Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Joining host Keith Grabowski on today’s podcast is former NFL Runningback Coach, David Walker. Having been a prolific college running back at Syracuse, Walker went back to his roots for his first college coaching career where he served as the Orange RB coach from 1995-03. After his time at Syracuse, he went on to Pittsburgh where he coached from 2004-10. Walker then coached the runningbacks for the Indianapolis Colts from 2011-14 and from 2016-18. Walker is considered one of the premiere runningback coaches in football. He joins the podcast today to talk about Coaching RB reads. Show Notes: 1:23 How Walker determined he wanted to Coach 3:15 What Walker believes makes a successful coach 5:43 Walkers platform for helping coaches grow 9:21 Developing the every down back 11:15 Owing the offensive line as a runningback 14:02 The responsibility of the coach to teach an elite runningback 16:34 What Walker teaches in his gap scheme 25:23 Outside zone 29:30 Walker's role in developing the game plan 35:36 Winning Edge 36:53 Connecting with Coach Walker’s CoachTube Course: https://coachtube.com/course/football/developing-the-complete-running-back/13031370

On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by John Hart, Head Football Coach at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg Indiana. Hart has been a head coach for over 30 years in multiple different programs and got his first head coaching job at just 22 years old. Coach has multiple State Championship Titles and is known for his ability to turn programs around. Hart speaks with Grabowski today about the challenges of building a program from the ground up and how he managed those challenges. Show Notes: 1:07 Hart explains the process of becoming an HC at age 22 2:17 Biggest challenges he faced when he became a HC 4:01 How is program actually “outworks” their opponents 5:47 How organization helps maximize the offseason 8:12 Developing athletes in the offseason 9:35 Balancing cutting edge systems with what has worked for you in the past 12:31 Clubs Coach set up in his training program 18:10 What he looks for when figuring out what needs to change when taking over a program 23:44 How to create realistic expectations and execute them 26:45 Importance of being in a strong conference to increase your level of competition 29:45 Scheduling impact 31:26 What Coach will detail in his talk at the IHSFCA 34:38 Winning Edge 35:28 Connect with coach Illinois Coaches Clinic: http://ihsfca.coachesclinic.com/

In this episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, we continue with our “Game Plan for Your Next Job” series. Host, Keith Grabowski is joined by Brian Rzeppa, author of “You’re Hired: A Guide to Working in Sports.” Rzeppa is an expert in every aspect of the job search process. He joins Grabowski today to talk about the best practices when getting an interview and how to make the most of those opportunities. Show Notes: 1:01 Rzeppa’s background and journey 2:31 How his tools and background relate to football 3:36 Advice for landing an interview 5:42 Determining what value you can bring to an organization 7:31 Value of building connections 9:06 Prepping for an interview 11:10 Finding the right fit for you 13:21 Advice for adapting to an interview and the process during the pandemic 15:34 Most common failures in interviews 17:23 How you approach a job after you’ve accepted it 20:10 Dealing with unexpected Challenges that arise after you’ve accepting a job 22:22 Key takeaways to pass along to coaches 25:04 How he came up with his coaching philosophy template 27:06 Connecting with Rzeppa

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by 4-Time State Champion Head Coach, Steve Steele. Despite losing high profile seniors to graduation as well as dealing with the struggles of Covid-19, Steele guided a young Pierre Riggs High School team to a 4th State Championship. Steele joins Grabowski today to talk about how his team overcame adversity on the way to their 4th title. Show Notes: 1:32 How his team dealt with replacing players from previous years especially at the QB position 3:31 Role of analytics in Coach’s program 4:45 Which numbers they look at to determine who should get more touches 6:21 Their process for logging and recording data 8:26 Their approach to keeping the offense rolling despite massive player turnover 10:16 Keeping focus this year with Covid and other adversity 13:05 What they learned and would pass on to coach’s who have young teams after championship seasons 15:11 Their approach going into 2021 season 16:55 What his staff is looking forward to learning during clinic season 19:18 Adding TE’s and FB’s into his scheme despite the “spread craze” 20:50 Winning Edge 22:20 Connect with Coach Related Podcasts: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/pierre-tf-riggs-high-school-south-dakota-coach-steve-steele-talks-analytics-and-team-culture https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/steve-steele-head-coach-riggs-hs-pierre-south-dakota

On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by current Maryland Senior Analyst Ron Zook. Coach has been in football for over 40 years including stints in the NFL with the Steelers (96-98), Chiefs (99), Saints (00-01) and Packers (14-18). Zook was also the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2007 for his work as Head Coach at Illinois. Zook joins Grabowski today to talk about how his experiences across football have helped him in today’s game. Show Notes: 1:26 Coach’s journey 6:07 Coach’s mentors and who he took his biggest lessons from 15:52 How big special teams was to Coach’s career 19:14 Coach’s approach to offense as a ST/Defensive Coordinator background 22:06 What he looked for philosophically in an offensive coordinator 25:02 The importance of analytics 27:38 Winning Edge 28:40 What Coach will talk about at Illinois clinic

In this Quickcast, University of Buffalo Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki shares his insight on defeating the Tite Front. -Using a perimeter play to stress an off the ball contain player -Staying with your inside runs -The need for a multifaceted approach -Game planning and prep or the Tite Front Get Coach Kotelnicki's clinic on Developing a Game Plan: https://coachtube.com/course/football/developing-an-offensive-game-plan-andy-kotelnicki/11825990?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Get our FREE digital magazine Coach and Coordinator Monthly: http://coachandcoordinator.com/magazine/

On today’s podcast, Coach Brad Dal Bon joins host Keith Grabowski to talk about the concept of virtual coaching. Dal Bon is the Outside Linebackers Coach at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska but lives and coaches from California. In today’s covid climate, working virtually has become a way of life and Dal Bon has been on the front lines of bringing that concept to coaching football. The first virtual coach in the country, Dal Bon speaks with Grabowski about his experience so far. Show Notes: 1:28 How his virtual coach role came about 5:08 What his head coach thought about it initially 9:04 Coach’s main obstacles 11:56 How it changed his coaching method 17:00 Concept of mental reps 20:14 How they operated with no meeting time and how the Alaska environment has its own set of challenges 22:44 How to build a relationship with kids virtually 28:07 How they operated on gameday 36:09 Practice vs gameday 38:02 Coach’s biggest takeaways from coaching virtually and what he would tell other coaches 43:17 How to get in touch with coach if you have questions about his setup

On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Bryan McKenzie. Bryan was a former NFL player before he started bounding around the coaching ranks at a variety of levels across the country. McKenzie currently works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as 3D Coaching. He joins the podcast today to talk about the Heart of Coaching and how to develop the heart of the team. Show Notes: 1:04 Coach’s Journey 2:21 Coach’s current role 4:20 3 Dimensions of coaching 6:52 Practical side of the 2nd and 3rd dimensions 9:51 Talking to coaches about fitting in the drill into practice time and finding out how it’ll best work for each program 14:41 Importance of just knowing all your teammates names 16:00 Helping coaches reach the heart of their players 20:45 Coaching the heart of players with teams 24:10 How coaches can get more involved with his program 28:33 What coach will talk about in his upcoming talk 29:15 The Winning Edge

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by two members of the Alcorn State University offensive coaching staff. Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach, Elliott Wratten, and Wide Receivers Coach, Jason Phillips, have helped revolutionize the RPO game by developing their own system. In this podcast, they speak with Grabowski about what makes their system unique, how they teach it and new innovations in the RPO game. Show Notes 1:07 How is their RPO system unique from others 3:05 Personnel grouping and basic understanding for the QB 5:06 How their RPO’s help their run game and how numbers dictate what they run 8:20 Understanding the defense 12:04 Teaching the RPO blocking scheme 17:35 Avoiding too many men downfield situations 20:42 Creating a comfort level for QB decisions 22:30 Training the receiver on the single side 27:48 Training the receivers on the twins side 38:45 Efficient practicing 42:45 Implementing the pistol and how it can benefit the offense 44:55 What kind of in game adjustments they make 46:27 Recommendations for coaches starting this system

On today’s episode, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Chris Fore, former High School Football Coach and Athletic Director and currently a Principal at Palmdale Space Academy. Chris is an expert in the field of resumes, cover letters and references. Fore has even authored his own book titled “An Insider’s Guide to Scoring Your Next Coaching Job.” Grabowski and Fore talk about how the environment we are living in today has affected the interview process and how to best tackle those interviews. Show Notes: 1:20 Fore’s transition from AD to Principal 2:45 Operating in today’s culture 4:50 Virtual interviews and how Covid has changed the interview process 9:50 How an initial virtual interview can be more beneficial than in person 11:23 Keys to interviewing on zoom 13:50 Virtual Backgrounds 15:10 Importance of being on time to zoom interviews 16:55 Making sure your tech is up 19:11 Getting your personality to come through via video 21:22 Keeping you attention span 23:12 Sending emails before and after the meeting 28:17 Recording yourself 30:55 Sharing your screen in an interview 33:10 Fore’s resources that are available to you An Insider's Guide To Resume Building https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/an-insiders-guide-to-resume-building/11845302?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa 29 Resume Mistakes Every Coach Makes and How To Avoid Them https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/29-resume-mistakes-every-coach-makes-and-how-to-avoid-them/2014920?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Cover Letter Templates https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/cover-letter-templates/2499194?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa An Insider’s Guide to Scoring Your Next Job https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/an-insiders-guide-to-scoring-your-next-coaching-job/2499254?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa An Insider’s Guide to Writing a Champion’s Cover Letter https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/an-insiders-guide-to-writing-a-champions-cover-letter/2135131?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Resume Templates https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/resume-templates/2499196?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Outside the Lines Coaching Manual https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/outside-the-lines-coaching-manual/2499287ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Build a Better Resume and Cover Letter Bundle https://coachtube.com/bundles/build-a-better-resume-cover-letter-bundle?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by former FBS Offensive Coordinator Jeff Mullen. Most recently at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mullen served as the offensive coordinator from 2011-2017. Prior to that, Mullen was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at West Virginia from 2008-2010. Mullen joins the podcast to talk about how to gameplan Field Zones. Show Notes: 1:46 Different Field Zones 3:09 How the field chart breaks down 7:43 Personnel groups and strategy when you’re in the “black group” 14:39 Situational identity in practice 22:22 Gold Zone Goals 25:27 Brown Zone 28:51 4-Verts and other courses Mullin has on Coach Tube 31:00 Connect with Coach Illinois Coaches Clinic: ihsfca.coachesclinic.com Coach’s Coach Tube Courses Defensive ID: The Triangle https://coachtube.com/course/football/big-o-defensive-i-d-the-triangle-attacking-a-defense/12748136?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Situational Identity: Coming Out and Going In https://coachtube.com/course/football/big-o-situational-identity-coming-out-and-going-in/12779046?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa QB Pre Snap Anticipation. Coaching and Reading 4 Vertical https://coachtube.com/course/football/qb-pre-snap-anticipation-coaching-and-reading-4-verticals/12809076?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa

On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by Illinois State Head Coach Brock Spack. Coach Spack took over in 2009 for the Redbirds and has amassed a record of 83-50 since then including 2 Missouri Valley Football Conference titles. Prior to taking over as Head Coach, Spack was the defensive coordinator at Purdue from 1997-2008. Spack joins the podcast today to talk about his switch from an even front to an odd front. Show Notes: 1:16 Qualities that drive Spacks program 2:55 When he decided he wanted to Coach 7:11 The Coach who had the most impact on Spack 11:13 Fundamentals that his defenses believe in 20:26 What caused him to switch his defense from and even front to an odd front 27:30 Advantage of going from odd to even based on the down 31:35 How coach feels in the 3-4 going against run heavy teams 34:42 Winning Edge Illinois Clinic Link: IHSFCA.coachesclinic.com

The Coach and Coordinator Podcast welcomes Tim Racki, Head Coach at Nazareth Academy in Illinois, onto the show today. Racki is a 7 time State Champion in Illinois and is known for his ability to turn programs around and take them from failure to success. Racki joins host, Keith Grabowski, to talk about how he raises the bar at programs and the key factors in doing so. Show Notes 1:45 Coach’s ability to turn things around at different programs 3:11 Empowering his assistants 4:13 Trusting your assistant coaches 6:17 Giving up play calling duties 8:44 Making the bigger picture decisions during the game 10:31 Game management 12:26 Knowing who you’re coaching and building relationships 16:43 Kids having different experiences growing up now as opposed to what you had as a coach and how that affects your style 19:40 Getting players and coaches to buy in and be vulnerable 22:42 Having your assistants adopt your philosophy 23:42 Topic coach will cover in his talk at the Illinois High School Football Association Clinic 29:17 Winning Edge 30:40 Connect with Coach Illinois Clinic Link: IHSFCA.coachesclinic.com

On today’s episode of The Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Head Football Coach at Eastern Illinois, Adam Cushing. Cushing will be going into his second year as head coach of the Panthers when their season resumes this spring. Prior to Eastern Illinois, Cushing coached at Northwestern since 2004, where he held roles of Tight Ends Coach, Superbacks coach and since 2009, offensive line coach. During his time at Northwestern, the team appeared in 10 bowl games including a win over Utah in the Holiday Bowl in his last game. Coach joins the podcast today to talk about simplifying culture. Show Notes: 1:17 When Cushing decided he wanted to be a coach 4:05 Key takeaways from the Coaches he learned from 7:52 The foundation of Cushings culture 10:14 Special things Coach’s teams do in the community, even during Covid 13:13 Value of a football program in the big picture of the world 14:55 Empowering his assistant coaches 18:31 Simplifying his message to his players 23:21 Doing accountability the right way 26:42 How Coach took time to make his message concise 29:22 How to adjust if players aren’t getting the message 31:36 Overview of what Cushing will be talking about at the IHFCA 33:46 Winning Edge 35:45 Connect with Coach Illinois Clinic Link: IHSFCA.coachesclinic.com

Today on Coach and Coordinator, Lou Tepper joins Host Keith Grabowski to talk about his 3-3 scheme and the best characteristics for Linebackers. Tepper has coached numerous linebackers to the Butkus award, which is awarded to the best linebacker in the country. While he’s most well known for his time at Illinois, he also spent time at LSU, Edinboro, IUP, Buffalo and various other schools. Coach is widely regarded as one of the best Linebacker Coaches in the country. Show Notes 2:35 Tepper’s great staff and background at Illinois 4:11 When Tepper made the decision to become a coach 7:06 Coach’s philosophy and the influence they have on kids 11:02 How he landed on the 3-4 defense 16:12 Adjustments to 12 and 21 personnel 19:38 3-3 vs 12 personnel 30:12 Playing vs teams that try and unstack the stack 32:51 Studying of offensive line splits 37:37 Finding people to gather important information for you 39:22 Key attributes Tepper looks for in a Linebacker 53:14 Intangibles Tepper looks for in his LB’s 56:29 Winning Edge Illinois Clinic Link: IHSFCA.coachesclinic.com