Coach and Coordinator Podcast

For today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, Louisiana Tech strength and conditioning coach Kurt Hester joins coach Keith Grabowski to go over his role with the Bulldogs, in and outside of the weight room. Hester also addresses in-season strength training as well as incorporating “Fast Friday” and “No Sweat Thursday” into each teams’ weekly schedule from a scientific perspective. Hester has been in his role at LA Tech since 2013, while also formerly holding the position of National Director of Training for the D1 Sports Training Center (Nashville, Tenn.) and having worked with athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, including Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers. Show Notes: 1:16 Coach Hester’s out-of-weight-room involvement 4:20 Why old school conditioning is out of date 9:22 Use of technology versus eyes in practice 11:42 Why weight room numbers won’t necessarily reflect on-field play 14:57 Tips to prepare for conditioning during week one and beyond 17:11 In-season strength training 18:51 Proper footwear to maintain health throughout the season 20:19 Using “Fast Friday” in weekly practice routine 22:45 Pregame schedule for multi-position players 23:40 The scientific approach of light practice leading into games 25:54 Coach Hester’s best tip going into the 2019 season Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/strength-and-conditioning-with-sandbags-lane-kirkland-head-coach-carey-high-school-idaho https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/game-plan-in-season-sc-with-jim-arthur-miami-dolphins-strength-and-conditioning-coach https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/micah-kurtz-strength-and-conditioning-coach https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-georgia-special-teams-coordinator-scott-fountain-shares-his-camp-plan

On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Arkansas special teams coordinator Scott Fountain. During multiple stints as a special teams coordinator, Fountain has been known for his ability to develop excellent returners in both the punt return and kickoff return game. Fountain joins Coach and Coordinator today to talk about how he teaches different special teams positions during camp as well as how he chooses and develops return men. *When this podcast was recorded, Scott Fountain was Special Teams Coordinator at Georgia. Show Notes: 1:12 Distribution of Coaches 2:45 Finding guys to fit roles on special teams 5:52 Spending individual time on special teams and the teaching aspect 11:30 Using his staff 13:10 Camp evaluation process 17:33 Developing a return man 22:08 Simulating guys in returner’s face at practice 24:36 Preparing for all the different kinds of punts 28:11 Recognizing outstanding special teams play during camp and in season Connect with Coach: @CoachSFountain Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-running-a-linebacker-room-with-tye-nix-outside-linebacker-coach-ole-miss https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-building-your-offense-during-camp-wtommy-zagorski-ocol-coach-university-of-akron https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-optimal-performance-during-preseason-wdj-callender-yusef-shakir-and-ryan-horton https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/best-of-deliberate-practice-special-teams-edition

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski continues his “Offense Research and Development Series” with a focus on the offensive tackle position. He discusses identifying skill sets and placing personnel in the best scheme for their body type and abilities. 2:25 Building next season’s playbook based on personnel 3:43 Looking at different offensive linemen skill sets and body types 4:33 Placing two different body types next to each other on the line 5:40 Looking at “Power” to a 3 technique 9:06 Setting up assignments to maximize skill sets/body types 10:03 Start with stance for OT - the two point stance 12:29 Placing a premium on development 13:24 Development of the hands/independent hands 15:06 Developing posture/using med balls 15:50 Utilizing the correct type of pass sets 16:48 John Strollo - “Fundamentals of Acceleration” 17:38 Drills for footwork in run game 19:17 Use your hips! 20:49 Identify skill sets and development plan for scheme Articles: Offensive Tackles http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-tackles/ Interior Linemen Part 1 http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-the-interior-offensive-line-part-1/ Interior Linemen Part 2 http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-interior-offensive-line-part-2/

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by John Reagan, Offensive Line Coach at Maryland. Coach has over 25 years of experience including stops at Penn, Kansas, Rice, Air Force, Temple and Akron. Coach his now known for getting the most out of his offensive linemen, but early in his career had experience coaching on the defensive side of the football as well. Coach came on the podcast today to talk about his experiences and how to build and offensive line. Show Notes: 0:55 Coach’s journey 3:35 How learning different sides of the ball helped Coach’s development 9:30 Reaching different learning styles and teaching things differently 14:22 Matching personnel with scheme 19:37 Building and scouting your “next” team 23:10 How Coach approaches learning and developing new aspects of his coaching 26:25 Staying on top of recruiting 29:41 What the keys were to Coach being able to stay at the higher levels of football throughout his career 32:48 Winning Edge

On today’s podcast, host Keith Graboowski is joined by AJ Cooper, Edge’s Coach at Washington State. Cooper has been in that role for one year with prior coaching experience at the University of Wyoming (6 years) and North Dakota State (8 years). As one of the only coach’s in the country with the actual title of “Edge’s,” Coach has become an expert on coaching that positional group. He joined the podcast today to talk about how he coach’s his position group both on the practice field and in the classroom. Show Notes 1:05 What the “Edges” are 2:05 Coach’s Journey 4:12 What he learned during his time at NDSU 5:45 Who were Coopers mentors and what they taught him 9:09 Thinking outside the box 12:00 What Cooper’s meeting rooms are like 16:05 Different teaching methods 18:44 Type of players Cooper looks for in his recruits 23:20 What Coach does in Indy drills that help players get better 27:35 Training his players to be effective in the run game 31:00 Teaching how to set the edge 34:30 Importance of the whole defensive unit being on the same page 36:00 Keys to being successful in this business 39:34 Coach’s talk at the Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic 43:02 Winning Edge

On today's podcast, host Keith Grabowski shares part 1 of his series on offense research and development. The series focuses on matching personnel, philosophy, and schemes and packaging all of those together into a cohesive offensive package. Today's episode details the different skill sets of the interior offensive line (centers and guards) and how and why they fit well into different types of schemes. The articles with video that support this podcast can be found here: http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-the-interior-offensive-line-part-1/ http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-interior-offensive-line-part-2/

Joining Host Keith Grabowski on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, is Allen Rudolph, Offensive Line Coach at Ohio University. Coach joined Ohio in 2019 after spending the previous three years at Arkansas State where he was also the Offensive Line Coach. Rudolph is known for getting the most out of his offensive line units and takes pride in the culture he builds in his offensive line rooms. He came on the podcast today to speak about some techniques and coaching points that he uses to train his offensive linemen as well as share his story. Show Notes: 1:34 Coach’s Journey 5:17 Which mentors and lessons had the biggest impact on Coach 10:40 “The Rock” 14:20 How coaching Canadian Football changed his thinking as a coach 21:39 Value of training the eyes 28:30 Practice techniques to teach the eyes and building processes 33:25 Running GAP and Zone schemes 38:20 How Coach trains his players for Pass Protection 45:52 Training Independant hands 51:38 Advice Coach would give on how to be successful in this business 56:18 Winning Edge

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski welcomes Tim Albin, Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach. Albin has been at Ohio since 2005, when he came over after 4 seasons at Nebraska. Since taking over as offensive coordinator, Albin’s offensive have been wildly successful and have run a very diverse offense. Albin comes on the podcast to discuss the energy he has brought throughout his career as well as how he fits together his diverse offenses. Show notes: 1:04 Coach’s journey 3:17 Key lessons from Coach’s mentors 6:38 Key pillars that make up his coaching philosophy 13:00 How Coach’s energy and enthusiasm has varied over time 16:50 How Coach fits together his diverse offense 22:00 Coach’s courses on Coach Tube 32:15 Coaching for a loving not a living 35:58 Winning Edge

Today on the Coach and Coordinator podcast, Host Keth Grabowski welcomes Kevin Loney, Runningbacks Coach at Bowdoin College. Coach has been at Bowdoin for over 5 years and has Head Coaching experience at Nichols College, where he was from 2011-13. He came on the podcast today to talk about his journey through the coaching world. Show Notes 1:06 Coach’s journey 3:50 Who were coach’s mentors 8:40 Biggest aspects of Coach’s development 12:51 How Coach rejuvenated his career after his first experience as a head coach 17:20 What type of player they recruit at Bowdoin 21:46 Core ways Bowdoin runs their program 27:57 Coach’s course at the Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic

On today's podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Jeff Steinberg, Head Football Coach at Beaumont High School. Coach Steinberg has won over 160 games and has TWO Southern Section Championship, a section that has over 600 teams. In 2018 he accepted the head coaching job in his hometown at Beaumont High School. Coach came on the podcast to talk about training your quarterback year round. Show Notes: 1:40 Steinberg’s philosophy on Coaching QB’s year round 3:00 The twelve month teaching progression 5:11 What to work on from January to March with your QB’s 7:45 Recommendations for work from April-June 9:21 Planning for the summer 10:56 Effective ways to use the go-pro for the QB 12:40 Panoramic view with the go-pro and the best camera angles 13:20 360 degree camera 15:40 Getting “inside the helmet” 17:00 Affordability of these cameras 18:02 Creating libraries for training 18:50 How useful this system will be regardless of what system that QB is in 20:13 Rundown of Coach’s courses on Coach Tube

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Jared Keyte, Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties Coach at the University of Maine. Keyte has been at Maine since 2016 and prior to his current role, worked with the outside linebackers. Before joining Maine, Keyte spent time as a quality control coach for Rutgers. Coach played a crucial role in Maine’s 2018 Championship season as he contributed weekly to the defensive game plan. Keyte joins Grabowski today to talk about the energy and effort he puts into coaching as well as Maine’s third down defense. Show Notes: 1:09 Coach’s Journey 4:36 What were key takeaways from his mentors 6:57 Different ways of teaching and streamlining how to do it 10:34 Training coaches 13:03 Intentional effort 15:31 Special Teams Philosophy 19:14 What Coach looks for positionally in his players for KOR 20:54 Schematic difference between different kicks 23:08 Teaching Special Teams fundamentals 25:48 Adjusting to teams that kick away from your returners 28:22 Defensive approach on 3rd down 30:18 Coaching up how guys give help 32:00 What types of drills they run for their safeties 33:50 How offenses have adjusted to their system 35:46 Teaching guys to avoid giving away indicators 37:50 Winning Edge

On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Brian Polian, Special Teams Coordinator at Notre Dame. While he is an excellent special teams coordinator, Polian has recently studied and published his own book, Coaching and Teaching Generation Z: Honor the Relationships, and has become an expert in that field. Polian and Grabowski talk about different aspects of dealing with the newer generation of players and how relationships have changed over time. Show Notes 2:03 Coach’s journey 5:37 Lessons he learned along the way and why he continued to coach 8:25 What covid has helped coach appreciate in terms of coaching 11:53 Honor the relationship before honoring the task 14:09 Research require for his book 16:50 Navigating through race 19:50 Advice for coaches trying to build relationships with players 23:48 Self determination 26:52 Connectedness of winning and relationships 30:00 Building blocks of relationships 36:15 Taking advantage of the little moments 41:30 Tips for giving feedback 46:13 Keys to coaching generation z 50:08 How Coach came out of this feeling about himself

On today’s episode of the coach and coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Nevada Special Teams Coordinator, Thomas Sheffield. Prior to being at Nevada, Sheffield at Arkansas-Pine Bluff for 3 years, where he served as Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach. Sheffield has a unique style of coaching and came on the podcast today to talk about his journey as well as his coaching techniques. Show Notes: 1:21 Coach’s journey 4:15 How he landed on coaching special teams 8:50 Philosophy coach developed for his coaching special teams 14:04 Ride or Die Culture 20:00 Simplifying scheme for players and balancing that with technique and competition 27:00 Drills and techniques to help prevent big penalties 31:33 Putting the ego aside 41:10 Winning edge

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Ola Adams, Defensive Coordinator at Villanova University. Coach Adams has been with the Wildcats since the 2015 campaign in a variety of roles and has only begun his defensive coordinator duties starting in the 2019 season. Coach has been known for his ability to adjust, study and improve whichever group he is coaching in any given season and has excelled with each new challenge. Coach comes on the podcast today to talk about the keys to being successful with the 3-down front as well as building relationships with players. Show Notes: 1:17 Coach’s journey 4:26 How coaching different positions helped him 10:05 Taking advantage of your opportunities 14:10 Walking meetings 19:35 Continuing new things that arose from covid 21:45 Keys to being successful with the 3-down front 24:00 Simulated blitzes, creepers and other aspects of his 3-down front 33:46 Keys to being able to play press man coverage 38:44 Winning Edge

On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski welcomes Pete Rossomando, offensive line coach, Vanderbilt. 2020 was Coach’s first year at Vanderbilt after coaching the offensive line at Rutgers in 2019. Rossomando also has head coaching experience as he led Central Connecticut State from 2014-18. He joins the podcast today to talk about how he has developed as a professional. Show Notes: 1:20 Coach’s journey 5:36 Preparation 7:58 Importance of having the answers for players 10:41 Importance of building relationships with players and knowing their strengths and weaknesses 12:40 How he builds relationships and treats his players 16:23 Starting relationships with the new players 19:19 Being yourself 24:05 Finding your way as a coach 27:23 Approach to clinics 29:50 Recruiting during Covid 33:11 Figuring out the makeup of guys when you can’t be around them right now 36:02 Coach’s talk at the Lauren’s First and Goal clinic 38:34 Winning Edge