Coach and Coordinator Podcast

On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes Jeff Reinbold, Special Teams Coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Reinbold has been all over both the United State and Canada during his illustrious coaching career. While he has mostly coached Special Teams, he has also held roles on both sides of the ball and has taken pride in building relationships with both players as well as coaches. During the second part of this two part show, Coach details key aspects of his unique coaching philosophy. 3:40 Building a habit of accountability 9:38 Attacking Problems, not people 14:56 Transferable skills 24:00 Getting the most out players time 30:13 Not being afraid to fail 34:45 Winning Edge

On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes Jeff Reinbold, Special Teams Coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Reinbold has been all over both the United State and Canada during his illustrious coaching career. While he has mostly coached Special Teams, he has also held roles on both sides of the ball and has taken pride in building relationships with both players as well as coaches. During the first part of this two part show, Coach details a lot of what he has learned over the years including his relationship with one of his mentors, Dick Vermeil. Show Notes 1:04 What and who shaped Coach into who he is 5:47 Coach’s experience and what he learned from Dick Vermeil 13:00 Paying it forward 16:15 Before you teach, you must reach 22:10 Getting all the details to put your players in the most successful position

On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, we break from X’s and O’s to talk about how to use analytics in practical ways. To do this, we welcome Rich Worsell, Akron Director of Research and Analytics. While his current job may focus on analytics, Worsell was a great offensive coordinator at his previous stops. Coach took a unique path to get where he is today as he came all the way from England. Host Keith Grabowski will go into detail with Worsell about his past as well as what he’s learned in analytics. 1:20 How Coach grew fondness for football all the way in England 4:15 How Math plays a role in Coach’s life 6:30 When his analytics started to become relevant to his role 10:45 Using analytics to back up your instincts while scouting 14:35 Determining and tracking important data 18:50 Recommendations for starting to use analytics for your program 22:10 How much can you do in the offseason towards building your analytics 25:17 What’s something analytically that surprised coach 27:55 Analytics during gameplanning, specifically on opening drives and kickoffs 29:00 Helpful tools for creating analytics 30:55 Winning Edge

On Today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes Ralph Isernia, Head Football Coach at RPI. In seven seasons at RPI, coach has managed to put together an impressive resume, including a .649 winning percentage as well as a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals and multiple ECAC Bowl Titles. Coach joined th podcast today to talk about his “MVP” Process and building a culture. Show Notes: 1:23 Coach’s Journey 3:45 Important lessons that Coach learned by being a younger coach 6:58 Leadership development over the last year 9:45 Developing a culture and building a brand 13:25 The MVP process 15:50 How coach would describe his offense 20:09 How his offense has helped him find different types of Quarterbacks 22:52 Foundational pieces to his offense 25:03 Winning Edge

Joining Host Keith Grabowski on today’s edition of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast is the Offensive Line Coach at Florida International University. Rodriguez is currently entering his second season with FIU and has previously served in multiple roles at Miami as well as Fordham University. In addition to coaching, Rodriguez made it all the way to the NFL where he played for the Tennessee Titans. Coach has become a master at placing personnel in their correct roles as well as developing young talent. 1:07 Coach’s journey 3:48 Influence Coach Munchak had on Rodriguez 8:00 Find a way to make a system fit players and vice versa 14:28 How fitting players can help them maximize their skills 16:30 Coach’s MAP scheme 19:28 Which fronts were ideal for running MAP 20:35 Changing schemes based on his Quarterback 24:30 Advice to Coaches looking to move up and on 27:06 Winning Edge Register for the C.O.O.L. Clinic https://cool.coachesclinic.com/

On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by Baylor Safeties and Special Teams Coach, Matthew Powledge. Coach Powledge joined Baylor in 2020, where he led a successful campaign on special teams that landed returner Trestan Ebner on four different All-American teams. Coach joined the podcast today to walk about his Coaching Journey as well as go over different aspect of his special teams units. 1:05 Coach’s Journey 2:40 The lessons that stuck with Coach the most, “Be Where Your Feet Are” 4:55 Difference between having goals and aspirations compared to constantly looking ahead 7:15 How Coaching Special teams and larger groups has helped him as coach 9:20 Making sure you reach outside your unit 10:45 Setting up his Kick Off Return Units 12:40 Approach towards taking the fair catch and touchbacks 14:17 Different types of returns they run 16:00 How they allot practice time towards KOR 17:55 Drills for frontline guys on KOR 19:55 Which type of personnel Coach looks for different spots in KOR 22:08 Techniques to avoid penalties on returns 25:24 Approach to Kickoff 27:30 Reliance on his gunners in Punt 29:42 Winning Edge

On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Brent Dearmon, Offensive Coordinator at Middle Tennessee. Coach Dearmon is known for his extensive RPO game and tailoring his offense towards his personnel and scheme. Dearmon left Kansas University this offseason, where he had served as the offensive coordinator for the last year and a half. Prior to that, Dearmon was the Head Coach at Bethel University, where he led the team to their best season ever. Dearmon joins Grabowski today to talk about creating a common language amongst his staff and players. 1:23 Coach’s journey 2:51 Creating a common language 5:30 Importance of getting players AND coaches on the same page in terms of terminology 7:25 Teaching in parables 9:45 D-Gap fitter 12:30 The process of changing old terms 13:35 Gift Route 16:05 Vertical movement 18:08 Rocker 20:20 Preparing to make sure all the terminology is the same and establishing pillars 22:38 Coach’s manual 23:52 Advice for coaches going forward

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. Today, they talk about adding the choice concept to your RPO game. 1:09 Where the Choice concept fits in the Alcorn Offense 3:51 What the deep choice looks like 9:11 What the backside does and you how work the full field 11:56 Installing the choice concept 15:15 Putting keys on the field during practice 16:41 What the backs do in the scheme 18:20 Running this as opposed to 4 verts 20:15 Protection responsibilities 25:52 QB escape routes 27:50 Different adjustments when you go 3x1 and 2x1 30:55 Using RPO’s in the same formations as the choice concepts 33:55 Attacking hashes 35:02 Switches 37:57 Inside Choice 40:57 What adjustments they make to go to inside choice 45:35 Importance of understanding the next phase of your attack Coachtube Courses: https://bit.ly/2MzZH1b

On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes legendary Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie to the show. Coach Wylie has coached at all levels of football starting all the way down at the Pop Warner Level. He got his college coaching career started as the Oline Coach at Brown in 1980. Since then he has had stops at multiple Division 1 college programs as well as stops with the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. Currently, Wylie is coaching the offensive line for the Ottawa Redblacks. This is the second episode of a 2 part conversation with Coach Wylie. During this episode he goes into great detail about his coaching style and how he builds relationships with his players. Show Notes 1:27 When did Coach learn to speak up as a young coach and how he cares about his players 11:36 Putting in 2 different game plans 15:18 How Coach Wylie teaches the game 22:42 How the COOL Clinic Started The C.O.O.L Clinic is virtual in 2021. Register here: https://cool.coachesclinic.com/

On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes legendary Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie to the show. Coach Wylie has coached at all levels of football starting all the way down at the Pop Warner level. He got his college coaching career started as the Offensive Line Coach at Brown in 1980. Since then he has had stops at multiple Division 1 college programs as well as stints with the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. Currently, Wylie is coaching the offensive line for the Ottawa Redblacks. This is the first episode of a 2 part conversation with Coach Wylie. During this episode he goes into great detail about his coaching background, philosophy and what he learned along the way. Show Notes: 0:33 How much Coach Wylie enjoys what he does 3:28 Why football appealed to Coach 8:00 How Coach went from a Pop Warner Coach to an NFL Coach 22:30 How not being afraid to fail guided his coaching style The C.O.O.L Clinic is virtual in 2021. Register here: https://cool.coachesclinic.com/

The Coach and Coordinator podcasts welcome back a longtime guest today as Matt Drinkall, TE’s Coach at Army, joins the podcast. Drinkall has been at Army since 2019 and prior to that was the Head Coach at Kansas-Wesleyan for five years. Drinkall joined Host Keith Grabowski today to talk about his plan for teaches his players in the classroom, on the practice field and in game. Show notes: 2:12 Structuring how you coach 6:10 Making assignments as simple as possible 10:45 Communicating in the classroom 13:00 Developing his TE room 15:48 Differentiating the classroom and the practice field 17:38 Getting your personality across in your coaching 18:26 New innovations and methods that Drinkall is using in the classroom 20:35 Most critical things that need to get accomplished on the practice field 23:50 What to do when a player isn’t understanding buzzwords 26:17 Creating Acute and Applicable buzzwords 29:20 In game Coaching Cues 33:40 Advice to Coaches who are getting flooded with information this offseason

We continue our Research and Development series with a focus on the tight end position. Skill utilization and skill development are the two main functions of coaching. Our research and development series has put a focus on these components because the proper placement of personnel and a focus on the improvement of each player on your team provides huge benefits in building a positive culture. Today’s installment focuses on the tight end position. The Evolution of the Modern Tight End The tight end position has undergone a revolution from the more athletic tackle who wore a numbers in the 80’s and provided an extra gap and blocker in the run game to disappearing from many high school and college offenses in a 10 personnel era to coming back as one of the most dynamic hybrid positions on the field.

On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Cody Kennedy, newly minted Tight Ends Coach at Arkansas. Kennedy is in his first year with the Razorbacks with prior stops at Tulane, Georgia, West Georgia, North Carolina-Pembroke and West Alabama. In 2018, as an offensive line GA at Georgia, he helped the Bulldogs earn a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given out to the best offensive line in the country. Kennedy joined the podcast today to talk about offensive line installation and how to coach a line in an up-tempo offense. *When this podcast was recorded Coach Kennedy was the Offensive Line Coach at Tulane Show Notes: 1:45 Coach’s journey 7:13 What the first meeting is like during camp and install 13:56 Coaching the culture of the offensive line 18:16 Training offensive line for tempo 26:59 Communication during walkthroughs 23:26 Finding extra time to work through practice and building fundamentals 29:10 Managing workloads during camp 30:58 Evaluating reps during camp 34:30 Winning edge 35:06 Connect with Coach Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-developing-tight-ends-with-nick-sheridan-tight-ends-coach-indiana-university https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-qb-installation-with-will-hall-offensive-coordinator-tulane https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-defensive-install-and-camp-adjustments-w-david-elson-dc-ball-state

On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski talks with Marian University defensive coordinator David Elson for the first edition of our “Training Camp” series. Prior to Marian, Elson served as the Ball State defense coordinator from 2017-19 and has had other stints as defensive coordinator at Western Illinois, Southern Illinois and New Mexico State. Elson joins the podcast today to talk about how he installs his defense during camp as well as adjustments he may need to make during those dogdays of August. *During the recording of this podcast, Coach was the Defensive Coordinator at Ball State Show Notes: 2:40 Coach’s Journey 6:22 Teaching his defense while having to adjust and add new players/parts 12:09 Making adjustments during camp based on what you see as a coach 19:19 Ideal time to install base defense in camp 24:16 Distribution of reps during camp 28:23 Making sure the staff stays sharp during camp 30:59 Balancing camp and family life 34:27 The Cardinal Way and recognizing it during camp 40:16 Blending and evaluating guys who buy into culture and communicating with players 46:42 Winning edge Learn Defense: https://coachtube.com/courses/football/team-defense Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/week-1-preparations-with-kirk-fridrich-head-coach-union-hs https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/all-in-on-offense-the-installation-plan-and-execution-with-arizona-oc-noel-mazzone https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/7416/using-the-offseason-to-build-a-series-of-plays-for-your-offense

On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, we continue our “Training Camp” series with guest Will Hall, Head Coach at Southern Miss. Hall is in his first season at Southern Miss and had prior stops at Tulane, Memphis, Louisiana-Lafayette, West Georgia,West Alabama and Arkansas-Monticello. At West Georgia, he was twice named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year and was the Super Region 2 Coach of the Year as well. Hall rebuilt the struggling West Georgia program into a powerhouse who spent 17 consecutive weeks nationally ranked and earned the program’s first No. 1 national ranking. Hall joins host Keith Grabowski on the podcast today to talk about the camp installation process for quarterbacks. *When this podcast was recorded, Coach Hall was the Offensive Coordinator at Tulane* Show Notes: 2:19 Coach’s journey 5:15 First thing coach installs for a QB 9:52 Recognizing “cloud or bail” 12:12 Installation process early in camp 15:26 Categories for install with QBs 19:19 Moving your head and processing 20:21 “Pick a side”22:14 Eyes and feet 23:51 RAS in-to-out 25:42 RAM read 29:32 Levels read 33:23 Tempo drops 35:33 Tempo 36:44 Tips for practicing and playing with very fast tempo 40:17 Utilizing personnel groupings 43:19 Winning edge 44:32 Connect with Coach Twitter: @Coach_Hall7 Related Content: User-804678956 – Training-camp-defensive-install-and-camp-adjustments-w-david-elson-dc-ball-state User-804678956 – All-in-on-offense-the-installation-plan-and-execution-with-arizona-oc-noel-mazzone User-804678956 – Week-1-preparations-with-kirk-fridrich-head-coach-union-hs