Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Merrill Hoge, former NFL running back and current ESPN analyst, serving as a head coach of Your Call Football, a professional football league that lets the fans choose the plays. On today’s episode, Hoge and Keith Grabowski talk about the Your Call Football league. Show Notes 0:40 Hoge explains Your Call Football 4:17 How game planning is different in YCF 7:02 Responsibilities of the coaches 9:00 Personnel makeup of YCF 10:20 Preseason organization of YCF 12:40 The future of YCF 13:45 YCF player safety 15:22 What coaches could take away from YCF

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Tom Wilson, head coach at Dowling Catholic High School (Iowa). Wilson is a six-time state champion, and led Dowling to its fifth straight this past season. This episode was recorded live at the 2018 USA Football National Conference in Orlando, Florida. Wilson and host Keith Grabowski talk about the current state of the game and look back at Dowling’s 2017 season. Show Notes 0:35 Wilson talks about the USA Football National Conference 2:55 What Wilson learned from the 2017 season 5:30 Something new implemented this past season 7:20 Keeping a consistent coaching staff 9:50 How the offense evolved during the 2017 season 11:45 How the coaching staff prepares in the offseason 14:50 Challenges facing the game of football 20:50 Youth player development 23:10 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football 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 gameday 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

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is John Roderique, head football coach at Webb City (Missouri) High School. Coach Roderique is an 11-time state champion and led Webb City to its 14th state championship last fall. This episode was recorded live at the USA Football 2018 National Conference at Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Coach Roderique and Keith Grabowski talk about how the game has evolved and the importance of youth programs. Show Notes 0:35 Coach Roderique talks about his background in coaching 3:00 Coming back to coach at your alma mater 7:30 A mistake that Coach Roderique has learned from 9:10 Preparing players for life 11:25 How technology has evolved in coaching over the years 15:00 How practice has evolved over the years 17:40 Teaching youth programs safer techniques 22:40 Coach Roderique talks about changes he has seen in USA Football over the years 28:05 Importance of keeping fundamentals consistent at all age levels 29:35 Coach Roderique talks about his experience at the USA Football National Conference 30:55 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Dean Paul, head coach at Ohio Northern University, an NCAA Division III school in Ada, Ohio. In the 2017 season, Ohio Northern led the nation in punt defense, holding opponents to under a yard per return. On today’s podcast, Coach Paul talks with Keith Grabowski about special teams strategy and the culture at Ohio Northern. Show Notes 0:50 Coach Paul talks about his background in developing as a coach 3:30 Coach Paul talks about the culture of his coaching staff 5:35 The origins of their dog soldier workouts 8:15 The culture at Ohio Northern 9:45 How players learn off the field 13:31 Technology that Coach Paul incorporates in his program 17:20 Coaching organization of ONU’s special teams 20:30 Special teams practice organization throughout a week 23:40 Coach Paul’s special teams strategy 27:45 Using different formations after breaking down an opponent 31:30 Coach’s philosophy on using starters on special team units 33:25 Expectations of the special teams unit 35:35 The winning edge

The Clinic Report - Episode 1 by USA Football

Today’s guest on this NCAA Leaders edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is John Steger, Defensive Coordinator at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Steger helped lead Minnesota-Duluth to finish No. 1 in NCAA Division II in fumble recoveries and No. 2 in turnover margin and third-down and red zone defense. On today’s podcast, Steger talks about developing yourself as a coach and his defensive strategies. Show Notes 1:20 Steger talks about his coaching background 2:30 Important things to remember when developing yourself as a coach 4:55 How the evolution of the game has affected coaching 6:45 Culture of the coaching staff 8:45 Know your system better than your opponent 10:45 Developing a culture within your unit 13:30 Understanding how kids learn best 18:30 Steger talks about his defense 20:40 Key strategy for stopping today’s dynamic offenses 24:35 Number of calls Steger brings into a game 28:10 Emphasizing turnovers in practice 34:25 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Steve Huff, head coach of College Station High School in College Station, Texas. This past season, Huff led College Station a 5A Division 2 state championship. On today’s episode, Huff talks about the best way for young coaches to develop themselves. Show Notes 0:35 Huff's coaching background 1:40 Mistakes learned from throughout his coaching career 2:25 Key lessons learned 4:45 Developing culture 11:15 What he looks for in a coaching staff 14:45 Focusing on younger players 19:15 How to keep a consistent staff 23:20 How young coaches should develop 29:50 One thing that gives Huff’s team the winning edge

Host Keith Grabowski checks in with coaches around the country to learn about the new trends, plays, concepts and ideas being shared at coaching clinics across the country.

Today’s guests on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Jason Lewis, the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Heidelberg University, an NCAA Division III program in Tiffin, Ohio. This past season, Lewis helped Heidelberg excel as one of the top schools in fewest sacks allowed. On today’s podcast, Lewis talks about how to protect the quarterback and offensive changes he made last season. Show Notes 3:05 Lewis talks about how he got his start in coaching 5:05 Learning experiences from rebuilding a team 6:40 How the facilities at Heidelberg have changed recruiting 8:40 Selling traditions to recruits 10:15 Lewis discusses Heidelberg’s culture 11:50 Heidelberg’s offensive procedures 14:15 Going back to a huddle offense 15:35 Lewis talks about their base protection 18:15 Lewis explains blitz pickups 20:15 Lewis talks about drills he uses to improve offensive line posture 22:05 Emphasizing quarterback timing 24:05 How quarterback scrambling and escapes helped Heidelberg 25:30 How to simulate a quarterback scrambling scenario 26:25 Communicating with an up-tempo offense

Today’s guest on this “Lessons from 2017” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Chris Wolfe, head coach at Louisville (Kentucky) Male High School. Wolfe recently received the Coach of the Year for the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Kentucky Football Team. Wolfe will be speaking at the 2018 USA Football National Conference, Jan. 26-28 in Orlando, Florida. On today’s episode, Wolfe and Keith Grabowski talk about his style of defense and a preview of his National Conference topic, Advantages and Strategies in Using 4 Linebackers in a Base Nickel Package. Show Notes 1:05 Wolfe talks about how to be effective on key downs 3:30 How to notice areas that need improvement 7:30 How other sports benefit can benefit your players 10:25 What Wolfe did differently this year with defense 13:10 Utilizing the best available players 15:20 How Wolfe stops the run with his style of defense 17:10 Wolfe gives a preview of his National Conference presentation

Today’s guest joining Keith Grabowski on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Mike Pollak, manager of contact system training at USA Football. Pollak was a guard for seven years in the NFL playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals. On today’s episode, Pollak talks about the Tip of the Spear contact system, and gives an overview of the on-field demonstration that he will be assisting with at the 2018 USA Football National Conference. Show Notes 0:45 Pollak talks about how he got involved in the contact system 4:15 How current blocking techniques still involve head contact 7:25 Pollak talks about the Tip of the Spear contact system 10:20 Pollak talks about how the Tip of the Spear system was developed 13:20 Advantages of the Tip of the Spear system in the offseason 16:24 Importance of keeping the head out of contact 18:05 What has changed about over the years when it comes to practicing contact 20:15 Pollak talks about the on-field demonstrations that he will be assisting with at the USA Football National Conference

Today’s guest on this “Lessons from 2017” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Vinny DiGaetano, linebacker coach and defensive assistant at Wagner (New York) College. In 2013, DiGaetano was named to the USA Football Master Trainer program. DiGaetano will be speaking at the 2018 USA Football National Conference, Jan. 26-28 in Orlando, Florida. On today’s podcast, DiGaetano talks about the importance of self-evaluation and gives an overview of his National Conference topic, Year-Round Tackling Program. Show Notes 0:35 Takeaways from the 2017 season 1:50 DiGaetano talks about his self-evaluation process 3:15 Evaluating areas that need improvement, then working on them in practice 4:50 Preparation at practice 6:55 Sideline organization and planning on the sideline 10:35 Communicating roles to players on certain plays 13:20 DiGaetano gives an overview of his National Conference presentation

Today’s guest on this “Lessons from 2017” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Rob Hinson, head football coach at Timber Creek Regional High School in Sicklerville, New Jersey and a four-time New Jersey sectional champion. Hinson will be speaking at the 2018 USA Football National Conference, Jan 26-28 in Orlando, Florida. On today’s podcast, Hinson talks about managing two-way players and gives a preview of what he will be discussing at the National Conference, Rolling Coverage to Adjust to Motion. Show Notes 0:40 Coach Hinson talks about what he learned from the 2017 season 1:51 How Coach Hinson game-plans against the run 2:45 Changing the scheme to stop the run 3:40 Special teams player composition 6:00 Handling two-way players 7:20 Organizing player rotations for game day 10:10 Managing player reps 13:00 Competitiveness between players 15:25 What positions Hinson does not play two ways 16:40 Hinson gives a preview of his National Conference presentation

Today’s guest on this “Lessons from 2017” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Jake Gilbert, the head football coach at Westfield (Indiana) High School. The Shamrocks won the 2016 Class 5A state championship. Gilbert will be speaking at the 2018 USA Football National Conference, Jan. 26-28 in Orlando, Florida. On today’s podcast, Gilbert talks about building a system for leadership and his National Conference topic, Pressuring the Quarterback. Show Notes 0:45 Coach Gilbert talks about mental toughness 2:15 Keeping players prepared for unexpected situations 3:35 How to keep players in a positive mindset 4:50 Importance of communication 6:05 Tips on communicating team culture to players 7:40 Focusing on what to take away from a game other than wins or losses 10:15 Creating a good system for building leaders 12:30 Constructing a culture 14:15 Coach Gilbert gives a preview of his National Conference presentation