Coach and Coordinator Podcast

University of Minnesota head football coach PJ Fleck introduces his seminar on culture at the 2019 USA Football National Conference in Orlando. In his address, Coach Fleck highlights the importance of "People, Purpose, and Process." Through these pillars, Coach Fleck then gives insight into how to properly create a culture for your own program.

Leadership Journey Season 3 If you expect it from your athletes you better live it as a coach. Practicing the principles that you are trying to preach to them. Managing your emotions and behaviors as a man and setting the example for your team. Live the standards that you demand from your players. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-living-the-standard-we-set?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-season
 The importance of applying real discipline and how it can be a shortcut to getting where you need to go as a person or a team.  Defining what discipline is and how it is different from obedience. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-11-discipline-is-the-shortcut?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-season
 Taking a step back and learning how to effectively identify exactly what you believe in as a coach. The process for identifying your beliefs. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-14-how-to-build-your-culture-to-reflect-what-you-believe?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-season
 Establishing leaders on a team, regardless of if it’s a group of players, single player or coaches. Challenges of getting young people to lead young people. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-with-brian-kight-week-4-player-led-team-vs-coach-led?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-season
 Accepting other styles of coaching and asking if the principles that you believe can be achieved through different styles. Making sure your staff is free to use their own styles but maintain the same principles. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-6-dealing-with-conflict-principle-or-style?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-season
 6. What exactly the phrase “trust your gut” mean and how to manage those gut feelings and evaluate them. Accepting that trusting your gut pretty much always results in 50-50 odds of success and that you really have to accurately track those gut feelings to evaluate it. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-8-trust-your-gut?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-season

NFL Players and Coaches - Part 2 Rocky Seto, Super Bowl Champion coach, FBS National Championship Coach, former Assistant Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks: What defines you? How to set priorities in a demanding profession. Jack Mewhort, Retired Indianapolis Colts Offensive Lineman: How his best coaches taught him to play the game. Chris Manhertz, Tight End, Carolina Panthers: The best way a coach can help his players. Jim Arthur, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Miami Dolphins: Determining workload for athletes and what coach does in practice to prepare his players for reaching top speed on gameday. Determining what kind of work load each player can handle. Charlie Coiner, former NFL coach and Wade Wilson, former QB Coach, Dallas Cowboys: Running the 2 minute drill with a young QB and how to organize the 2 minute drill in the high school and college level. Additionally, practicing the two minute drill. Up-temp offense vs 2 minute drill and situational football. Michael Lombardi, former NFL Coach and General Manager: How critical it is having a good staff and what you should look for in building out a staff. What it means to be a “program guy.” Also, the importance of player development. Noel Mazzone, current Offensive Coordinator, Arizona Wildcats, former Receivers Coach, New York Jets: Putting together a practice week and what Coach has seen from other big name coaches at practice. Additionally, the concept of “no sweat Thursdays” and “Fast fridays.” Jake Plummer, retired NFL quarterback: How accountability has become so important with the little amount of time now allocated to actual practices and meetings. Also, how playing 100% mentally can help the game be played more safely. Charlie Coiner, and Patrick Mannelly, former Chicago Bears long snapper: How Mannelly liked to practice when he was a pro and how it differs from what he has his players do as a coach. Additionally, some in and outs of practicing the art of the long snap. Michael Lombardi: Dinner with Belichek and Saban.

NFL Coaches & Players - Part 1 Today’s podcast features parts of keynotes speeches from USA Football’s National Conference. Trent Dilfer played 14 seasons in the NFL. He is best known as the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2000 and his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Dilfer was named the Head Football Coach at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. Trent Dilfer: The concept of “Coach Says” and how players are impacted more by their coaches than any other influence in their life. Also, Dilfer talks about his own coaching philosophy and the concept of “You’re awesome but…” Jon Gruden is currently the coach of the Oakland Raiders. He first served as the Raiders' head coach from 1998 to 2001 and rejoined the team in 2018. In between his tenure with the Raiders, he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008, where he led the team to the franchise's first Super Bowl title in XXXVII. At the time, Gruden was the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl. Gruden also served as an analyst for ESPN and Monday Night Football before he returned to coaching. Jon Gruden: Gruden’s ten thoughts for coaches and what he values most along with some of coaches great stories to go along with those values After playing college football for Baylor University, Mike Singletary was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2nd round of the 1981 NFL Draft and was known as "The Heart of the Defense" for the Chicago Bears' Monsters of the Midway in the mid-1980s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, the same year he coached Kirk Cousins in youth flag football. Singletary later pursued a career as a coach, first as a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, then as the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2008, the 49ers promoted Singletary to the head coaching position. Recently, Singletary served as head coach of the Memphis Express of the AAF. Mike Singletary: How important it is for the coaches to be invested not just in the players’ game but in their lives. Follow us on Twitter: @FBDevCoach

Best of Smart Coaching - Part 2 Today on the Coach and Coordinator podcast we highlight the series “Smart Coaching” with Dr. Brian Gearity and Dr. Clayton Kuklick, professors of sport coaching at the University of Denver. Dr. Gearity has been the director of the Master of Arts in Sport Coaching program at Denver since 2014. Before teaching at Denver, Dr. Gearity spent five years at the University of Southern Mississippi as an assistant professor of Sport Coaching Education. As a coach, Dr. Gearity’s specialty is in the strength and conditioning side. Dr. Gearity worked as a strength coach at the University of Tennessee for nine years and received his PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Tennessee in 2009. Dr. Kuklick works as a clinical assistant professor for the Sport Coaching program at Denver. The previous two years, Dr. Kuklick has worked as an assistant professor of Athletic Coaching Education at West Virginia University. He also previously received his PhD in Human Performance and Recreation: Administration and Teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014. In coaching, Dr. Kuklick has worked as an assistant coach for baseball teams at Shepherd University, Georgia College and State University, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Kutztown University. Dr. Kuklick has also worked as a head coach for several college baseball summer leagues. Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Find a work life balance. Coaches usually believe outworking opponents and spending hours and hours in the office equates to winning, but how does this notion differ from reality. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-athlete-coach-mental-health?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Problem setting and identifying the real problem in any situation. How to actually take a step back and truly identify issues instead of making blanket statements about issues. Also, getting different perspectives on different problems coaches face. Finally, best steps for solving those issues. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-praxis?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Effectively communicating your message to your team throughout the year. How to keep the team engaged with your message even if the wins and losses are not going the way everyone anticipated. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-communication?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Defining what a slump is and what the key triggers are for starting a slump. Also, strategies for avoiding those slumps. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-managing-mid-season-slumps?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series Twitter: @DrGearity @DrKuk14 @CoachKGrabowski

Best of Smart Coaching - Part 1 Today on the Coach and Coordinator podcast we highlight the series “Smart Coaching” with Dr. Brian Gearity and Dr. Clayton Kuklick, professors of sport coaching at the University of Denver. Dr. Gearity has been the director of the Master of Arts in Sport Coaching program at Denver since 2014. Before teaching at Denver, Dr. Gearity spent five years at the University of Southern Mississippi as an assistant professor of Sport Coaching Education. As a coach, Dr. Gearity’s specialty is in the strength and conditioning side. Dr. Gearity worked as a strength coach at the University of Tennessee for nine years and received his PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Tennessee in 2009. Dr. Kuklick works as a clinical assistant professor for the Sport Coaching program at Denver. The previous two years, Dr. Kuklick has worked as an assistant professor of Athletic Coaching Education at West Virginia University. He also previously received his PhD in Human Performance and Recreation: Administration and Teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014. In coaching, Dr. Kuklick has worked as an assistant coach for baseball teams at Shepherd University, Georgia College and State University, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Kutztown University. Dr. Kuklick has also worked as a head coach for several college baseball summer leagues. Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Having players and coaches do self-evaluation forms at the end of the year. Additionally, taking a step back and evaluating the program as a whole and communicating with players, coaches and administration. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-professional-development?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Developing effective practices and putting more thought behind them. Also, figuring out ways to provide effective instruction and really teach the players. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-practice-planning?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: Keys to effective coaching and evolving as a coach. Also, improving coaching skills, not just X’s and O’s. Also, learning what kids need when they need it and how to relate to them as well as mistake rookie coaches make. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/smart-coaching-effective-coaching?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Dr. Kucklick and Dr. Gearity: What are the key stressors for coaches both during the season and during the “off-season.” Additionally, what are some strategies for dealing with the stress of coaching. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/coach-stress-mixdown?in=user-804678956/sets/smart-coaching-series
 Twitter: @DrGearity @DrKuk14 @CoachKGrabowski @FBDevCoach

Coach and Coordinator - Best of Special Teams Coordinators On today’s podcast, we revisit our conversations with special teams coaches. We cover everything from philosophy, personnel placement, technique and schemes of the different units with some of the best in the game at all levels of football. Scott Fountain is the special teams coordinator at Georgia. He shares his thoughts on which type of players coach looks for to play special teams and how he decides how many units each player is competing on. Erik Link is the special teams coordinator at Appalachian State. They were one of the best in the FBS on special teams in 2019. He discusses the culture of Coach’s special teams units and how he uses the “E3” to define them. Shane Fogarty is special teams and running backs coach at Fordham university. Coach talks about his punt return philosophy and what kind of players he looks for when building out his special teams units and his HIT acronym for Heart, Intelligence, Technique and why having heart is the most important part of it. Dean Paul is the head coach at Ohio Northern University. He explains how he organizes special teams practices throughout the week. Robby Discher is the special teams coordinator at the University of Toledo. He shares why punt teams are putting more guys out wide, how it effects the return game and why it plays directly into his strategy of bringing a rush and trying to block a punt. Taylor Mehlhaff is a former kicker nd the specialist coach for thee Wisconsin Badgers. He discusses drills for helping place kickers and what coach thinks are the most important aspects of kicking. Sam Watts is a kicking expert and joined us to explain the importance of the holder and the art of the snap and hold and why it is so important to setting the tone of each attempted field goal for each side of the ball. Patrick Mannelly is one of the best long snappers to play the game. The former Chicago Bears long snapper share what he looks for in a long snapper as well as his thoughts on a practice plan for the position. Ryan Partridge is the athletic director and head coach at Liberty High School (Brentwood, Calif.), who led Liberty to win the California 1A state championship in 2018. In this segment he shares how the punt block and punt return techniques of “clasp, stick, scrape, j-angle, hit by and engage” and have become a big part of their culture because of the emphasis on special teams technique. Bobby April is one of the best ever to coach special teams. The former NFL special team coordinator shared his organization of game day operations in terms of special teams, where coach likes to be positioned, where he wants his assistants, and which responsibilities every coach has. Additionally, why coach doesn’t use the dots for organizing his players in game. Gary Roberts is the winningest coach in Cottage Grove High School (OR) history. He led the Lions to the 4A state Championship in 2018. Roberts explains how to teach the rugby punt and the explanation of responsibilities for the unit. Host Keith Grabowski discusses the benefits of being able to set up a good kick off return and the chances it gives you at scoring points. Additionally, the 5 main points Coach uses for the kick off return game.

In 2018, Brian Kight joined me for season 2 of the Leadership Journey. On today’s podcast we highlight some of BK’s insight on building a culture in a noisy world, effort and commitment, what makes an elite coach, the intersection of culture and strategy, “win by don’t,” and self awareness. Complaining about the amount of time you have with your players, but instead, making the most of it and changing your outlook. Additionally, dealing with the people, parents and friends, who have more time with the kids. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-building-a-culture-in-a-noisy-world?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-with-1
 Dealing with players who you think aren’t giving the kind of commitment that you wish they had as well as dealing with players who are. Also, giving kids a system and the freedom to work inside that system. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-effort-and-commitment?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-with-1
 What separates Elite Coaches from Average Coaches. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-7-elite-coaching?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-with-1
 Execution is the intersection of culture and strategy. Additionally, how culture is based on behavior and the three different characteristics of behavior. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-win-by-dont?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-with-1
 “Win by don’t” mentality and the 5 “don’ts”. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-win-by-dont?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-with-1
 How self awareness is important to growth as a coach and how coaches need to use self awareness as a tool for getting better. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/leadership-journey-self-awareness?in=user-804678956/sets/the-leadership-journey-with-1

Analytics in Coaching - Part 2 On today’s podcast, we continue our search through the archives and highlight more conversations with coaches about their use of analytics in coaching. From unconventional strategies born of a study of analytics, building a defense and a game plan, understanding how analytics sometimes vary from traditional thinking, to monitoring in-game analytics. These coaches will make you think about the numbers you value and how you may be able to gain an advantage. Kevin Kelley is the 6-time state champion head coach at Pulaski Academy who made a name for himself and his program by using analytics to build his strategies. How analytics led him to a strategy of using the pitch regularly through plays. Building your defense around statistics as well as key numbers and stats to look at when building a game plan. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/building-your-strategy-off-analytics-with-kevin-kelley-head-coach-pulaski-academy Rob Ash formerly served as the head coach at Montana State University, Drake, Juniata, as well as former president of the American Football Coaches Association. Following his coaching career, he took on a new role at Championship Analytics. How analytics effect your in game coaching strategy and how it clashes with more traditional ways of coaching. Also, coach talks about how analytics impact an up tempo offense. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/coaching-analytics-and-in-game-strategy-rob-ash-championship-analytics-inc Steve Steele is a 3x state champion at Pierre Riggs High School in South Dakota, winning back to back to back championships in 2017 through 2019. Coach Steele is on the cutting edge with how he analyzes data to formulate and adjust game plans. Monitoring in game analytics and what his excel sheet looks like on game day. Also, the idea of “momentum points” and how they use math students on campus to help build their strategy and how they found those students. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/steve-steele-head-coach-riggs-hs-pierre-south-dakota Vince DiGaetano is an assistant coach at Fordham and has become known for his analysis of tackling and using the data to improve his players as well as formulate game plans. How coach uses yards after contact analytics to teach his kids which positions and situations are more favorable for them. More from Rob Ash: Using analytics on the defensive side of the football and the painful strategy of letting a team score. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/coaching-analytics-and-in-game-strategy-rob-ash-championship-analytics-inc
 Practicing analytics. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/coaching-analytics-and-in-game-strategy-rob-ash-championship-analytics-inc

On today’s podcast, we go back through the archives and highlight conversations with coaches about their use of analytics in coaching. From in-game live analytics for decision making, to evaluation of a game plan, and even in practicing and identifying areas of strength and weaknesses in skills to improve in practice. These coaches explain why and how analytics make a difference in their coaching. Brian Flinn, WR Coach, Princeton: How to effectively use analytics in game and having a coach in the booth with the sole purpose of providing the Head Coach with real time situational analytics. Also, being able to integrate the analytics scenarios in practice. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/efficient-practice-and-game-day-analytics-brian-flinn-wide-receivers-coach-villanova-university
 Noel Mazzone, Offensive Coordinator, Arizona: Using the “12 Percent rule” when evaluating a game. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/the-game-planning-process-noel-mazzone-offensive-coordinator-university-of-arizona
 Rob Everett, former college defensive coordinator, AAF coach: How a smart coach can balance the use of analytics with the on field feel of the game. Additionally, how Coach Everett uses analytics to coach and teach tackling and how to build an analytic system at your program. https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/analytics-to-improve-tackling-and-scheme-rob-everett

Going Bowling - Best of the Podcast with insight from 7 coaches who are coaching in a 2019-2020 bowl game. Rob Likens - OC, Arizona State Craig Stutzman - PGC, QBs, Hawaii Phil Longo - OC, North Carolina Ken Niumatalolo - HC, Navy Joe Moorhead - HC, Mississippi State Bill Bedenbaugh - OL, Oklahoma Herb Hand - OL, Texas Rob Likens: Showing your players what championship effort looks like. Craig Stutzmann: the importance of communicating with your players as well as getting them to communicate with each other. How communication can solidify relationships amongst the team. Phil Longo: How to evaluate players instinctiveness and which types of players should play based on these ratings. Also, how to communicate these grades with the players themselves. Ken Niumatalolo: How they build a culture at the Naval Academy and the importance of building men and building their character. Spending time on football is just as important as spending time on building men. Making sure players no the “Why” of the program and making sure they know their own why. It shouldn’t be just about winning, it should encompass more than just on field play. Joe Moorehead: Meeting with each kid on a regular basis and getting to know them as men and not just as football players. Investing in them as men and students in addition to them as players. Coach also talks about how he instill confidence in his program and how he takes responsibility for steering the ship. How spring practices help build the culture in his programs. Bill Bedenbaugh: Evaluating players in season and using those evaluations as teaching points for the players and not just as a grade. Bond within the Oline meeting room and how important it is. Herb Hand: Developing the idea of “shared accountability” and trust within his offensive line room. How shared hardships in practice and pre season can help develop the bonds and trust amongst his players. Niumatalolo: What it likes coaching in the Army/Navy game.

Best of Redzone Philosophy, Strategy, and Tactics On today’s episode we hear philosophy strategy and tactics from some of the best at putting the ball in the end zone once they reach the 20 yard line. We focus on an area of the field where you have to come away with points. Steve Fairchild was a 5 year NFL Offensive Coordinator servicing the Buffalo Bills, St Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers. He spent 18 years in the collegiate game spending 4 years as a Head Coach at Colorado State. Steve Fairchild: Identifying and understanding the red zone. Thoughts on howto approach the high red zone to ensure points John Bond, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Northern Iowa. In 2017, the Panthers led the FCS in red zone offense. Coach Bond also wrote a book, “Developing a Championship Quarterback.” Over his 33 year career Bond made stops at SW Missouri, Utep, Delta State Illinois Stat Army, Norther Illinois, Georgia Tech, Georgia State UMass, and Tennessee Martin. @CoachJohnBond John Bond: 3 Keys to excelling in the Red zone: Running the ball, running nakeds and 3 step drops. How to breakup red zone practice time during the wee. Brad Spencer is the offensive coordinator at North Central College who plays for the Division 3 National Championship tonight in the Stagg Bowl. North Central Has become an offensive power house at the Division III level this. Spencer's offense was ranked No. 1 in third down and red zone efficiency, top three in completion percentage and top 10 in total offense and scoring. Brad Spencer: Figuring out where the defense changes as you approach the red zone and goal line. Finding the set of plays your players like to run and settling on plays you’re comfortable with. Additionally, how much of your offense stays the same from outside of the redzone. Joe Osovet joined the Tennessee coaching staff in 2018 following a successful tenure as one of the top head coaches in the junior college ranks. Osovet has coached 11 NFL players and developed 47 Division I players as a JUCO head coach. Joe Osovet: How coach finds success in the red zone by staying consistent but at the same time being variable. The importance of disguising plays by using different formations. Also, finding out how teams adjust to different formations within the red zone and attacking their weakness. Additionally, using different personnel to mess with opposing coordinators in the red zone. Fairchild: The importance of sticking to the run game in the red zone and how to handle the extra defender in the box. Fairchild: Specific route concepts that coach likes to use in the red zone. We were fortunate to run down former Minnesota Vikings and three time Rose Bowl champion Jim Hueber. Ask anyone who has played for, coached with or had to line up across from one of his offensive lines and you will hear a common theme…”toughness”. Yes coach Hueber has had the fortune to coach a lot of good football players over his forty some years but as you will hear in this podcast, the toughness aspect and the ability to go get that one yard in a goal line situation is something that is sold first and foremost by the offensive line coach. Jim Hueber: How to use toughness at the goaline and which plays coach typically uses down at the goal line. Also, how current spread teams can adjust to heavy situations where they have to run. Additionally, benefits of going under center as opposed to in the gun.

Planning, Practicing, and Converting 3rd Down Third down is a critical situation. For the defense it means getting off the field. For the offense it’s about moving the chains on the way to putting points on the board. While the concept is simple - gain the yards necessary for a first down - the strategy, execution, and decision making and awareness is not as easy. The coaches highlighted in this podcast share their ideas on planning for, practicing, and executing their offense. The guests are some of the best in the country on converting third downs. Listen to these NCAA leaders on how they move the chains. Keith Grabowski - Identifying categories to work as well as keys to executing on third down Brad Spencer- Prepping and analyzing 3rd down Fairchild- Prepping for Situational 3rd down Tinker- analyzing the situation on 3rd Hughes- Practicing 3rd Down Neal- Gameplanning 3rd and 4th Michael Lombardi - utilize an aggressive second down strategy Brad Spencer us offensive coordinator at North Central College in Illinois. North Central was an offensive power house at the Division III level this past season. In 2018, Spencer’s offense was ranked No. 1 in third down and red zone efficiency, top three in completion percentage and top 10 in total offense and scoring. Coach Spencer how they analyze and prepare for third down execution. Steve Fairchild is a former NFL Offensive coordinator and college Head Coach talk about ways to be proficient in the red zone. He talks about execution on third down in the red zone Steve Fairchild was a 5 year NFL Offensive Coordinator servicing the Buffalo Bills, St Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers. He spent 18 years in the collegiate game spending 4 years as a Head Coach at Colorado State. Zach Tinker is the former head coach at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. In 2018, Coach Tinker’s offense was #1 in passing and 3rd down conversion, top 10 in scoring and top 20 in completion percentage. He shared is philosophy on analyzing third down as well as understanding third down context and how to practice for third down. Jordan Neal is currently the head coach at Division III McMurry University in Texas. He joined us when he was the offensive coordinator of a prolific offense at Hendrix College (Conway, Ark.). Neal’s offense at Hendrix averaged more than 600 yards per game in 2016 and excelled on 3rd down. He discusses his approach to third down game planning. Brian Hughes is the offensive coordinator at LIU Post. Coach Hughes has been at LIU Post for 22 years and in 2017 helped the team finish top 10 in passing offense, total offense, and scoring offense this past season. LIU Post also finished #1 in NCAA D2 in 3rd down conversion percentage. Hughes covers every aspect of how they practice 3rd down. Michael Lombardi joined the Coach and Coordinator Podcast to share his stories of coaching with iconic coaches Bill Walsh and Bill Belichik, and Raiders owner Al Davis. Lombardi gives insights into the coaching profession which he learned from the best to ever coach the game. All of these are detailed in his book Gridiron Genius - A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL. In this segment he talks about one of his pet peeves of “third and manageable.”

PODCAST - Hiring, building, and retaining a coaching staff In this episode of Coach and Coordinator. We hear from ten successful coaches on building a coaching staff. Together the eight high school coaches in this group have won 27 state championships. They share their insight on: 1. Chris Ash- Characteristics to look for when hiring assistants 2. Herb Brogan- Importance of giving staff responsibilities 3. DaLawn Parrish- Importance of having a diverse coaching staff and building that staff 4. Troy McCallister- Building a new staff 5. Terry Gambill- Coaches weekly meetings with players and how it helps build men 6. Jayson West- Brining new coordinators along and how to manage/communicate with them 7. Mark Solis- Steps to building a staff 8. Galen Brantley- Most important thing to help young coaches 9. Jason Hoss Houghtaling- What he looks for in a staff 10. Steve Huff- What he looks for when hiring a staff 11. Steve Huff- How to retain good coaches 12. Steve Huff- Building young coaches Chris Ash is the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas. Ash previously served as the head football coach at Rutgers and defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Listen to his full episode. Herb Brogan is the head coach at Lumen Christi Catholic. In 2018, Brogan won his 3rd consecutive state championships giving him nine as a head coach. They were runner-up in 2019. Listen to his full episode. DaLawn Parrish is the head coach at Dr. Henry A. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Parrish is in his 14th season as head coach at Wise and has accumulated, seven conference titles, eight regional titles, and five state titles. Listen to his full episode. Troy McAllister is the head coach at Phillips Academy High School in Chicago. In 2015, McAllister helped Phillips Academy become the first Chicago Public School to win an Illinois high school football state championship. In 2017, Phillips Academy won its second state championship, finishing with an undefeated 14-0 season. Listen to his full episode. Terry Gambill is the head coach at Allen High School (Texas). Gambill won the state championship at Allen as a defensive coordinator in 2008 and won the 2017 state championship as the head coach. Listen to his full episode. Jayson West is the head coach at Warren Central (IN). They were the 2018 IHSAA state champions. Listen to his full episode. Mark Solis is the head coach at Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio. Solis has been the head coach for the past six seasons. In six years, Solis has compiled a 54-19-1 record at Olentangy. This includes a berth in the state playoffs every year and an appearance in the state semifinals and quarterfinals in 2014 and 2015-2016, respectively. Listen to his full episode. Galen Brantley is the head coach at Soldotna High School in Alaska. Brantley won his 8th straight Division II state championship. Brantley currently has a 68-game winning streak and is 125-6 record overall. Listen to his full episode. Jason Houghtaling is the former head coach at Wagner University with prior stops as Wagner’s offensive Coordinator, Cornell’s offensive coordinator, Hudson Valley Community College Head Coach and began his coaching career at Milford Academy (NY). Listen to his full episode. Steve Huff is the head coach of College Station High School in College Station, Texas. In 2017, Huff led College Station a 5A Division 2 state championship. Listen to his full episode.

In this episode we hear from seven championship coaches on team building. Their share their practical ideas on how they make their teams stronger and get the buy-in needed to win championship. Chad Neal is the head football coach at Killingly (Connecticut) High School. Neal is in his 16th season as the head coach at Killingly and went undefeated and captured a state championship in 2018, Killingly’s first undefeated season since 1953. Geoff Marcone is beginning his 17th season as the head coach of the Rams. Throughout his tenure, Marcone has led La Salle to two state titles and six appearances in the state championship game. John Perry is the head coach at Pearl (Mississippi) High School. In 2017 season, Perry led Pearl to win the 6A Mississippi state championship. Mark Lusic is the head coach at Amherst High School (Wisconsin). When Coach Lusic took over the program in 2010, Amherst had never been to a playoff game. With Lusic’s help, Amherst now has four state titles. Mike Sirianni is the head coach at Washington & Jefferson College, an NCAA Division III school in Washington, Pennsylvania. Sirianni is in his 17th season as head coach of the Presidents and one of the winningest head coaches in Division III football. He has winning percentage among the best active NCAA football coaches at all levels with at least 10 years of experience. Andy Sims is the head coach at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Sims guided the Mustangs to a 6A state championship in 2017, the first in school history. Jason Negro, head football coach at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. Coach Negro is in his eleventh year at St John Bosco and has created an elite program winning the number 1 ranking and the CIF Open Division Championship . In 2013, St. John Bosco won a state championship and finished as the No. 1 team in the nation. In 2016, Bosco won another state championship and finished No. 2 in the nation.