Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Quarterback guru Jeremy Plaa joins the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast today. Plaa is the head coach at Downey High School (Modesto, Calif.), where he’s won eight or more games in each of the past three seasons. Plaa discusses his stretch concept, his system for scoring practices and how he uses his “PIE” wheel to mete out discipline. Show notes :27 Start as football coach 2:21 Development as a coach 3:51 Have fun, take risks and be aggressive 5:04 Building culture and Plaa's 5-point system for rewarding players 6:16 Air Raid mixed with RPO 12:02 How Plaa uses simple word calls to prevent his OL from drawing ineligible receiver downfield penalties 13:39 Plaa's "ostrich stretch" concept 16:23 Keeping score at practice 18:37 Making the mistake of not listening to kids 20:25 Advice to a young coach 22:08 PIE wheel 24:45 Leveraging new technology 27:45 Two-minute drill 29:35 The winning edge

Jeff Steinberg, head coach at Rancho Verde High school, joins Keith on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast. Steinberg played football in Canada before transitioning to a coaching role in the United States. He discusses his adjustment from Canadian rules to American, modes of communication and being process-driven. Show Notes 2:19 Why Steinberg became a football coach 3:56 Adjusting from Canadian football to American football rules 5:43 How to stay ahead of the game 7:31 Modes of communication 9:17 Thought process on the sidelines 12:19 Sideline routines and rituals 17:42 Building culture throughout the program 21:31 How to avoid a “maintain” mentality 23:42 Book recommendations 29:22 Appropriate pathway for players 33:17 Being “where your feet are” 35:11 Two-minute drill

John Rice sits down with Keith in today’s episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Rice has the distinction of coaching in state title games with teams in three different states. He’s been an assistant coach for Bob Beatty at Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) and is currently an assistant for St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). Rice has unique perspective on how different coaching styles can achieve success. He also explores why sometimes, coaches need to make difficult decisions when it comes to removing problem players for the good of the team. Show notes :32 Start as a football coach 1:20 There are multiple ways (and different styles) that can achieve success 3:56 Be flexible and listen to the kids 5:14 Developing leaders 6:40 Why it's important for the sake of the team for coaches to part ways with problem players 9:43 Rice's keys to teaching: progressions, positivity, big picture and pushing athletes 10:55 Keeping things fun through competition 12:18 Getting kicked out of his third ever football game 13:17 You never know what's going on at home 18:24 Lessons learned from the clinic scene 19:25 Excited to learn about team culture 21:15 Concerns for future of the game 23:45 Maintaining balance 25:55 Two-minute drill 29:38 The winning edge

Special teams guru Dan McKenna is today’s guest of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. McKenna serves as the special teams coordinator at Methodist University (Fayetteville, N.C.). McKenna discusses why the entire coaching staff needs to be on the same page when it comes to special teams. He also dives into the need for (most) starters to have a role on special teams, why special teams coordinators need to rely on other assistant coaches and when to play it safe (versus when to get aggressive). Show notes :43   Coaching specials at the Division III level 2:40   Developing culture on a special teams unit (and why the head coach needs to be all in) 4:36   All starters should be on at least one special team (except QB and OL) 7:56   Identifying players for special teams roles 9:30   Utilizing other assistant coaches within the special teams framework 11:35   Utilizing technology to teach 15:14   The art of the return 16:20   Two-minute drill 21:28   The winning edge

Reinhardt University (Waleska, Ga.) passing game coordinator Tim Foster joins Keith in today’s episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Foster discusses his Wing T offense, and how, in an era of football obsessed with spread offenses, it can be a valuable weapon. He also dives into how (and why) he quizzes players by having them draw plays. Show notes 1:35 Coaching multiple positions in the Wing T 2:55 The foundation for the Wing T 5:18 The Wing T as competitive advantage in a spread era 6:42 The core of Foster's Wing T: Belly 10:20 Coaching the full depth chart and juggling playing time 12:00 Coaching three different position 13:30 Building culture around the concept of "finishing" 15:23 Teaching and technology 16:34 Quizzing players by having them draw plays 17:50 Transitioning from player to coach (and understanding what changes) 18:51 The importance of being a good recruiter 21:30 Developing relationships with players 23:40 Balancing football and family 24:55 Two-minute drill 26:02 The winning edge

Allan Moore, the defensive coordinator at Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio), is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Moore discusses how he utilizes wrist bands to simplify play calling and speed up tempo. He also makes an argument for why the advantages of an odd front and why young coaches need to take advantage of technology as a learning tool. Show notes :56 Start as a FB coach 1:49 Lessons learned early on 3:09 Teaching a defense 5:04 Utilizing wristbands 13:16 Advantages of an Odd front defense 16:07 The 4 i's of defensive line play 18:07 Establishing culture on the defense 21:42 Young coaches need to take advantage of learning through technology 24:19 Player development pathway 27:50 Two-minute drill

Matt Hennesy is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Hennesy is the head coach of Locust Grove (Okla.), a program he’s turned around and guided to a 12-win season in 2015. Hennesy is also a U.S. National Team Regional Development Camp director and led the Under-18 National Team to a victory over Canada in the inaugural North American Championship in January. He discusses the unique experience (and challenge) of coaching the National Team, why coaches should never pull out a playbook in an interview and how to achieve success with man coverage when you don’t have elite athletes. Show notes :42   Role as Regional Development Camp director 2:20   What makes USA Football camps unique 3:30   Coaching the US National Team 5:01   Building culture on an all-star team 8:36   How coaches can get involved in USA Football 12:13   High school football in Oklahoma and the areas where Hennesy refuses to compromise 16:49   Evaluating players you inherit in a new program 23:18   The value of "points per possession" metric 24:17   Everyday teaching 25:15   Why DBs need to watch a receiver's hips--not his head or shoulders 26:09   How Odell Beckham and one-handed catches are changing the way Hennesy coaches DBs 27:54   Player pathway 29:47   The winning edge

Chris Wolfe, the head coach at Male (Louisville, Ky.), is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. He discusses what it’s like growing up in an unusually-located football hotbed: Fort Thomas, Ky. Wolfe dives into great detail on how he built up a public school powerhouse able to compete with any of the area’s top non-public schools. He also discusses being data-driven, how he utilizes Flipped Learning and why he’s embraced shoulder tackling. Show notes :45 Positive experience at the USA Football National Conference 2:42 Growing up in the football hotbed of Fort Thomas, Ky. 7:14 Culture at Male HS 9:10 Defeating the idea that public schools couldn't compete with private schools anymore 12:02 Teaching (and testing) culture 15:45 The challenge of not having assistant coaches in the building 18:26 The importance of execution 22:17 Why you need to assume that your opponent has seen every single film on you 25:02 Being data-driven (and running plays you can teach well) 29:11 When players do something wrong, coaches shouldn't get louder 29:49 Utilizing Flipped Learning 33:54 Creating balance 37:12 The positive embrace of shoulder tackling 38:55 The winning edge

Scott Mueller has spent 14 years at Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) where he currently serves offensive coordinator. Before Washington University, he was an assistant coach in football and wrestling at Maplewood Richmond Heights (Mo.). He discusses multi-sport athletes, his “Bear 60” concept and building leadership in quarterbacks in today’s USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Show Notes :29   Why he has stayed at Washington University for 14+ years 1:11   Transitioning from a wrestling coach and his multi-sport athlete philosophy 2:33   Team culture starts with recruiting 3:55   Helping student-athletes excel in athletics and academics 9:03   Breaking down “Bear 60” 10:43   Methods of communication from the sidelines 14:49   Keeping high tempo in the base offense 19:14   Concepts in the 5-step package 25:01   Finding the “sweet spot” in the offense 36:26   How to build leadership in QBs 38:00   Balancing his attention to details in life 40:16   Proper path of development in youth sports 43:24   The winning edge

Jeff Fox joins today’s USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Fox is the head coach at Nordonia High School (Macedonia, Ohio), which posted a 14-1 record and earned a berth in the Ohio Division II state title game in 2014. In the three seasons prior to Fox’s hire, Nordonia won a total of six games—a number Fox immediately topped in his first season (2012) with seven victories. He speaks with Keith about rebuilding programs, why his coaches wear headsets during practice and how he builds culture in his program. Show Notes :42   Why Fox became a football coach 3:16   Key things he's learned that have made an impact 7:26   Words to define coaching philosophy 8:36   Team culture is built with individual relationships 11:56   How to bring competition into practice  15:07  Breaking down Fox's relentless attack offense 19:49   System of offense on game days 22:47   Balancing tempo and the needs of the players  25:50   Wearing headsets during practice 28:23   Mistakes made as a young coach 35:14  Importance of coaching staff using common language  37:58   Two-minute drill 41:01   The winning edge

Jared Hottle joins the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast as today’s guest. At Dakota State (Madison, S.D.), Hottle has worked his way up from graduate assistant to offensive coordinator. He discusses his system for identifying the Mike linebacker on each play, how young coaches can find a niche by mastering what their bosses hate to do and how to disguise the run game with window dressing (to keep OL blocking assignments the same). Show notes :41 Non-traditional path as a coach 3:34 Growing into role as a student assistant (by mastering the jobs your boss hates) 5:11 How young coaches can build trust with their superiors 6:23 Learning beyond what's happening in just your program 8:30 The importance of understanding all aspects of the game 9:40 Building culture within a unit (and why Hottle is never offended when a player asks why they’re doing a particular drill) 12:41 Don't be a mile wide, inch deep 13:57 Disguising the run game with window dress while keeping OL blocking the same 16:06 Mike Point system 19:10 Maintaining tempo while giving OL enough time to make calls 20:41 Keeping tempo in practice 22:10 Creating balance 24:50 Two-minute drill 27:05 The winning edge

Alan Stanfield joins the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast today. Stanfield currently serves as offensive coordinator at Whitworth University (Spokane, Wash.). Previously, Stanfield coached high school football in New Jersey, Idaho and Washington. He sits down with Keith to discuss why coaches can have such a significant impact on their players, the value in play calling against common tendencies and how he manages to keep a tempo using simple verbiage. Show notes :35 Start as a football coach 2:56 Philosophy = Earn the right to be heard 4:02 Building culture through Giant Jenga and Ping Pong Peanut Butter 6:48 Simple verbiage and fast tempo 7:50 Involving players in naming plays 9:40 "Army" play 13:01 Don't run a play unless you've repped it. A lot. 15:20 Play calling against common tendencies 17:45 One-word play calls to push tempo and get defenses in base call 18:27 Red Zone play calling 20:15 Never be overconfident 20:59 Don't be afraid to tell your players you love them 21:59 "Never be afraid to learn. Don't be embarrassed to show you don't know something." 24:15 Tagging receivers in empty sets 27:45 Creating balance 31:29 Two-minute drill 33:50 The winning edge

Kyle Ralph is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Ralph, a graduate of St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati), is currently the head coach at New Palestine (Ind.), which he’s led to a 22-2 record over the last two seasons. He discusses how he disguises his Inside Zone, his use of Power Spread and how he builds culture through a leadership council of players. Show notes :32 Start as a football coach 2:37 Key takeaways as a young coach 4:40 Impact on coaching philosophy 6:25 "The kids are always first." 8:05 Establishing culture and Ralph’s “Leadership Council” of players 12:55 Power Spread 14:37 Disguising inside zone 18:05 Adjusting week to week 22:54 3x1 Flood 25:49 Mistake as a young coach 32:04 Young coaches need to be prepared to work hard 33:45 Concerns for the game 38:29 "We do the shoulder tackling stuff" 40:33 Two-minute drill

Van Spence is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. He is the head coach at Paulding County High School (Dallas, Ga.). Keith and Spence discuss making the jump from assistant to head coach, Spence’s mid-zone concept and the growing issue of transfers in high school football. Show notes :29 Becoming a football coach and 14 years at McEachern HS 2:50 How the coaching staff instills work ethic 3:35 Character-building as part of team culture 7:03 Expertise as an offensive coach and the study of the quarterback position 10:26 Mid zone 16:30 Never assume a player knows exactly what to do 17:48 No one is bigger than the program 22:26 Creating a balance between being a coach and a father 25:24 Transferring is a growing concern in HS football 26:31 Two-minute drill

Scott Boyle is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Boyle currently serves as the defensive coordinator at Bentley University (Waltham, Mass.). He previously served as the head football coach at Massachusetts powerhouse Lowell High School, where he also coached the school’s basketball team. Boyle dives into his 4-2-5 defense, why his focus starts with stopping the run and how coaching clinics can be networking gold mines. Show notes :32 Start as a football coach 2:22 Philosophy as a coach 3:39 Creating a culture based on outworking anyone and everyone 5:05 Philosophy of Boyle's 4-2-5 defense 6:02 Just like in the classroom, players learn in different ways in football 7:40 Committed to the 4-2-5 8:51 Importance of good players who trust each other--and the scheme 10:05 Game planning: Start with stopping the run and practicing situational football 16:01 Don't be in a rush to be a HC (or a OC/DC). 18:43 Clinics and college practices: Networking gold mines 21:09 Balance is so important, because football can't be everything 22:25 Concerns for future of the game 23:58 Two-minute drill 25:25 The winning edge