Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Optimal Performance in Week 1 and Throughout the Season Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

In our great game, on-field success hinges on a delicate balance between rigorous practice and adequate recovery. The significance of managing the proper amount of work in practice cannot be overstated. It directly influences players' readiness for optimal performance on game day. Striking this equilibrium is essential to ensure players are primed both physically and mentally to face the challenges of game day.

In this episode, Kirk Fridrich, head coach of Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, details how he winds down camp to prepare for week one, as well as how he sets the Redhawks' practice weeks up for the season. These practice formats have resulted in Union High School winning over 200 games and five state championships under Coach Fridrich.

Show Notes:

Cover as Much as You Can
Be as Fresh as You Can Be on Game Day
Dr. Erik Korem
Ramp Up Reps to Game-Like Drives
No Sweat Wednesday/Thursday and Sprint-Through Thursday/Fast Friday
Benefits of This Format
Recommendations for Wednesday and Thursday

Additional Kirk Fridrich Episode:

Coaching Up External Stakeholders

Related Episodes:

Practice Scripting to Get Ready for Week 1

Avoid the First Game Conundrum

Check Out Our Entire Catalog for The Season.

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Work Your Special Teams with a Kicking Scrimmage Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of The Season, host Keith Grabowski goes into his coaching notebook to talk about practicing special teams, specifically running an entire scrimmage around third down offense/defense and the kicking game.

This rarely used practice script demonstrates the importance of special teams and how to rep specific situations the team may see in the game. Coach Grabowski implemented the kicking scrimmage format, the idea for which he first heard from the late Wally Hood, at the high school and college levels.

The Script:

The kicking scrimmage begins with a kickoff. While offense and defense can be completely eliminated, you can use the kicking scrimmage to work third down situations. Start with the following number of repetitions in each third down situation:

3rd & 1 (2); 3rd & 2 (2); 3rd & 3 (4); 3rd & 4 (4); 3rd & 5 (2); 3rd & 6 (6); 3rd & 7 (4); 3rd & 8 (4); 3rd & 12 (2); 3rd & 15 (2)

Mix up the order as follows:

3rd & 1; 3rd & 15; 3rd & 2; 3rd & 12; 3rd & 3; 3rd & 8; 3rd & 3; 3rd & 8; 3rd & 4; 3rd & 7; 3rd & 5; 3rd & 7; 3rd & 5; 3rd & 6; 3rd & 6; 3rd & 6

Each team attempts to move the ball down the field with one offensive play. If the offense converts, then it moves to the next third down on the script. However, if the next offensive play results in another first down, the down becomes fourth and ten and part of the kicking game must be executed. Again, the emphasis is on the kicking game, so we do not want the offense on the field for more than two plays in a row.

Show Notes:

Origins of the Kicking Scrimmage
Setting Up the Scrimmage
Choosing Teams Using a Draft Format
Preparing for the Scrimmage with Specific Units
Getting Players to Buy In with an Evaluation Process
Making the Scrimmage a Fun Event for the Community
Evolving the Format to Include More Third Down Plays
Putting the Emphasis on Third Down Execution
Utilizing a Halftime in the Scrimmage
Practicing Fair Catch, Free Kick, and Taking a Safety

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Spend Time Developing the Young Guys in Camp Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

When camp starts, we immediately dive into getting our starters ready for the week one kickoff that is right around the corner. Certainly, that is the main objective. We want our team ready to win.

However, we are also playing the long game as coaches. Most of our guys fall into the developmental category, especially the youngest players in our program.

In this episode, two coaches explain how they prioritize those young players, motivate them by building activities around them, and include the older players in the development.

Today’s Coaches:

Loren Johnson is the head coach of Highland Springs High School in Virginia. Coach Johnson has led Highland Springs to 110 wins and five state titles in the last nine seasons, including winning the 2022 state championship.
Jordan Hogan is the receivers coach at Colgate. Prior to Colgate, Coach Hogan served two years with the Arizona Cardinals in the Bill Bidwill Coaching Fellowship. He’s also made stops at Cornell, Stonehill College, and Buffalo State.

Additional Episodes Featuring Coach Hogan:

Teachable Moments

QB and WR Timing and Evolving as a Coach

Related Resource:

Simple Drills for WR Indy

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Keeping Players Mentally Sharp as Camp Progresses Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

In our last episode, we focused on the physical ways we can keep energy and enthusiasm going as we hit the midpoint of camp. In this episode, we shift to how we maintain the mental engagement of our players.

There will come a point when our players have been through the install and need more engagement than just repping the scheme and technique against a base front. They need to apply what they have learned to a variety of situations like they will have to in the game. Scheme and technique can develop simultaneously to ensure our players are able to play fast on game day.

Today’s guests discuss how they work to keep players mentally sharp and progressing over the obstacle of hitting a mental lull as they work through camp.

Today’s Coaches:

Todd Drury is the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois. He shares the ways in which he engages players in meetings, as well as how he keeps their minds sharp by watching situations from NFL preseason games or from their own past film.
Kyle Segler is the offensive line coach at Louisiana-Monroe. He talks about speeding up the hamster wheel. It’s an analogy he uses to keep feeding his players the mental side of the game so that their processes on the field accelerate.

Additional Episodes:

Todd Drury: A Unique Practice Period for More Reps

Kyle Segler: Navigating a Coaching Transition

Related Resources from Kyle Segler:

TE Utilization in Multiple-Set Offense

Development of TE’s in Modern College Football

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Beating the Mid-Camp Lull with Competition and Fun Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Midway through camp, your team is going to experience some dead legs, but you certainly don’t want your players to experience dead minds or dull spirits. It’s easy to come out at the beginning of camp with fire and energy behind a new season, but inevitably, you hit the midpoint wall.

As coaches, it’s part of our jobs to keep the momentum going. Today’s guests discuss ways to bring energy from meetings, competition-infused periods throughout practice, and off-field messages. There are plenty of ideas here to keep that energy flowing all the way to week one.

Today’s Coaches:

Michael Toerper is the head coach at Ithaca College. He shares ideas for infusing competition into everything they do to keep spirits high, build bonds of the team, and have fun.
John Tomlinson is the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Maulers. He sends his offensive unit an email the night before to let his players know what the competition for the next day will be, adding motivational quotes and videos that tie into his message for the day.

Related Episodes:

Michael Toerper:

Attitude, Preparation, and Teaching

John Tomlinson:

Developing a Passing Attack for a Young QB

OC Office Hour: Creating a QB-Friendly Offense

Related Resources:

Michael Toerper:

Special Teams Philosophy, Game Planning, and Transferable Skills

John Tomlinson:

Building a Passing Attack for a Young Quarterback - Part 1

Building a Passing Attack for a Young Quarterback - Part 2

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Mid-Camp Evaluation and Adjustments of Personnel and Scheme Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

All coaches start with a plan for how we want things to look and how we expect things to go. Occasionally, those plans are spot on, and we continue with our progress. But most of the time in this dynamic game, we need to evaluate the progress we expected against what we actually see as we begin to implement that plan.

In this episode, Dante Bartee and Matt Drinkall share thoughts on evaluating players and deciding who is the most ready, as well as developing their down-roster guys. They also share ideas on what schemes should be getting the repetitions now as we quickly head towards that first kickoff.

Today’s Coaches:

Dante Bartee is a defensive analyst at the University of Oregon. He is a repeat performer on the podcast, most recently as a guest on our Accelerate Everything series with Dub Maddox, where Coach Maddox called Coach Bartee the “Good Will Hunting” of defensive football.
Matt Drinkall is the co-offensive coordinator at Army. Coach Drinkall is a long-time guest on the show, dating back to 2017 when he was the head coach of Kansas Wesleyan.

Today’s Best Ideas:

How to Evaluate the Calls You Are Installing
Assessing the Distribution of Reps and the Value of Those Reps
A Three-Step Process for Self-Scouting in Camp
Breaking Down Players into Two Groupings
Determining What Plays Are Working Better Now
Determining What Plays Will Be a Focus Later

Related Episodes:

Dante Bartee:

Accelerate Everything

Communicating to Make a Difference

Matt Drinkall:

Create the Best Experience for Staff and Players

Defeating the Tite Front

Related Resources:

Dante Bartee:

Thoughts from a First-Time College DC

Rethinking Defense from Structure to Communication

Matt Drinkall:

Sprint Out Passing: Moving the Pocket for Success

RPOs Explained - Defined - Packaging - Implementation

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Player Vocal Leadership Plus Early Camp Tackling Considerations - Vince DiGaetano, Assistant, Fordham Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

Vince DiGaetano, assistant coach at Fordham University, joins us all season long as our in-house tackling expert.

Coach DiGaetano has served on multiple coaching staffs in his career, including taking over as head coach in a very unique situation five days before the start of camp in 2018 at SUNY Maritime. That season, he led the Privateers to a 7-4 mark and a birth in the New England Bowl.

We start this episode by learning how Coach DiGaetano was strategic about building the leadership of the program by making the players a big part of the vocal leadership. This case study is one we can all learn from and apply to our own situations.

We then dig into tackling with Coach DiGaetano who gives tips for early camp tackling, especially in training situations that do not get much live work because of how we prioritize safety.

There are a ton of takeaways from this episode to help you continue to get camp going for the 2023 season.

Show Notes:

Getting the Players to Lead Vocally
Training Players to Be Vocal
Pairing Player and Coach Together
Tackling Situations
Training Tackling Efficiently

Additional Coach DiGaetano Episodes:

The Players Write the Practice Plan

Defining Practice Tempos and Finishes for Better Performance

Deep Dive on Defense: Team Tackling

Trends in Teaching Tackling

Short Prep Time for the Season

Related Resources:

Coach DiGaetano has some of the best tackling resources available, including:

Winning Gaps with Engaged Tackles

Deep Dig: Preseason Tackling Fundamentals

Effective Team Tackling with the 3 C’s: Contact, Chase, and Converge

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Creating Team Cohesion in Camp Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

Coaches understand that building a strong bond among players is not only crucial for on-field success, but also for creating a positive and supportive environment that fosters growth and camaraderie. In camp, the foundation is laid for the entire season, and the way a team comes together during this crucial period can make all the difference.

Throughout this episode, we explore the strategies, insights, and personal experiences of Tyler Roehl and Mike Elder. Both guests shed light on how to create a strong sense of togetherness during the critical camp period. From team-building exercises to promoting open communication, from embracing diversity to setting shared goals, they share invaluable wisdom that benefits coaches at all levels.

The biggest theme that comes through in this episode is how these coaches bring their teams and units together with intentionality. They know that they need to create opportunities for their players to bond off the field so that their ability to work together on the field is stronger.

Today’s Coaches:

Tyler Roehl, Offensive Coordinator, North Dakota State
Mike Elder, Head Coach, Avon High School (OH)

Related Episodes:

Mike Elder: The Importance of the High School Coach in Building a K-12 Football Progra m

Tyler Roehl:

Related Resources:

Tyler Roehl: Developing Fullbacks and Tight Ends

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Clear Communication: The Vehicle for a Strong Culture Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Clear communication is the key that unlocks the door to success. Even the most talented team cannot reach its full potential without effective communication. Today, we explore why clear and open communication is crucial for coaches during the early stages of training camp.

Training camp sets the foundation for team dynamics throughout the season. For coaches, establishing trust with their players is paramount. Open communication fosters an environment where players feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, and ideas.

By encouraging dialogue, coaches understand their players’ strengths, weaknesses, and personal goals, creating a strong bond within the team. When athletes trust their coach and each other, they are more likely to collaborate, making the entire team greater than the sum of its parts.

In this episode, we hear from three coaches and gain insight and ideas on how we can better communicate during camp so that we are setting our team up for a successful season.

Today’s Coaches:

Eric Marty, Offensive Coordinator, Michigan Panthers
Cris Reisert, Head Coach, Tiffin University
Brendan Walsh, Offensive Line Coach, Colgate

Related Episodes:

Eric Marty:

Cris Reisert: Managing the Run Game

Related Resources:

Eric Marty: Spread Offense System

Cris Reisert: Slow and Quick Screen Game

Brendan Walsh:

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Bring the Juice! Setting the Tone for Camp Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

We are all familiar with what poor coaching energy looks like during practice. It may involve coaches failing to set clear goals, adopting a monotonous tone, remaining stationary on the field, or even sitting back. Coaches lacking energy may display closed body language and use repetitive feedback, language, and drills without considering the needs of the athletes.

Having good coaching energy doesn’t mean being a loud, rah-rah coach or constantly jumping around on the sidelines. It's about being positive, consistent, engaged, and demonstrating care for the players and the team.

In this episode, we share ideas from three coaches on what they do to bring energy and set the tone for the day. Whether it’s the approach to the start of a meeting or creating drills and practice flows conducive to bringing energy, there’s plenty to take away from the ideas shared here.

Today’s Coaches: