Video: Coach celebrates a little too hard
See this show passion after his guys scored a touchdown.
If you've coached long enough, you know one of these coaches. And if you've coached long enough, you've probably been one of these coaches! Hey, it happens. Try your best to avoid being one of these six coaches.
"That's not my responsibility""I drew up cards when I was a rookie, that's not my thing now. I paid my dues." This coach skirts every opportunity to do anything more to help the program.
Go film an opponent? "Not my job." Supervise the chain crew during the frosh game? "What do I look like man?" Put stats up on MaxPreps? "Do I get an extra stipend for that? I wasn't hired to do that."
This attitude quickly destroys the morale of the staff. When one guy is rowing his boat in the opposite direction, it causes unneeded waves for the team.
Good coaches always remember they're part of a team and willing to help the team be successful.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
This ain't that place! This is a new team, this is a new year. What you did five years ago really doesn't matter to this team outside of the knowledge you bring from that season.
The kids could care less, your assistants could care less and the parents could care less. Just because you won a championship back then doesn't mean you work less now. It doesn't mean you can demean these kids because "they aren't as good." Do your job, make this team better!
"Did You Hear?"Some coaches need the gossip, some coaches love the gossip and some coaches thrive on the gossip. They are bored, and gossip about, in and around the program fills a weird void in their lives. No matter if it's about the booster club secretary, or the vice principal of athletics or the head coach's marital problems. They thrive on gossip and on spreading gossip.
"Did you hear?" is their favorite saying. Coaches who thrive on gossip waste time. They spread little fires all over the place; those eventually need to be put out, which wastes the time and energy of the head coach.
"They Do The Same Thing Every Year"This coach has been around for years and refuses to put in his time on the weekend via Hudl.
"They do what they do. Hamilton High is Hamilton High." What does this even mean?! Sure, the same head coach has been there running the single wing and 4-4 cover three for 15 years, but it's a new group this year. But this coach doesn't think watching film will help. Your program is 2-13 the last fifteen years. They haven't changed a thing in 15 years, watching film is a waste of time because "Coach Perry is Coach Perry."
"I Did My Job""If the offense worked as hard as we did this week, we would have probably won this game. I did my job, I wish the O would have done theirs."
This coach doesn't understand the concept of team, or staff. He's on an island with his responsibilities, and is quick to judge the other units on his side of the ball, or the other side of the ball altogether. He could almost care less about the results of the team, it's all about his group.
"Can't Wait Till The Season Is Over"
You know the guy. He's done with the year, and it's only week four.
He's already talking about where he will be coaching next year, who he is going to network with, and how he can't wait for the season to end. He doesn't watch as much film, and is on the internet during meetings, scouring for that next gig already.
Chris Fore is a veteran Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from Southern California. He consults coaches and programs nationwide through his business Eight Laces Consulting.
