Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Keith Barefield Jr. - Southeastern University (Lakeland, Fla.) by USA Football

Today's guest is Eric Kasperowicz, the head coach of Pine-Richlands High School (Gibsonia, Pa.), a top program in Western Pennsylvania. He joins the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast to discuss why his varsity coaches will directly coach players for all four years of their high school career, the importance of outreach to local youth and middle school programs and why his teams won't practice in full pads after Week 2. Show notes :57 Coaching start 2:35 Lessons learned as a young coach 3:15 Pine-Richland and the relationship between support and success 4:35 Program philosophy is easy: Family 6:08 Methods for building culture 7:26 The beauty of simplicity 9:02 Why all players in Kasperowicz's program will get four years of coaching from a varsity coach 11:55 Leveraging technology 13:24 When it comes to practice, more is not always better 15:40 The "Look cadence" and building in answers to schematic problems before they occur 17:30 The red zone begins whenever the defense changes 20:35 Book reccommendation 21:12 The PB&J bar (with chocolate milk) 22:59 Learning as much as you can about the other side of the ball 24:32 Why coaches need to understand that the drills they did as players don't work 26:08 Educating middle school feeder programs 27:30 Advice to a young coach 30:58 Two-minute drill 32:41 The winning edge

Today's guest is Rick Streiff, head coach of Cathedral (Indianapolis), one of the top high school programs in the state of Indiana. From 2008 to 2014, Streiff led Cathedral to six state titles in seven seasons. In today's show Streiff hits on how he utilizes the free safety in the run game, how he molds his scheme to fit his personnel and why it's important for players to witness the coaching staff as parents. Show notes :50 Start as a football coach 2:13 Lessons learned early on 3:16 "Take care of your buddy and do your job" 4:10 Establishing the culture at Cathedral 5:10 Turning over play calling to a coordinator 6:15 Defensive philosophy and the molding scheme to fit personnel 8:18 Defensive game planning during the week 9:27 Utilizing the free safety in the run game 10:24 Coaching as teaching 11:10 Coaching technology 13:35 Why coaches don’t need to yell 15:00 Best coaching advice received 15:42 Book recommendation 17:15 Lessons big and small from clinics 18:42 Offseason learning 19:13 Concerns for future of the game 21:02 Young coaches need to put their time in 22:41 The value in players seeing coaches parenting 24:47 Two-minute drill 25:49 The winning edge Subscribe to the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast today and listen to the full episode with Rick Streiff below:

Jerry Gordon sits down with Keith in this episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Gordon, a former walk-on at UMass, is a coaching veteran, having spent time coaching in the USFL, at the college ranks and in high school football. Currently the defensive coordinator at Broad Run High School (Ashburn, Va.), Gordon dives into his Under Front defense, using timeouts strategically and why it’s important to make assistant coaches feel valued. 1:21 Starting as a football coach 2:58 Lessons learned in the USFL 4:14 Key takeaways throughout his career 5:12 Impact on coaching philosophy--and focusing on yourself, not the opponent 6:25 Sideline video...as a disadvantage? 7:20 The Under Front defense 9:23 Culture building 10:23 Want a sound defense? Start with relationships and stamina 12:36 The importance of knowing how to fix your scheme when it breaks 13:36 Google Forms as a teaching tool 14:41 Making the grind fun 15:45 Simplicity is key 17:11 Knowing when to call timeout 18:09 Why every player has a "problem" 20:16 "The best coaches made me feel good about myself" 22:21 Coaching technology 23:04 Lessons learned from coaching clinics 24:31 Concerns for future of the game 26:40 Advice to a young coach 27:57 Maintaining balance 29:59 Merritt Hale and the power of dedication 31:08 Two-minute drill

Jason Mohns is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Mohns is the head coach of Saguaro High School (Scottsdale, Ari.), a program he’s guided to four-consecutive state titles. Mohns is a USA Football Master Trainer and also helped lead the U.S. Under-16 National Team to a victory in International Bowl VIII in January. He discusses the importance of being yourself as a head coach, the value of assistant coaches and what to do if your roster lacks talent. Show notes 1:03 Start of coaching journey 2:51 Lessons learned as a young coach 4:10 Coaching = relationships 5:48 Building culture 7:31 Translating culture and learning to the field 9:00 Injecting fun into the grind 10:55 The versatility of 11 personnel 12:46 Practicing something all year--and finally getting to use it in Week 12 14:47 Be yourself as a coach--and don't micromanage 16:48 The importance of talent 17:51 Don't have talented players? Here's what to do 19:05 Book recommendation 19:32 Coaching technology 20:12 Lessons from the clinic circuit 22:15 Concerns for future of the game 23:17 Advice to a young coach 24:05 Creating balance 25:05 Two-minute drill 27:36 The winning edge

Mark Solis - Olentangy High School by USA Football

State Champion: Steve Czerwon - Muskegon Catholic Central (Mich.) by USA Football

Bo Hanson - Director, Athlete Assessments by USA Football

One of the sport’s most widely respected running backs coaches, Tim Horton, sits down with Keith in this week’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast. Horton, who currently serves as running backs coach at Auburn, has coached a host of future NFL players, including Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis and Knile Davis. He gives Keith the inside scoop on what he focuses on when instructing running backs, why so many talented running backs are deficient in pass protection and why coaches need to take their time in evaluating players. SHOW NOTES 1:09 Coaching in his blood 2:16 Lessons learned as a young coach 3:46 Building relationships with players 5:51 Keys to coaching the running back position 7:46 How Horton makes the most of his individual sessions with running backs 11:16 Coaching points for winning the block in pass protection 13:28 Approach to coaching running backs in the classroom setting and the value of active learning 15:06 Making the grind fun for players 16:50 Favorite run play 18:05 Teaching points for RBs in Power play 21:32 Why good outfielders make good punt returners 23:47 Key traits Horton looks for on recruiting trail 26:05 Why coaches should not pass judgment too quickly on players 27:15 Best coaching advice received 27:51 Book recommendation 29:59 Learning RPO 31:01 Favorite piece of coaching technology 33:06 Concerns for future of the game 34:39 Advice to a young coach 36:10 Two-minute drill 37:55 The winning edge

Today’s guest is Mike Rolih, co-founder of Go Rout, a company that helps improve the way teams practice by utilizing wearable technology. Rolih, a former high school football coach, sits down with Keith to discuss efficient practicing, in-helmet play-viewing and how technology can be a force for good in helping to build a better, safer game. SHOW NOTES • :40 Sports background and baseball career • 3:25 Best problems to solve? The ones staring you in the face • 6:09 Individual (and efficient) player coaching through Go Rout • 9:34 Improving practice efficiency • 14:23 Getting coaches back at practice • 16:35 Saving time during the week • 19:39 Go Rout’s innovative networking infrastructure (and why you’ll never have to set up a private network) • 24:40 Vue-Up and why players may soon be able to see plays in their helmet • 28:10 How football coaches (users) shape GoRout • 29:50 The life lessons football teaches, and how technology can help support the future of the sport • 32:06 Go Rout’s spring tour • 33:50 How Go Rout can be affordable for teams of all levels

Randy Jackson is the guest on today’s episode of USA Football’s Coach and Coordinator podcast. Jackson is the head coach at North Forney (Texas) after stints at Mesquite Poteet, Plano East and Grapevine. An active social media user, Jackson also recently published a book titled “Culture Defeats Strategy”, where he offers tangible steps coaches can take to develop culture in their program. In this podcast, Jackson discusses why he coaches like his hair is on fire, how repetition is critical to the success of the no-huddle offense and why his assistant coaches need to fix mistakes quickly in practice—or wait until film review to address them. Show notes 1:04 Start as football coach 2:30 Lessons learned at first coaching job 3:41 Learning to coaching people 4:44 Practicing like your hair is on fire 5:38 Coaching philosophy 7:09 Building culture 10:08 White t-shirts and how Jackson has players pick their lockers 12:17 Offensive philosophy inspired by Tony Franklin 15:16 Translating concepts to the field 17:02 Inside Zone Bruin and what makes it successful 18:34 Weekly game-planning and presenting base plays with different "wrapping paper" 20:38 Why Jackson's assistants need to fix mistakes fast, or wait until film review 22:24 No Sweat Wednesday 25:20 Play call under pressure 28:02 Softest coverage, shortest throw 29:33 Why Jackson keeps a mannequin in the locker room 30:25 Why coaches need to take care of themselves 31:10 Don't get into coaching to win games 33:07 How Jackson uses Facebook with his team 34:58 Looking ahead 35:38 Using drones 37:06 Creating balance 41:44 Two-minute drill

In part two of our conversation with Tony DeMeo, the former MIAA Coach of the Year discusses his “Four Aces” system for evaluating effort and establishing positive culture. DeMeo also details why he teaches center snapping to all of his linemen and why talent is meaningless without work ethic. SHOW NOTES • :30 The Four Aces system • 7:15 Simplicity is fundamental to teaching • 8:15 Difference between drawing up a play--and coaching a play • 10:43 Concerns for the game • 14:49 The danger of attempting to judge player intent • 15:10 People turn to sports as a refuge from politics • 17:05 Why Penn State, not Ohio State, should have been in the playoff • 20:45 Advice to a young coach • 21: 14 Don't let talent blind you (and why DeMeo looked at attendance records for recruits) • 22:59 Lessons learned from Bill Walsh • 25:29 Faith, family, football • 28:02 The "We" not "Me" philosophy

In the first of a two-part podcast, Tony DeMeo sits down with Keith Grabowski to hit on a variety of topics. The former head coach at Iona (N.Y.), Mercyhurst (Pa.) and Washburn (Kan.) discusses the coaching lessons he learned from Jim Valvano, the difference between knowing how to coach and being a coach, and the four key statistics that correlate with winning. SHOW NOTES • :33 Coaching start • 6:54 Working alongside Jim Valvano (at Iona) • 9:03 Recruiting for a system • 12:05 Knowing how to coach vs. being a coach • 17:20 Leaving Merceyhurst • 22:06 On pace and tempo • 24:41 Philosophy on the Xs and Os and the 4 stats that correlate with winning • 35:58 Announcers love fast-pace offense • 40:04 Changing a culture is not a quick fix (and why DeMeo spent 45 min with each player) • 43:32 Recruiting character, not characters • 46:17 Why DeMeo was harder on his star players

Guest Shawn Liotta sits down with Keith in this episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Liotta, who served as the offensive coordinator for Clairton (Pa.) when it scored 958 points during the 2014 season, pulls back the curtain on his offensive philosophy, which all starts with the Jet Sweep. Now the head coach at Albert Gallatin (Uniontown, Pa.), Liotta also discusses his team’s single snap count and why it’s been so successful. SHOW NOTES • :59 Start as a football coach • 5:35 Lessons learned as young coach (and why it's about so much more than Xs and Os) • 6:52 Importance of note taking. And note keeping. • 8:10 Coaching philosophy (how you treat people) • 13:35 Bringing your philosophy to the field • 16:32 the No Huddle, No Mercy offense • 17:50 Keys to no-huddle play signaling • 21:49 Teaching players • 24:00 Junk defenses • 25:16 No huddle, formation shifts, and exploiting auto checks by the defense • 26:51 Breaking down Liotta's Jet Sweep and how he teaches his linemen to reach and search • 32:39 Why the Jet Sweep is an equalizer--and how it sets up the rest of the offense • 34:33 Analyzing three levels of defense • 38:00 Playcalling under pressure • 46:33 Want to run spread? Better have answers ready. • 47:34 Don't be afraid to pay your dues. • 48:38 The beauty of the single snap count • 49:48 Clinic lessons • 51:08 Book recommendation (and how to find Bill Walsh's "Finding the Winning Edge") • 52:30 Sideline technology • 52:45 Finding balance • 53:46 Concerns for future of the game • 56:00 Two-minute drill • 56:57 The winning edge

Today’s guest is St. Edward (Cleveland) head coach Tom Lombardo. Lombardo is the only coach in Ohio history to capture state titles with two different schools. He led Lake Catholic to a Division III state title in 2001 and guided St. Edward to a Division I crown in 2015. Lombardo joins Keith on this episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast, where he discusses the importance of servant leadership, why he lets quarterbacks call their own plays (some of the time) and the value of a coaching telling his players when he’s made a mistake. SHOW NOTES • :58 Start as a football coach • 4:05 Lessons learned as a young coach and the value of experienced assistants • 5:58 Coaching philosophy, and the constancy of change • 9:15 Culture building at St. Edward • 10:56 Importance of servant leadership • 15:00 Establishing a coaching identity, and why Lombardo serves as head coach and offensive coordinator • 17:01 Why less is more with play installation • 18:40 Encouraging athletes to play other sports • 21:01 Why Lombardo tells players when he's wrong • 22:20 Doubling down on your expertise • 24:17 Mistakes as a young coach • 26:33 Personnel, playing time...and perspective. • 29:23 A reminder that practice isn’t game day • 32:25 Book recommendation • 34:05 Why Lombardo lets his quarterbacks call plays • 37:12 Incorporating new technology • 39:10 Importance of learning from clinics • 41:56 Concerns for future of the game • 44:23 Advice to a young coach • 46:33 Creating balance • 49:03 Two-minute drill • 51:14 The winning edge