Where do I begin to become a head football coach...?

Question
Hi, My name is Brian Cole J.R. I'm a Senior at Noble High School My Question is where do I start to Become a Head Football Coach...?

Answer
Brian,

There is no one way to get there.  I can give you the advice I was given then add some things I have learned along the way.

When I graduated from high school I asked a coach for similar advice.  First, he told me it would be helpful to have some college playing experience.  Then he told me I needed to earn my dues.  It wasn't much advice, but oddly enough it has proven quite true.  Well, everyone is impressed by the college experience, but it doesn't necessarily make you a good coach.  The paying your dues part is the amazing part here.  Basically it is people feeling a sense of entitlement.  Most schools I have come across end up hiring within based on seniority.  When Coach D retires you know that Coach E then Coach F will be Head Coach.  If something is not broken it is best not to fix it, but if the program is in shambles then it is time to bypass seniority and find someone to get the job done.  Oddly enough he took a head coaching job at a struggling program recently based on his merit.  However the deal there is that he will do it for three seasons and at the end of his tenure the job goes to his son who did not earn nor deserves the job.  That is entitlement at its worse.

Personally I feel being a head coach a is great thing, but should be something you go after when you are ready.  After starting out as a volunteer (trust me do it, you can learn a lot from the mistakes of others while not handling any of the liability) work your way into a paid position.

Learn to scout opponents and analyze data.  I have learned more scouting than I have on the field.  I have literally called out an entire series of plays, one after the other, to the amazement of my head coach at the time.  It gets to the point where yo can see what all 22 players are doing on every play.  Some teams you can scout so well that you can have your players calling out their plays.  One game the other team accused of reading lips.  It was funny because that was the same season the Patriots were accused of spying on the Jets and the coach in question was former Patriot Ronnie Lippett.  Scouting is an art and you need to learn from someone.  It helps to have a good mentor to teach you these things.

Find a good coach to emulate.  Do not copy anyone, but use someone as a template.  I am lucky to be from a good line of coaches.  When we work at the Glazier Football Clinics together I always tell everyone he's the reason I have my rings (as I point to my two State Title rings).  His mentor is the Wing-T guru of New Jersey and the NJ guru's mentor is Bruce Cobleigh (Google the name and you'll see who he is).

Volunteer to work at the Glazier Clinics.  He you get a free room and in return get to see some of the best coaches in the country.  The work mostly consists of introducing the speakers, keeping them on time and handing out surveys.  Most of the coaches are great and will often give you free DVDs, handouts and whatever else they are selling.  In February I handled the money for one coach and he not only gave me $200 worth of DVDs, but gave me $50 for my trouble.

When you have become well-versed on a particular subject or more, contact Glazier and any other coaching clinics to ask about being a clinician.  They will pay you for your trouble.  Bring materials to sell and give 1-4 page handouts (people like free stuff).  It all helps in building a resume.

Once you have found the school that fits you (you'll know it when you get there) look forward to a long career there.  This may or may not be at your own high school.  Often it is a bad idea to start at your alma mater as you may not be given the respect you deserve or try and demand.  Your former coaches may view as the kid and never treat as an equal.

As the year pass as an assistant you should strive to be the best assistant you can be.  Regardless of what everyone else is doing, always be the best you can be.  You may start noticing that not everyone goes the extra mile.  Be upset, but use it to push you harder.  In time you may just find yourself in line to be the new head coach.  It is more likely that a day will come when you realize you need to be calling the shots; not want, but need to be a head coach.  When you get to that point then it is time to start looking for a new job.

Don't take the first job that comes along.  Find the right job.  You are not necessarily going to find yourself as a head coach in the highest classification, but may need to start lower and work upward (unless you find a dream job at a smaller school).  If you do not find a head coaching job when the time comes, take another assistant job somewhere else.  Shoot for the next year.

I hope my answer has been useful.  If there is anything you would like covered in greater detail or if you have any other questions please contact me.  Best of luck in your coaching career.