Summary: Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Mark Bruns. Bruns is the defensive coordinator at Coldwater (Ohio), one of the top small-school programs in Ohio. In 2015, Coldwater finished 15-0, winning a state title and allowing just 99 points the entire season. Bruns discusses his base 4-4 defense, how success breeds more success and how young coaches can make themselves indispensable by mastering technology: Show notes 1:17 Start as a football coach 2:42 Key lessons in development 4:10 Expectation of playing 15 games per season 5:53 Dealing with expectations as a coaching staff 7:36 How deep playoff runs can develop players (more games, more reps) 9:00 Keeping things fun during a 15-week season 10:42 A typical practice at Coldwater 14:58 Inside Coldwater's defense 17:11 Creating a defensive "system" and the need to make adjustments quickly 19:25 The value in scheduling a variety of teams in non-conference play 21:25 Technology (and how young coaches can embrace it) 23:21 Mistakes made as a young coach 24:20 Best coaching advice received 25:11 Advice to a young coach 26:13 Creating balance 29:35 Two-minute drill 31:04 The winning edge
