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Post by dblwngr on Feb 21, 2017 19:13:17 GMT -6
It seems like the perception is that all coaches are to work their way through the ranks eventually landing a Head Coaching job. It's no different from high school to the pro's, if you're a good coach, you are expected to move up or on to bigger and better things.
I guess I understand the reasoning at the pro and college level because of the significant increase in pay. For me personally, I'm 100% content being a Defensive Cord and Oline coach, with really no desire at all to be a HC at the high school level.
I've been getting a lot of people asking me when I'm going to take a HC job. Every time an opening comes up friends, family, and coaching friends ask if I'm going to apply.
I'm starting to feel like I may be the only coach that doesn't need to be a HC.
Anyone else been doing this awhile and good with "just being a coordinator" or even a position coach?
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Post by badtotheflexbone on Feb 21, 2017 19:34:06 GMT -6
For what it's worth, I'm relatively new to coaching, I had aspirations to be HC at high school some day but the more I learn (especially from this board) the more I feel coordinator position is more so for me, mainly because I have a "natural" knack and interest in strategy long before football. In other words, not so much interested anymore
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Post by CS on Feb 21, 2017 19:34:11 GMT -6
It seems like the perception is that all coaches are to work their way through the ranks eventually landing a Head Coaching job. It's no different from high school to the pro's, if you're a good coach, you are expected to move up or on to bigger and better things. I guess I understand the reasoning at the pro and college level because of the significant increase in pay. For me personally, I'm 100% content being a Defensive Cord and Oline coach, with really no desire at all to be a HC at the high school level. I've been getting a lot of people asking me when I'm going to take a HC job. Every time an opening comes up friends, family, and coaching friends ask if I'm going to apply. I'm starting to feel like I may be the only coach that doesn't need to be a HC. Anyone else been doing this awhile and good with "just being a coordinator" or even a position coach? I can't wait to be the man. I know "be careful what you wish for," but I want to see what its like for myself.
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Post by wingtol on Feb 21, 2017 19:40:03 GMT -6
This guy.
No desire to ever be a HC. Now I'm also in a position where my best friend since we were 4 is the HC and we have been coaching together since 2005. I'm the OL and DC with free reign on defense and make our half time adjustments on O as well. Also call lots of plays on game day, HC is the main shot caller but will run whatever a couple other guys call during the game. Our staff for the most part has also been together this whole time as well so everyone knows their role.
So basically I have a lot of juice in my current position without the added craziness of being a HC. So again no I have no desire to ever be a HC.
Typing this I relaize I don't know if I could be an assistant for any other HC, just have to much power now and I don't know if I could be just a regular assistant anymore.
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Post by utchuckd on Feb 21, 2017 19:40:38 GMT -6
Coordinator was as high as I ever wanted to go at the high school.
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Post by badtotheflexbone on Feb 21, 2017 20:16:13 GMT -6
This guy. No desire to ever be a HC. Now I'm also in a position where my best friend since we were 4 is the HC and we have been coaching together since 2005. I'm the OL and DC with free reign on defense and make our half time adjustments on O as well. Also call lots of plays on game day, HC is the main shot caller but will run whatever a couple other guys call during the game. Our staff for the most part has also been together this whole time as well so everyone knows their role. So basically I have a lot of juice in my current position without the added craziness of being a HC. So again no I have no desire to ever be a HC. Typing this I relaize I don't know if I could be an assistant for any other HC, just have to much power now and I don't know if I could be just a regular assistant anymore. Seems like you have it made. It's like being HC without the title and all the unnecessary drama lol. Pretty sure 99% of us don't coach with someone we've known since we were 4! All I can say is Enjoy it!
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Post by spos21ram on Feb 21, 2017 20:27:21 GMT -6
There are coaches at the pro level who don't want to be a HC either.
Right now I don't want to be a HC. I'm hopefully getting promoted to OC this season and right now that's all I want to do.
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Post by 3rdandlong on Feb 21, 2017 20:30:52 GMT -6
I'm a head coach but would have no problem moving to a coordinator or even position coach one day.
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Post by 44dlcoach on Feb 21, 2017 20:47:06 GMT -6
I'm right there with you. Been coaching for the same HC for 12 years, I played for him in HS. We have sons now that are the same age, wives love each other, the whole deal. I'll coach as his assistant for as long as he's willing to let me do it. He's a great guy to work for too, lets his coaches coach and values their contributions. I'm sure thats a big factor in the way I feel.
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center
Junior Member
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Post by center on Feb 21, 2017 20:55:13 GMT -6
It seems like the perception is that all coaches are to work their way through the ranks eventually landing a Head Coaching job. It's no different from high school to the pro's, if you're a good coach, you are expected to move up or on to bigger and better things. I guess I understand the reasoning at the pro and college level because of the significant increase in pay. For me personally, I'm 100% content being a Defensive Cord and Oline coach, with really no desire at all to be a HC at the high school level. I've been getting a lot of people asking me when I'm going to take a HC job. Every time an opening comes up friends, family, and coaching friends ask if I'm going to apply. I'm starting to feel like I may be the only coach that doesn't need to be a HC. Anyone else been doing this awhile and good with "just being a coordinator" or even a position coach?  There is nothing wrong with your view at all. In fact as an OL/DC you probably have more impact on game night than the HC often does.
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Post by fantom on Feb 21, 2017 21:04:41 GMT -6
This guy. No desire to ever be a HC. Now I'm also in a position where my best friend since we were 4 is the HC and we have been coaching together since 2005. I'm the OL and DC with free reign on defense and make our half time adjustments on O as well. Also call lots of plays on game day, HC is the main shot caller but will run whatever a couple other guys call during the game. Our staff for the most part has also been together this whole time as well so everyone knows their role. So basically I have a lot of juice in my current position without the added craziness of being a HC. So again no I have no desire to ever be a HC. Typing this I relaize I don't know if I could be an assistant for any other HC, just have to much power now and I don't know if I could be just a regular assistant anymore. Have a plan for if the HC isn't the HC anymore?
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Davs
Sophomore Member
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Post by Davs on Feb 21, 2017 21:15:15 GMT -6
This guy. No desire to ever be a HC. Now I'm also in a position where my best friend since we were 4 is the HC and we have been coaching together since 2005. I'm the OL and DC with free reign on defense and make our half time adjustments on O as well. Also call lots of plays on game day, HC is the main shot caller but will run whatever a couple other guys call during the game. Our staff for the most part has also been together this whole time as well so everyone knows their role. So basically I have a lot of juice in my current position without the added craziness of being a HC. So again no I have no desire to ever be a HC. Typing this I relaize I don't know if I could be an assistant for any other HC, just have to much power now and I don't know if I could be just a regular assistant anymore. I am in a similar position with my HC. He was an assistant when I played, and the rest of the guys on staff all played for him. It is just a great situation. I don't think I would ever want to be the header. He really trusts us, and lets us coach. If I was the header I would micro mange. I am at a small school so I get to do a ton, and I love it. Also being so tight not we can say what we think. Lots of F bombs, but nobody walks away with their feelings hurt. So to sum up I am very happy being a minion at the high school level.
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Post by wingtol on Feb 21, 2017 21:35:39 GMT -6
This guy. No desire to ever be a HC. Now I'm also in a position where my best friend since we were 4 is the HC and we have been coaching together since 2005. I'm the OL and DC with free reign on defense and make our half time adjustments on O as well. Also call lots of plays on game day, HC is the main shot caller but will run whatever a couple other guys call during the game. Our staff for the most part has also been together this whole time as well so everyone knows their role. So basically I have a lot of juice in my current position without the added craziness of being a HC. So again no I have no desire to ever be a HC. Typing this I relaize I don't know if I could be an assistant for any other HC, just have to much power now and I don't know if I could be just a regular assistant anymore. Have a plan for if the HC isn't the HC anymore? We're 43. Been coaching for 20 years now. He doesn't plan on not coaching for awhile. Already at our second school together so he goes somewhere else it would be all of us. No one is leaving our area jobs aren't tied to coaching, none of us even work at our current school. If he didn't land another job I'd go coach my kids youth teams in whatever sports and roll my eyes at all the youth league guru coaches as we whoop their a$$es.
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Post by mariner42 on Feb 21, 2017 21:35:40 GMT -6
It seems like the perception is that all coaches are to work their way through the ranks eventually landing a Head Coaching job. It's no different from high school to the pro's, if you're a good coach, you are expected to move up or on to bigger and better things. I guess I understand the reasoning at the pro and college level because of the significant increase in pay. For me personally, I'm 100% content being a Defensive Cord and Oline coach, with really no desire at all to be a HC at the high school level. I've been getting a lot of people asking me when I'm going to take a HC job. Every time an opening comes up friends, family, and coaching friends ask if I'm going to apply. I'm starting to feel like I may be the only coach that doesn't need to be a HC. Anyone else been doing this awhile and good with "just being a coordinator" or even a position coach? I can't wait to be the man. I know "be careful what you wish for," but I want to see what its like for myself. Ditto. Every taste I've gotten has made me just that much more eager.
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Post by somecoach on Feb 21, 2017 22:55:15 GMT -6
Just fine being a coordinator as well.
Majority of HC work is outside of football and mainly involves managerial tasks: Getting little Johnny's football fee collected Chasing kids in the hall Dealing with "anti-football" staff members who harras the knuckleheads on your team Recruiting Logistics Drama etc. All while your detractors want your head on a silver platter.
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Post by marinercoach1 on Feb 22, 2017 3:11:37 GMT -6
I used to feel the same way. My first year I was just coach OL/DL and thats all I wanted to do. I then was asked to be HC for the JV. I couldnt get enough of it.. Im big on things like creating the team culture so that may have been it for me
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Post by rsmith627 on Feb 22, 2017 4:59:28 GMT -6
I want to be but I'm in no hurry to do it. I'm coaching JV in a powerhouse program, might be the JV HC this year and get to do some things my way, and am in a great place to teach and learn. I live about 3 miles from work, town has a nice small town feel.
I have zero urgency to move on. If it happens great, if not, I'm enjoying this stop.
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Post by mrjvi on Feb 22, 2017 7:16:28 GMT -6
I've been a head coach going into my 26th year of 35 years of coaching. Not sure if I could be an assistant anymore. It does make me feel like a "bad person" sometimes to say that but I wouldn't want to keep biting my tongue when I see some things I've already learned ignored. Maybe with the right person as a head, though. I don't mind my head on the block as the head, but I'm certainly not a "glory hound" either.
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Post by coachfloyd on Feb 22, 2017 8:13:43 GMT -6
im not sure I even want to be a coordinator again much less be a head coach.
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center
Junior Member
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Post by center on Feb 22, 2017 8:35:04 GMT -6
It is great to be an assistant for a HC that you are on the same page with and gives you some responsibility.
It is an awful experience to work for a HC that you are not on the same page with or does not delegate anything to you.
It is at that point that some assistants start to consider the HC position when they really feel they can do better and make a positive difference.
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Post by mnike23 on Feb 22, 2017 8:40:04 GMT -6
I can't wait to be the man. I know "be careful what you wish for," but I want to see what its like for myself. Ditto. Every taste I've gotten has made me just that much more eager. why? to repeat everyone that has been there, brother its a title. and it goes with alot of hats. if it were just coaching monday thru saturday from 3-5 and games thrusdays and fridays, it would be awesome. but its much, much more than that. that title under your email signature, Head Football Coach, seems really cool and all that. until you realize its a daily chore for 52 weeks a year and the off time as an assistant you get is like gold when your the boss. becuase there isnt any off time. even on a weeks vacation, your phone is glued to your hip and answering texts, promoting program, calling coaches about players. etc....... there is so much more to it than just being the HFC.
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Post by fshamrock on Feb 22, 2017 9:00:08 GMT -6
I don't talk to a lot of head coaches that seem like happy/contented guys, now that might be in part due to the fact that they are the type of "never satisfied" dudes from the beginning which is why they got as far as they did, but I think they are just stressed out. I once heard at a corporate management thing that employees become stressed and work satisfaction drops when they are held accountable for results that are beyond their control. As a HC you think you are gaining more control over the program and that makes you feel good, but the flip-side is that you are now held responsible for more outcomes over which you have very little control.
couple of football players get caught smoking weed in the grocery store parking lot - No discipline in your football program
player fails a class - why aren't you keeping up with these kids academically?
other school in town wins a title- why aren't we more like them?
three starters tear ACL's - what are we doing to prevent injury?
...it goes on forever
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Post by wolverine55 on Feb 22, 2017 9:04:32 GMT -6
I have a desire to be a HC...but not an overwhelming desire, if that make sense. I only apply for a HC job if it seems like a good job, but I also have the awareness that most of those good jobs probably aren't going to a guy with no HC experience...plus my teaching gig right now is VERY good, so it would be hard to justify leaving it just to say I'm a HC somewhere.
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Post by cwaltsmith on Feb 22, 2017 9:08:13 GMT -6
Ditto. Every taste I've gotten has made me just that much more eager. why? to repeat everyone that has been there, brother its a title. and it goes with alot of hats. if it were just coaching monday thru saturday from 3-5 and games thrusdays and fridays, it would be awesome. but its much, much more than that. that title under your email signature, Head Football Coach, seems really cool and all that. until you realize its a daily chore for 52 weeks a year and the off time as an assistant you get is like gold when your the boss. becuase there isnt any off time. even on a weeks vacation, your phone is glued to your hip and answering texts, promoting program, calling coaches about players. etc....... there is so much more to it than just being the HFC. The why for me.... Bc its what I was called to do I believe. Nothing wrong with feeling called to be a lifetime asst. I enjoy being the guy. Some of it I hate yes, but mostly I love the grind. And as far as all of the off field stuff, I deligate some of that stuff. For instance, at my last job, I had an asst that was super organized and prolly woulda been an accountant if it was more exciting. He did all my collections for me. He loved it. I knew he would do it correctly and I cut him breaks in other areas bc he did it. You dont have to do everything yourself as HC.
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Post by mnike23 on Feb 22, 2017 9:34:51 GMT -6
i dont disagree.
you know what the why for me is....to make better husbands, fathers and members of society, out of these young men. with as cut throat as the HC profession is in high school, its next to impossible to get the right amount of time to do so. 3 years isnt enough. can you reach a couple hundred kids in 3. sure can. but with the inordinate amount of BS that has to be done besides teaching young men the game of life, its difficult.
I love the grind. i love the feeling of walking off the field friday night with a win. i love saturday meetings and wednesdays in the offseason. watching kids develop and get it. i love mowing grass, painting fields, going to booster meetings, meeting with AD and principal about wants and needs, talking to parents and loving on some kids.... i love game plans and highlight films and going to college recruting fairs to get the boys to the right place.
so i hear you. but its also not all its cracked up to be. and you can easily burn out fast. there is alot more to being the boss, than just football. the youngins dont know that, yet
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Post by coachcb on Feb 22, 2017 9:39:09 GMT -6
I have been an HC and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
1. I don't like being reasonable for a staff. I like to think I am a fair, objective guy that gives assistants a voice. But, there have been far too many times where I have deal with poor assistants or issues they have caused. I've done my best to educate them thoroughly on what we do and how to teach it but there always seems to be SNAFUs. For example, we basically had to scrap a simple, effective three step game one year because our QB and WR coaches couldn't get the job done, even after going through the technique and drills repeatedly. Some of this was due to inexperience but most of it was caused by poor attitudes. "No, a WR doesn't juke three times before running a slant route.."
2. The overall logistical side of things drove me insane. Our AD expected us to basically do everything but provide a bus. Travel plans, getting the kids fed, handling equipment issues, etc..etc..Finding someone reliable to take on some of this load was difficult and I ended up doing it myself. Little things pile up... We were on the road and I had called in an order to a Subway along the way for turkey and ham subs. It was a simple order: 10 ham subs, 10 turkey subs, 20 bags of chips and provide us with mayo and mustard packets. I called them in the day before and then double checked before we headed out. I told them when we'd be in to get them and but they hadn't even started the order. So.. We showed up for the game 15 minutes before kick-off because we had to wait for them to get it done.
3. Never forget that EVERYTHING falls your shoulders. And I do mean everything. You will be putting out fires consistently. They're usually small fires but they add up quickly. My situation was nothing out of the ordinary and serious issues rarely arose but dealing with three to four minor issues related to football on top of teaching and everything else gets old.
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Post by mrjvi on Feb 22, 2017 10:10:40 GMT -6
Starting as the head of a small school @9 weeks ago, it has been interesting to see what they (boosters and parents) "expect" me to do. They said I have to coordinate with parents for lunches before away games. Just laughed. They said I'd need to run the concession stand. Just laughed. Said I need to get involved in different fund raising but the $ would go to main booster club and we would get some. Told them the budget gives me all we need.
I don't get paid for anything off season. There isn't post season or longevity pay during the season, so I pretty much run stuff as a volunteer. I am retired so it doesn't kill me, though I won't run anything that doesn't help football. I've been fortunate to have won over 150 games so when they hired me I was in a pretty good position to tell them that I'll do what needs to be done but not all this extra fluff. Administration is fine with it.
My whole point is that I will do all that I feel is necessary to turn the program around. It will not heavily invade on my retired life. I have a couple great assistants who teach in the school, one young one who was with me for 6 years at my last school. If the buy in doesn't happen (from the kids-don't really care if the parents do), I've done what I know can change it. No real stress. Unique situation, though, I know. So far about a dozen kids are pumped and working hard. We'll get there.
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Post by spos21ram on Feb 22, 2017 10:18:54 GMT -6
Ditto. Every taste I've gotten has made me just that much more eager. why? to repeat everyone that has been there, brother its a title. and it goes with alot of hats. if it were just coaching monday thru saturday from 3-5 and games thrusdays and fridays, it would be awesome. but its much, much more than that. that title under your email signature, Head Football Coach, seems really cool and all that. until you realize its a daily chore for 52 weeks a year and the off time as an assistant you get is like gold when your the boss. becuase there isnt any off time. even on a weeks vacation, your phone is glued to your hip and answering texts, promoting program, calling coaches about players. etc....... there is so much more to it than just being the HFC. This is a good description that many young or inexperienced coaches don't understand. When I was in my early/mid 20's I applied for the head job at a few schools. Although at the time i thought i was ready...looking back I definitely wasn't, especially the non x and o's part. Our new HC here is football 24/7. I've seen first hand, that if you want to be successful, it really is a 52 week a year job. At this point in my life I just don't want to do that right now. I'm already a head baseball coach, doing both would be too much at this point.
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Post by Defcord on Feb 22, 2017 10:41:21 GMT -6
I have been an HC and it left a bad taste in my mouth. 1. I don't like being reasonable for a staff. I like to think I am a fair, objective guy that gives assistants a voice. But, there have been far too many times where I have deal with poor assistants or issues they have caused. I've done my best to educate them thoroughly on what we do and how to teach it but there always seems to be SNAFUs. For example, we basically had to scrap a simple, effective three step game one year because our QB and WR coaches couldn't get the job done, even after going through the technique and drills repeatedly. Some of this was due to inexperience but most of it was caused by poor attitudes. "No, a WR doesn't juke three times before running a slant route.." 2. The overall logistical side of things drove me insane. Our AD expected us to basically do everything but provide a bus. Travel plans, getting the kids fed, handling equipment issues, etc..etc..Finding someone reliable to take on some of this load was difficult and I ended up doing it myself. Little things pile up... We were on the road and I had called in an order to a Subway along the way for turkey and ham subs. It was a simple order: 10 ham subs, 10 turkey subs, 20 bags of chips and provide us with mayo and mustard packets. I called them in the day before and then double checked before we headed out. I told them when we'd be in to get them and but they hadn't even started the order. So.. We showed up for the game 15 minutes before kick-off because we had to wait for them to get it done. 3. Never forget that EVERYTHING falls your shoulders. And I do mean everything. You will be putting out fires consistently. They're usually small fires but they add up quickly. My situation was nothing out of the ordinary and serious issues rarely arose but dealing with three to four minor issues related to football on top of teaching and everything else gets old. This is about 99% how my experience went as a head coach. A lot of it my own fault, some of it probably not. There were some good times in there, but I didn't enjoy the overall experience.
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Post by holmesbend on Feb 22, 2017 10:49:00 GMT -6
Great responses.
I WANT to do it again, but I don't HAVE to do it again.
I was a HC once for three years.......one good year; two bad (they still haven't set the world on fire) and knew it was going to be rough those years, and I was canned.
The last two years I've just been a position coach, which this will sound odd to many...but, I've actually had the opportunity to be the Defensive Coordinator at my current school, but I've chose not to be. If I was going to BREAK, I was going to just do that.
For me....having been a coordinator and a HC......they are both very much one in the same IMO. I was also a coordinator who was allowed to have a boat load of other responsibilities (which I was compensated for), and there isn't much difference at least for me.
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