Summary: Today’s “Your Call” episode of USA Football’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast dives into shared responsibilities across a coaching staff and the use of the co-coordinator role. We are joined by coaches from Friendswood High School (TX), Hinsdale South High School (IL), and Rocky River High School (OH) to discuss the benefits, challenges, and strategies for utilizing the co-coordinator role. Show Notes Friendswood High School Staff: Robert Koopman, head coach @robertkoopmann Seth Harris, run game offensive coordinator @coachsethharris Scott Smith, pass game offensive coordinator @scottjsmith81 02:50 Head coach thoughts on the advantages of a co-coordinator system 04:15 The deep dive, focus, and development of “experts” 05:15 Efficiency in film breakdown 05:40 Bringing it together into one cohesive plan 07:54 The game planning process that starts with the head coach 08:54 Making decisions on game day 09:55 Communication during and between series 12:38 Situations that require one coach to take the lead 14:45 Tips on making co-coordinators work Hinsdale South High School staff: Mike Barry - head coach, run game offensive coordinator @coachbarry50 Scott Hansen - pass game offensive coordinator @coachhansen05 18:07 How it starts with the philosophy of the program 21:18 How coordinators increase efficiency 22:55 Preparing the game plan and the team by distributing the work 26:00 Putting everything together into one game plan 27:50 Happy coaches make a happy staff 31:35 Handling sideline adjustments 33:10 Tips for the co-coordinator who works with the head coach 36:26 Empowering your staff to be successful in sharing the responsibility 39:14 Sharing responsibility helps build a staff Rocky River High School staff Josh Wells, head coach, run game defensive coordinator @coachwells1 Austin Cordova, defensive pass game coordinator @coachcoop_21 41:00 Balancing being the head coach with helping a young defensive coordinator 43:05 Making sure the front end and back end of the defensive game plan fit together 45:10 Understanding each other in the big picture 46:29 How the head coach is freed up to handle other parts of the program 47:23 Decisions and communication process on game day 50:40 How adjustments on the sideline and at halftime are made and the use of instant replay 51:55 Head coach giving his eyes to other phases of the game 54:00 #1 key to making the co-coordinator system work Coach Grabowski’s article on making co-coordinators work https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/2094/making-co-coordinator-coaching-roles-work-to-an-advantage Listen to the Coach and Coordinator Podcast all season long for tips, strategies, and concepts that can help you be successful.
