happen are happening. Case in point - Penn State vs. Indiana. It’s the end of the game and up 1 all Penn State has to do is get a first down and run out the clock. It’s actually not to their advantage to score. The only thing Indiana can do to have a chance is to let them score. The intricacies involved in coaching this up on either side of it come down to preparation. Former college head coach Rob Ash and I discussed this on the Coach and Coordinator Podcast. Simply stated, it’s something that needs to be practiced and there should be a mechanism in both the defense to let the offense score, and for the offense to know not to score. It could be a code word for the offense that gets tagged into the call. The defense obviously has to have a call for this as well, and the best coaches know all of it must be practiced. Rule of thumb: Never do something in a game that hasn’t been practiced! Penn State mistakenly scored and it came down to a controversial two-point play in overtime to end it and give the Hoosier the upset. Today's Coach and Coordinator podcast guest is Rob Ash, director of coaching development at Championship Analytics, Inc., which helps coaches strategize through analytics. Ash spent 36 years as a head coach at the FCS and NCAA Division III levels before working as an offensive analyst at Arkansas. His coaching stops included Montana State (2007-15), Drake (1989-2006) and Juniata College (1980-88). In the podcast, Ash and host Keith Grabowski discuss his coaching career and the ever-evolving world of football analytics. Show Notes 1:38 What got Ash into coaching 3:26 Learning to be a head coach at a young age 5:01 Creating a successful program at Drake 8:21 Building culture at the FCS level 10:52 Changes in recruiting and student-athlete development 13:00 Transition from head coach to offensive analyst 15:57 Future of analytics in football 21:20 Using Championship Analytics in an up-tempo offense 23:36 Analytics as part of the pre-game game plan 29:16 Using analytics on the defensive side of the ball 34:50 Practicing in-game situations within analytics coaching 39:25 The ever-changing two-point chart 42:25 Small college and high school use for CAI 43:51 Recommendations of how high school coaches can use basic analytics Free Course The Analytics of Two-Point Conversions (You Might Be Surprised) https://coachtube.com/course/football/the-analytics-of-two-point-conversions-you-might-be-surprised/11992909?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Unstoppable Two-Point Plays by Kevin Kelley https://coachtube.com/course/football/unstoppable-coach-kelleys-2pt-plays/11357177 Two-Point Play Strategy by Tim Delaney https://coachtube.com/course/football/two-point-plays-tim-delaney/12364939?ambassador=1560d03a565346bda70428fa4

From the Archives: Today’s guest on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Matt Drinkall, head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University, an NAIA school in Salina, Kansas. Drinkall was selected to be a participant in the 2018 American Football Coaches Association 35 under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This program is designed to identify and develop premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. On today’s episode, Drinkall talks about tempo and the evolution of the run game. Show Notes 2:30 Evolution of the run game 6:33 Shifting and motioning 13:58 Importance of changing personnel 18:25 Keeping the tempo up 19:53 Game planning tempo 20:32 Changes Drinkall has made to his practice routine 28:41 Looking at data from practice 30:12 Motioning from the backfield

From the Archives- Today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast features University of Toledo head coach Jason Candle. Candle enters his third full season as the Rockets’ coach, and he’s been with the program since 2009. He started as a receivers coach in his first years at Toledo, moving to offensive coordinator and associate head coach during the 2014-15 seasons. Last year, Candle led the Rockets to their first Mid-American Conference Championship in 13 years with an 11-3 record. Prior to Toledo, Candle coached at his alma mater Mount Union, an NCAA Division III football power in Alliance, Ohio. Candle worked with the receivers from 2002-06, then was the offensive coordinator from 2007-08. Mount Union won three national championships while Candle was on the staff and accumulated an 83-4 record over the six years Candle was there. Candle was able to play for and coach alongside head coach Larry Kehres, an 11-time national champion-winning coach at Mount Union. Throughout his coaching career, Candle has coached several current NFL players, including wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Cecil Shorts at Mount Union, along with Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt while at Toledo. In the podcast, Candle talks with host Keith Grabowski about his experience at Mount Union with Coach Kehres, as well as Candle’s coaching philosophy and style. Show Notes 1:13 Transition from being a player to a coach at the same school 3:59 Influence from Coach Kehres into Candle’s philosophy 6:31 Impact of former Toledo coach Matt Campbell from playing to coaching 8:27 Creating the culture of the Toledo coaching staff 10:19 Expectations of Candle’s staff at Toledo 12:14 Keys to having success with recruiting 14:51 Tips to promoting football at the high school level 17:42 How Candle built a culture leading to a MAC championship 20:50 What differentiates Candle’s coaching style from others. 23:18 Developing a dynamic offense at Toledo 25:53 Balancing a coach’s scheme and the players 27:10 Focusing on the student-athletes 27:51 The Winning Edge Related Links: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/growth-as-a-coach-building-a-program-utilizing-talent-jason-candle-head-coach-u-of-toledo

From the Archives- Game Plan week 3: Bobby April – Special Teams Keith and guest host former NFL coach Charlie Coiner had the opportunity to interview Coach Bobby April. April is known in the coaching world as a special teams guru, coaching on all levels from NFL, college and high school. The coaches talk about the importance of special teams and how it impacts the game. April harped on the importance of communication for the coaches and for everyone to be moving in the same direction and how that process should be involved heavily throughout the week, so it can translate to the game. Coach April emphasized how important a head coach’s involvement with special teams can be for a team on all levels. 00:40 Bobby April intro 03:45 Bobby April bio 06:35 Gameday organization 07:30 Giving guys responsibility 09:00 Working the dots system 11:42 Special teams transition 14:50 Everybody moving in the same direction 17:22 Head coach special teams relationship 21:25 Being on the same ship 22:30 Communication 27:50 Playing starters on special teams 28:40 Coach April’s formula 30:30 Discussing with the head coach 31:35 Coming back to communication 34:15 Head Coach and special teams synonymous 35:20 Practicing special teams transition 37:30 Providing resources Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/the-game-plan-bobby-april-special-teams-guru

From The Archives: The guest on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast is Middle Tennessee State University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tony Franklin. Franklin is in his third season with the Blue Raiders and has led their offense to become one of the best in the nation. In 2016, Middle Tennessee was ranked eighth in FBS in total offense and set single-season records for yards per game, points scored, touchdowns and several other statistical categories. Franklin’s coaching career has taken him across the country, including stops at colleges such as California, Louisiana Tech, Auburn, Troy and Kentucky. At every coaching stop, he has created a high-powered offense and mostly specialized with mentoring the team’s quarterbacks. Notable players who played under Franklin were quarterbacks Tim Couch at UK and Jared Goff at Cal, both being No.1 overall picks in the NFL Draft. Along with coaching, Franklin has run a seminar for teaching football coaches named “The Tony Franklin System.” He has toured across the nation delivering seminars and providing written works of his teachings. Several college and high school coaches use the practices taught in Franklin’s seminars in their everyday coaching. In the podcast, Franklin and host Keith Grabowski discuss The Tony Franklin System, how that has affected his coaching style today, and what he brings to coaching Middle Tennessee. Show Notes 1:15 Upcoming season for Middle Tennessee 2:30 Adapting formation and trying to not lose the game 6:12 Balancing offense, defense and special teams at a program 9:10 Creating and changing schemes based on personnel 13:20 The history of the Tony Franklin System 18:15 Importance of designing a solid practice, the Perfect Drill 22:58 Tips in building an effective practice, Manning-Goff Feet 29:25 Instructing coaches to pay attention to detail within practice 32:03 Using Peyton Manning’s fundamentals and footwork 37:05 Teaching quarterbacks the RPO 43:42 Routes on air, getting the most out of receiver drills 45:44 The Winning Edge Related Podcasts: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/teaching-the-details-perfect-practice-rpo-and-more-tony-franklin-oc-middle-tennessee https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/developing-as-an-offensive-coordinator-w-oc-magic-tony-franklin

From the Archives: Today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast begins a new series called “Home Team.” This series features guest host Joel Nellis, head coach at Brookfield Central High School (Wisconsin). He was on the Coach and Coordinator podcast as a guest July 2. Jim Leonhard is in his third season on the coaching staff at Wisconsin. He started by coaching the defensive backs his first season, then moved to defensive coordinator in his second season on the staff. As a defensive coordinator in 2017, Leonhard was a finalist for the Broyles Award for the nation’s top assistant. Before coaching, Leonhard spent 10 seasons in the NFL as a player with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. Prior to playing professionally, Leonhard was an all-American defensive back at Wisconsin. On today’s podcast, Leonhard talks about how he integrates his family with his work and the importance of time management with balancing football and home life. Show Notes 1:10 Leonhard on how he met his wife 2:04 How his wife helps make work-life balance easier 3:23 What makes his sons unique 5:06 Transitioning from playing to coaching with his family 7:06 Early career decisions made with his wife 8:54 Making time for family while in season 10:36 Having a kid-friendly environment at work 12:39 Diving into coaching without serving as a graduate assistant first 14:19 Using coaches’ knowledge and teaching skills 16:24 Game planning without looking too far ahead 18:57 Preparing the best ways to win the game 21:47 Coaching players to understanding and executing 24:33 Getting players to buy in to the game plan 27:11 Learning from other programs while focusing inward 30:19 Being fully prepared and still losing the game 34:18 Knowing when to sacrifice time and when not to 36:13 Making an importance on seeing the big picture 37:54 His kids putting things in perspective after a loss 39:32 Legacy for his family through coaching

From the Archives: RPO innovator Joe Osovet is the guest on this episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast. The head coach at ASA College in Brooklyn, New York, Osovet sits down with Keith Grabowski to discuss their practice philosophy and success in the red zone. Show notes 1:08 Osovet’s process for putting together the game plan 5:10 Attacking third down 6:25 Breaking down the practice week 9:18 Finding success in the red zone 10:56 Adjusting to spread offense 12:22 Adding a wrinkle late in the season 14:30 The winning edge

From the Archives: Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Craig Yeast, the offensive coordinator at Franklin (Indiana) College. In the 2017 season, with the help of Coach Yeast, Franklin College led the nation in passing offense and total offense. On today’s episode, Coach Yeast and Keith Grabowski talk about offensive schemes and how Franklin College prepares for game day. Show Notes 1:10 Coach Yeast reflects on the 2017 season 2:15 What the coaching staff looks at prior to game day 4:05 How to determine which matchups to exploit 6:10 Developing a game plan 8:10 Coach Yeast talks about different packages they use 13:10 How Franklin College’s quarterbacks prepare for game day 17:10 Coach Yeast talks about their practice organization and drills 22:50 Coach’s best concept 26:45 How much RPO plays a part in the offense 27:45 RPO does not change play calling mentality 30:55 Coach Yeast looks ahead to the 2018 season

Kevin Kelley is the head football coach and athletic director at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark. Coach Kelley is best known as the first coach to adopt a game strategy free of punting. Since taking the head coaching position in 2003, Kelley has led the Bruins to an unprecedented seven state championships. Coach Kelley joined the podcast today to share some of his thoughts on culture as well as how analytics help drive his coaching strategy. Show Notes: 1:07 Rationale for more than just two guys touching the football on scoring plays 3:12 How defenses react 4:40 How analytics help his defense 6:18 What stats Coach focuses on more than other teams 9:25 Why they don’t use goal boards 11:22 How his staff evaluates the players 14:04 The culture of competition 17:12 Making every kid important 20:43 Overview of Coach’s five unstoppable plays 23:44 Coach’s work with Rick Jones 25:30 Questions from Coach’s video 26:55 Coach’s contact Info http://coachandcoordinator.com/ Connect with Coach: Twitter: @CoachKelley1 @CoachKGrabowski Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/outside-the-box-with-kevin-kelley-88-success-rate-penalties-self-scout-traveling https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/rick-jones-greenwood-arkansas-high-school-coach?in=user-804678956/sets/state-champion-coaches https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/kevin-kelley-final?in=user-804678956/sets/state-champion-coaches https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/lessons-from-2018-rick-jones-greenwood-high-school-ak https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/continuing-learning-growth-at-the-fbs-level-rick-jones-senior-assistant-at-the-univ-of-missouri

Former U.S. Navy Commander Mike Abrashoff attracted worldwide attention for his success in turnng around a struggling ship, the USS Benfold, which became the subject of his first book It's Your Ship. Since that instant leadership classic hit the bestseller lists he's been a fixture on the lecture circuit, spreading the empowering message that any organization can be turned around with hard work and a compassionate firm leader. Abrashoff graduated from the US. Naval Academy and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for nearly twenty years. He was a military assistant to former secretary of defense William J. Perry. In this interview Abrashoff translates the success he had on the Benfold to how coaches can use his strategies and ideas to create excellence in their programs. This is a simple yet powerful approach to leadership. In the interview, Abrashoff said that Bill Belichick has mentioned It's Your Ship among his favorite books. Mike also points out how Western Michigan head coach PJ Fleck sat in his audience and filled a notebook during Abrashoff's talk. Abrashoff also mentions he is intrigued by Fleck's leadership style in the interview.

From the Archives: On today's Coach and Coordinator podcast, ten-time state champion and 47-year coach Herb Brogan of Lumen Christi Catholic School (Jackson, Michigan) joins host Keith Grabowski. Brogan discusses what's kept him at one place for so long, how he dealt with the toughest of circumstances and his keys to sustained success. Show notes 0:55: What got Brogan into education and coaching 1:40: Things Brogan realized he needed to succeed 4:08: Spending nearly a half-century at one school 6:55: Creating an environment that keeps assistant coaches long-term 8:35: Difficult circumstances in how Brogan took over the program 11:06: Offseason dedication 14:35: The program’s explosive running offense 17:25: Spending time on younger kids, non-skill positions 21:28: Pushing players to excel in today's society 25:10: The future of the game 30:10: The winning edge

From the Archives: Jonathan Himebauch, Tight Ends Coach, Air Force On today's Coach and Coordinator podcast, offensive line coach Jonathan Himebauch with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League joins host Keith Grabowski. The Connecticut native, and former USC and pro football player, has 20 years of coaching experience. That includes seven years in both the CFL and NCAA, with stops at Nevada, Wake Forest, San Diego State and UNLV. Himebauch discusses his extensive coaching career, player relations and more. Show notes 1:15: Himebauch’s football journey, from coach’s kid on up 9:45: Engagement and communication with students 12:30: Learning what players will respond to 17:40: Process for player learning and evaluation 25:50: Players have to believe in you and what you’re teaching 31:55: Offensive line culture 38:30: Key difference between American and Canadian football 41:30: Advice for coaches at any level 44:45: The winning edge

From the Archives: This week on the Game Plan series, Keith Grabowski and Charlie Coiner talk to former quarterback coach Wade Wilson about 2-minute offense. They discuss the specifics about teaching and the approach of the 2-minute offense from the quarterback position. Coach Wilson ties it in to the college and high school level with his prominence in the NFL with young quarterbacks. Though time and the relationship between the levels may differ, the concepts and approaches demand the same attention from the position. 03:55 Wade Wilson Bio 06:00 2-minute offense with young QBs 07:20 Organizing 2-minute offense 08:12 In the meeting & practice 09:40 Having 2-minute offense in up tempo offense 10:30 QB orchestrating the 2-minute offense in practice 11:40 Believe 12:20 Working with a mobile QB 13:50 Ball carrier situational awareness 15:00 Organizing the rotation in 2-minute offense 16:15 Being patient 18:15 Working in last plays 19:55 Coach Wade’s favorite play to set up Hail Mary 23:00 Execution of the Hail Mary 25:10 Play call out of Hail Mary position 27:20 Pay attention to detail 27:55 Common themes in all levels 28:25 Finding the package for 2-minute offense 29:20 Take time to walk through it 31:45 First Down Playbook

From the Archives: On today’s episode of Coach and Coordinator, host Keith Grabowski talks with Tyrone Nix, outside linebackers coach at Ole Miss. A 24 year coaching veteran, Nix has coached every positional group on the defensive side of the ball. Nix is in his first year back at Ole Miss, but previously served as their defensive coordinator from 2008-2011. Prior to this season, Nix served as the safeties coach at Virginia Tech for one year, a defensive analyst at Texas A&M for one year and the defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee from 2012-2016. Nix joins the podcast today for part of the “Training Camp” series to talk about how he handles his linebacker group during camp. Show Notes: 1:33 Coach’s Journey, including Steve Spurrier, Brett Favre, Jimbo Fischer and more 5:22 Fraternity of Coaches 7:02 Going against his brother who is also a coach on staff 9:08 Opening message in camp to his LB’s 11:09 Pointing out positives during camp 14:36 Coaching discipline and taking players out of conflict situations 16:44 Keeping the best athletes on the field 17:52 Teaching LB’s to bait QB’s into making wrong reads 20:02 Teaching and Coaching physicality of the LB position 22:42 Use of the hips 25:26 Tackling techniques Coach works in practice 27:48 Evaluation during camp 30:01 Winning Edge Connect with Coach: @CoachTyroneNix