

Coach and Coordinator Podcast
Keith Grabowski
Keith Grabowski interviews the most knowledgeable head coaches, coordinators, and position coaches from professional, college, and high school football. Keith and his guests discuss the philosophy, concepts, schemes, and strategies that they have learned throughout their careers. Each show includes a specific idea that can be applied to help coaches at every level find the winning edge.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 4, 2020 • 38min
Transitioning Into a Program- 2x State Champ John Hart, HC Brownsburg HS (IN)
On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by John Hart, Head Football Coach at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg Indiana. Hart has been a head coach for over 30 years in multiple different programs and got his first head coaching job at just 22 years old. Coach has multiple State Championship Titles and is known for his ability to turn programs around. Hart speaks with Grabowski today about the challenges of building a program from the ground up and how he managed those challenges.
Show Notes:
1:07 Hart explains the process of becoming an HC at age 22
2:17 Biggest challenges he faced when he became a HC
4:01 How is program actually “outworks” their opponents
5:47 How organization helps maximize the offseason
8:12 Developing athletes in the offseason
9:35 Balancing cutting edge systems with what has worked for you in the past
12:31 Clubs Coach set up in his training program
18:10 What he looks for when figuring out what needs to change when taking over a program
23:44 How to create realistic expectations and execute them
26:45 Importance of being in a strong conference to increase your level of competition
29:45 Scheduling impact
31:26 What Coach will detail in his talk at the IHSFCA
34:38 Winning Edge
35:28 Connect with coach
Illinois Coaches Clinic:
http://ihsfca.coachesclinic.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2020 • 30min
You're Hired!-Brian Rzeppa, Author and Expert in the Job Search Process
In this episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, we continue with our “Game Plan for Your Next Job” series. Host, Keith Grabowski is joined by Brian Rzeppa, author of “You’re Hired: A Guide to Working in Sports.” Rzeppa is an expert in every aspect of the job search process. He joins Grabowski today to talk about the best practices when getting an interview and how to make the most of those opportunities.
Show Notes:
1:01 Rzeppa’s background and journey
2:31 How his tools and background relate to football
3:36 Advice for landing an interview
5:42 Determining what value you can bring to an organization
7:31 Value of building connections
9:06 Prepping for an interview
11:10 Finding the right fit for you
13:21 Advice for adapting to an interview and the process during the pandemic
15:34 Most common failures in interviews
17:23 How you approach a job after you’ve accepted it
20:10 Dealing with unexpected Challenges that arise after you’ve accepting a job
22:22 Key takeaways to pass along to coaches
25:04 How he came up with his coaching philosophy template
27:06 Connecting with Rzeppa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2020 • 25min
Tough Road to a 4-Peat- Steve Steele, Head Coach Pierre Riggs High School
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by 4-Time State Champion Head Coach, Steve Steele. Despite losing high profile seniors to graduation as well as dealing with the struggles of Covid-19, Steele guided a young Pierre Riggs High School team to a 4th State Championship. Steele joins Grabowski today to talk about how his team overcame adversity on the way to their 4th title.
Show Notes:
1:32 How his team dealt with replacing players from previous years especially at the QB position
3:31 Role of analytics in Coach’s program
4:45 Which numbers they look at to determine who should get more touches
6:21 Their process for logging and recording data
8:26 Their approach to keeping the offense rolling despite massive player turnover
10:16 Keeping focus this year with Covid and other adversity
13:05 What they learned and would pass on to coach’s who have young teams after championship seasons
15:11 Their approach going into 2021 season
16:55 What his staff is looking forward to learning during clinic season
19:18 Adding TE’s and FB’s into his scheme despite the “spread craze”
20:50 Winning Edge
22:20 Connect with Coach
Related Podcasts:
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/pierre-tf-riggs-high-school-south-dakota-coach-steve-steele-talks-analytics-and-team-culture
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/steve-steele-head-coach-riggs-hs-pierre-south-dakota Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 1, 2020 • 31min
Developing an Attitude- Ron Zook, Senior Analyst Maryland
On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by current Maryland Senior Analyst Ron Zook. Coach has been in football for over 40 years including stints in the NFL with the Steelers (96-98), Chiefs (99), Saints (00-01) and Packers (14-18). Zook was also the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2007 for his work as Head Coach at Illinois. Zook joins Grabowski today to talk about how his experiences across football have helped him in today’s game.
Show Notes:
1:26 Coach’s journey
6:07 Coach’s mentors and who he took his biggest lessons from
15:52 How big special teams was to Coach’s career
19:14 Coach’s approach to offense as a ST/Defensive Coordinator background
22:06 What he looked for philosophically in an offensive coordinator
25:02 The importance of analytics
27:38 Winning Edge
28:40 What Coach will talk about at Illinois clinic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2020 • 14min
Quickcast: Defeating the Tite Front -Andy Kotelnicki, Offensive Coordintor, Univ. of Buffalo
In this Quickcast, University of Buffalo Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki shares his insight on defeating the Tite Front.
-Using a perimeter play to stress an off the ball contain player
-Staying with your inside runs
-The need for a multifaceted approach
-Game planning and prep or the Tite Front
Get Coach Kotelnicki's clinic on Developing a Game Plan:
https://coachtube.com/course/football/developing-an-offensive-game-plan-andy-kotelnicki/11825990?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
Get our FREE digital magazine Coach and Coordinator Monthly:
http://coachandcoordinator.com/magazine/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 27, 2020 • 48min
America's 1st Virtual Coach- Brad Dal Bon, Homer High School
On today’s podcast, Coach Brad Dal Bon joins host Keith Grabowski to talk about the concept of virtual coaching. Dal Bon is the Outside Linebackers Coach at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska but lives and coaches from California. In today’s covid climate, working virtually has become a way of life and Dal Bon has been on the front lines of bringing that concept to coaching football. The first virtual coach in the country, Dal Bon speaks with Grabowski about his experience so far.
Show Notes:
1:28 How his virtual coach role came about
5:08 What his head coach thought about it initially
9:04 Coach’s main obstacles
11:56 How it changed his coaching method
17:00 Concept of mental reps
20:14 How they operated with no meeting time and how the Alaska environment has its own set of challenges
22:44 How to build a relationship with kids virtually
28:07 How they operated on gameday
36:09 Practice vs gameday
38:02 Coach’s biggest takeaways from coaching virtually and what he would tell other coaches
43:17 How to get in touch with coach if you have questions about his setup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 26, 2020 • 32min
The Heart of Coaching- Bryan McKenzie, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Bryan McKenzie. Bryan was a former NFL player before he started bounding around the coaching ranks at a variety of levels across the country. McKenzie currently works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as 3D Coaching. He joins the podcast today to talk about the Heart of Coaching and how to develop the heart of the team.
Show Notes:
1:04 Coach’s Journey
2:21 Coach’s current role
4:20 3 Dimensions of coaching
6:52 Practical side of the 2nd and 3rd dimensions
9:51 Talking to coaches about fitting in the drill into practice time and finding out how it’ll best work for each program
14:41 Importance of just knowing all your teammates names
16:00 Helping coaches reach the heart of their players
20:45 Coaching the heart of players with teams
24:10 How coaches can get more involved with his program
28:33 What coach will talk about in his upcoming talk
29:15 The Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2020 • 55min
Alcorn State RPO's- Offensive Coordinator, Elliott Wratten and Wide Receivers Coach, Jason Phillips
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by two members of the Alcorn State University offensive coaching staff. Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach, Elliott Wratten, and Wide Receivers Coach, Jason Phillips, have helped revolutionize the RPO game by developing their own system. In this podcast, they speak with Grabowski about what makes their system unique, how they teach it and new innovations in the RPO game.
Show Notes
1:07 How is their RPO system unique from others
3:05 Personnel grouping and basic understanding for the QB
5:06 How their RPO’s help their run game and how numbers dictate what they run
8:20 Understanding the defense
12:04 Teaching the RPO blocking scheme
17:35 Avoiding too many men downfield situations
20:42 Creating a comfort level for QB decisions
22:30 Training the receiver on the single side
27:48 Training the receivers on the twins side
38:45 Efficient practicing
42:45 Implementing the pistol and how it can benefit the offense
44:55 What kind of in game adjustments they make
46:27 Recommendations for coaches starting this system Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24, 2020 • 38min
Game Plan Your Next Job- Interviewing Through Zoom, Chris Fore, Coach Interview Expert
On today’s episode, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Chris Fore, former High School Football Coach and Athletic Director and currently a Principal at Palmdale Space Academy. Chris is an expert in the field of resumes, cover letters and references. Fore has even authored his own book titled “An Insider’s Guide to Scoring Your Next Coaching Job.” Grabowski and Fore talk about how the environment we are living in today has affected the interview process and how to best tackle those interviews.
Show Notes:
1:20 Fore’s transition from AD to Principal
2:45 Operating in today’s culture
4:50 Virtual interviews and how Covid has changed the interview process
9:50 How an initial virtual interview can be more beneficial than in person
11:23 Keys to interviewing on zoom
13:50 Virtual Backgrounds
15:10 Importance of being on time to zoom interviews
16:55 Making sure your tech is up
19:11 Getting your personality to come through via video
21:22 Keeping you attention span
23:12 Sending emails before and after the meeting
28:17 Recording yourself
30:55 Sharing your screen in an interview
33:10 Fore’s resources that are available to you
An Insider's Guide To Resume Building
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/an-insiders-guide-to-resume-building/11845302?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
29 Resume Mistakes Every Coach Makes and How To Avoid Them
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/29-resume-mistakes-every-coach-makes-and-how-to-avoid-them/2014920?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
Cover Letter Templates
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/cover-letter-templates/2499194?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
An Insider’s Guide to Scoring Your Next Job
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/an-insiders-guide-to-scoring-your-next-coaching-job/2499254?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
An Insider’s Guide to Writing a Champion’s Cover Letter
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/an-insiders-guide-to-writing-a-champions-cover-letter/2135131?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
Resume Templates
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/resume-templates/2499196?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
Outside the Lines Coaching Manual
https://coachtube.com/course/coach-development/outside-the-lines-coaching-manual/2499287ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
Build a Better Resume and Cover Letter Bundle
https://coachtube.com/bundles/build-a-better-resume-cover-letter-bundle?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2020 • 33min
Game Planning Field Zones- Jeff Mullen, Former FBS OC
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by former FBS Offensive Coordinator Jeff Mullen. Most recently at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mullen served as the offensive coordinator from 2011-2017. Prior to that, Mullen was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at West Virginia from 2008-2010. Mullen joins the podcast to talk about how to gameplan Field Zones.
Show Notes:
1:46 Different Field Zones
3:09 How the field chart breaks down
7:43 Personnel groups and strategy when you’re in the “black group”
14:39 Situational identity in practice
22:22 Gold Zone Goals
25:27 Brown Zone
28:51 4-Verts and other courses Mullin has on Coach Tube
31:00 Connect with Coach
Illinois Coaches Clinic:
ihsfca.coachesclinic.com
Coach’s Coach Tube Courses
Defensive ID: The Triangle
https://coachtube.com/course/football/big-o-defensive-i-d-the-triangle-attacking-a-defense/12748136?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
Situational Identity: Coming Out and Going In
https://coachtube.com/course/football/big-o-situational-identity-coming-out-and-going-in/12779046?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa
QB Pre Snap Anticipation. Coaching and Reading 4 Vertical
https://coachtube.com/course/football/qb-pre-snap-anticipation-coaching-and-reading-4-verticals/12809076?ambassador=325306f59bb543b6883ff4baa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


