Tell us about the most memorable game you’ve ever coached.
Who was it against, what was at stake and why is it your favorite?
Over the last couple years we’ve had a pretty remarkable run. We’ve been in the state
championship two years in a row and we were fortunate enough to win it last season.
However, I think my most memorable coaching experience actually came against the team
that I am currently coaching. That high school didn’t have the numbers or community
support that I’m blessed to have at my current school. On this particular day we brought
13 student-athletes to play in a JV game. The team we played brought two buses worth of
kids, over 60 kids for a JV game. We literally had two subs. Our boys fought long and hard
that game and we were able to end the game in a tie because of the no overtime rules.
You boys taught me the most valuable lesson I’ve learned in football, doesn’t it matter how
many guys are on the sideline, it only matters the 11 men you have on the field.
Please name three things which you consider vital to the long-term health and
success of your program. Why those three?
• First and foremost you must develop a culture in your program. Without spending a
large majority of time developing culture you will fight small battles that will take up the
majority of your time.
• Next, developing positive relationships with the young men you have any program.
Everyone remembers their high school football coach, sometimes those are good
memories. sometimes those are bad, but we try hard to make positive relationships with
all of our players on all levels. Be on campus and be in their lives 12 months out of the
year.
• I’m a big proponent of multi-sport athletes. In fact I’m a multi-sport coach myself but
even for the kids that are not in the sport I coach in the spring, I do my best to be around
them to have conversations with them and to show them how much I care about them
throughout the entire year.
Beyond the game, what is your favorite part of the week’s preparation?
Why?
I truly enjoy Monday’s practice, sometimes even more than Friday nights. Monday is a
chance to start fresh to fix the bad and improve on the good. Monday is an opportunity to
take the lessons we learn from Friday night and apply them to the new task at hand.
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