Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Today’s podcast is from the 2nd Annual Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic in which Ron Roberts, now the defensive coordinator at Auburn, talked about multiple defenses and the different pressures they utilize.He started the presentation by talking about the three things required to play great defense, his philosophy, defensive goals, determining what you need to develop in each position, the analytics of scoring, and dealing with difficult formations.This segment encapsulates what any defense should focus on to excel on the field. In an era where we have become inundated with information, Coach Roberts cuts right to the core of leading a top-performing defense.It’s something that he’s been able to pass on to other coaches. He has an impressive coaching tree, including Dave Aranda, Patrick Toney, who made the jump from being co-DC at Florida to the NFL as secondary coach with the Arizona Cardinals, Austin Armstrong, who at 29 is the youngest Power 5 coordinator at Florida replacing Toney, and Pete Golding, who left Alabama to take the defensive coordinator position at Ole Miss. Coach Golding had served as the defensive coordinator at Alabama for five seasons and began his career as a GA for Coach Roberts at Delta State.All of these coaches who learned from Ron Roberts learned to build the foundation of their defenses on the philosophy which Coach Roberts shares in this segment.Show Notes: Mental toughness Physical toughness Take away what they do best Effort Are you at your best when the best is needed? Analytics of scoring Creating havoc Making calls Skill analysis for each position Winning Edge takeaways and ideas for implementation Follow Ron Roberts on Twitter @CoachRonRoberts.Full Ron Roberts Presentation from Lauren's First and Goal:Utilizing a Multiple Defense: https://bit.ly/3zRoJOqTo gain access to all presentations from this year's Lauren's First and Goal Clinic, plus ten additional presentations per month, go to LFGF2023.coachesclinic.com.Additional Q&A Episode with Ron Roberts: https://spoti.fi/41lbUrjBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com for enhanced show notes with links to related episodes and resources like the screen shots from Coach Roberts' presentation. Also, sign up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet highlighting the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources.On May 2nd, listeners of Coach and Coordinator Podcast will be eligible to skip the waitlist, join AIM7, and benefit from the life-changing lessons that AIM7 will teach you.Sign up for this exclusive opportunity: https://www.aim7.com/coach-and-coordinator-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we give support to youth football across the country, and especially in California, where the state legislature will soon vote on a bill that, if passed, would ban youth football.The answer should not be to remove youth tackle football and focus on flag. While flag football is a precursor to tackle, it is not the same as tackle football. Tackle football embraces all body types. Nothing can replace the vehicle of tackle football. To see flag football as an answer is short-sighted. The answer is to create a better, safer game.The game is under attack, and coaches from every level must continue to support football from youth, to high school, to college and pro. Today, we share insights from three coaches who are creating a methodology to create a better, safer game, especially as it relates to blocking and defeating blocks. To do so, we pulled segments from archived episodes with Scott Peters, Mike Pollak, and Bob Wylie.On May 2nd, listeners of Coach and Coordinator Podcast will be eligible to skip the waitlist, join AIM7, and benefit from the life-changing lessons that AIM7 will teach you.Sign up for this exclusive opportunity: https://www.aim7.com/coach-and-coordinator-podcastListen to those full episodes:Creating a Better, Safer Game (Part 1) with Scott Peters, Assistant OL Coach, Cleveland Browns and Founder of Tip of the Spear: https://spoti.fi/3GmYu62What Is Leverage, Contact for Every Position with Scott Peters, Assistant OL Coach, Cleveland Browns and Founder of Tip of the Spear: https://spoti.fi/3meSlSEThe Mushroom Society with Bob Wylie: Safety Through Superior Technique, Featuring Mike Pollak: https://spoti.fi/415RwdvAdditional resources from Tip of the Spear:Force Deflection Base Blocks on the LOS: https://bit.ly/3zExOduGet a 30-Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/3KkdAu7Read our companion blog to this episode: https://bit.ly/40GkbWVPlease Note: This content is not paid promotion for Tip of the Spear. Coach and Coordinator Podcast is receiving no financial incentive from Tip of the Spear for their placement in this episode. We are a clearinghouse of information for the industry of football coaches, and we have vetted and believe the Tip of the Spear methodology makes the game better and safer and warrants visibility across the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I met Coach DiGaetano in 2017, and I talk about the game and coaching with him often. He’s been a repeat guest on the podcast (see links below). And currently, he is an assistant coach at Fordham University.He has an intense passion for tackling and studies it better than anyone I know. I feel comfortable calling him the foremost expert on tackling.However, Coach DiGaetano also has incredible ideas outside of the tackling realm, and in this episode from the archives, he share the ideas he implemented as the head coach of SUNY Maritime when he took over the program just five days before fall camp opened. His work, his staff, and his players resulted in Maritime having a successful season in spite of the extreme circumstances of a last-minute coaching change.I want to point out that Coach DiGaetano accomplished this result while also holding down his day job of being a principal of multiple schools in the Bronx.Coach DiGaetano was forced to take a coach-on-the-fly approach, but the extreme situation led him to some insights into coaching and some incredible ideas which we share again here today.Show Notes: Players writing the practice plan What are their core fundamentals? What needs teaching? Working fundamentals in conditioning Working with strength and conditioning staff Strength coaches must have input 4th quarter drill Player surveys in season Three team goals Accountability for the coaches Using the feedback Assistant coach of the week building moral Balancing teaching, installing, correcting, and preparation Reversing the contact model Working body movement Working it into scheme Evaluation and development of younger players Getting the players involved in scheme It’s about working together to get the right answer Continue to recruit the players you have on the roster Grouping kids by ability to service them Working with the coaches too Look at the opponent Tackling drill adjustment Team tackling drill Learning from the unpredictable On May 2nd, listeners of Coach and Coordinator Podcast will be eligible to skip the waitlist, join AIM7, and benefit from the life-changing lessons that AIM7 will teach you.Sign up for this exclusive opportunity: https://www.aim7.com/coach-and-coordinator-podcastFollow Vince DiGaetano on Twitter @CoachDiG.Additional Coach DiGaetano Episodes:Trends in Tackling: https://spoti.fi/40LId2DDeep Dive on Defense – Team Tackling: https://spoti.fi/3GmADDHDefining Practice Tempos and Finishes for Better Performance: https://spoti.fi/3ZILC16Coach DiGaetano Course:Effective Team Tackling with the 3 C’s: Contact, Chase, and Converge (over 3.5 hours of instruction, drills, and game film): https://bit.ly/3zysVCHBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com to sign up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet Newsletter which highlights the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coach Lee Rose shares his coaching journey from Poland to North Carolina, focusing on teaching with limited resources. He discusses creating tip sheets for players, integrating technology like Go Army Edge, and best practices for efficient coaching workflows.

Today’s episode is from the 3rd Annual Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic to benefit pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services.In his talk, Lew Caralla, Director of Strength and Conditioning at Charlotte, delivered 39 ideas on coaching. All are straight to the point and cover ideas directed to both players and coaches. We pulled out 11 of those ideas more focused on the coach, and how a coach can network, lead, and positively impact players and others through this incredible platform we have as coaches.While this episode is short, its messages paint a picture of what an elite coach must do to excel in this profession.Show Notes: Coaching experience provides the platform The message Absent during the struggle Intelligence creates followers The coaching ego You are not allowed to give up I didn’t know how close I was Coached by you Your platform Be an example through your journey The secret Follow Lew Caralla on Twitter @LewisCaralla.Coach Caralla’s Entire Presentation:Leadership Perspective: https://bit.ly/3ztdOdGAdditional Lew Caralla Episode:Creativity in Coaching Strength and Conditioning: https://bit.ly/3m4knAeBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com for enhanced show notes with links to related episodes, resources, and articles, as well as our winning edge takeaways. The enhanced show notes for this episode include the transcript of each of the messages pulled from Coach Caralla’s talk which we shared here today.Also sign-up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet which highlights the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is from our archives. It was recorded with Dub Maddox five years ago, pre-pandemic and at the start of what proved to be a rapid evolution of today’s defenses. Interestingly, the concepts Coach Maddox talks about may be more relevant now than when he shared those ideas originally on the podcast.Dub is one of the great thinkers and great football minds in the game. I have picked up a ton from him over the years. A trip I took to sit down and talk ball with him for a couple of days in 2010 stands out as highly productive. That visit helped me solidify how I thought about the passing game and how we could bring our receivers and protections together with our quarterback progressions to improve our passing game.In this episode, Coach Maddox shares insights from studying the U.S. Military that he applies to football. If you listened to this episode five years ago, you will want to sit down and listen again, and bring a pen and notebook. Be sure to listen to our winning edge takeaways and ideas for implementation following this conversation with Coach Dub Maddox.Please Note: When we originally recorded this episode, there was a lot of static in the connection, but the content was just too good not to air, and it’s also too good to not share again.Show Notes: Lessons from the United States Military Non-Negotiables: Space, Time, and Talent Breaking Down the RPO Getting Players to Understand the Game Plan Creating a Specialized Language to Help Players Letting Your Players Know When to Adjust Overview of Adapt or Die Follow Dub Maddox on Twitter @CoachDubMaddox.Related Resources:Harvard Business Review article, “The Best Ideas Come from Outside Your Industry”: https://bit.ly/42ZfY1ZFree Download of Question Set to Inventory Your Offense: https://bit.ly/3TXhQEqDub Maddox’s Book Adapt or Die: https://amzn.to/40T4rzFBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com for enhanced show notes with links to related episodes, resources, articles, and our winning edge takeaways. Also sign up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet newsletter, which highlights the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We reached out to today’s guest after we confirmed some eye-popping stats from his 2022 season. 62 touchdowns, 3,204 passing yards, and 1,805 rushing yards, in sum producing an average of 500.9 yards per game and 48 points per game. All at the high school level with 12-minute quarters and a running clock after a 30-point differential.Those numbers screamed “high-level execution”, and we wanted to dig into the what, how, and why behind it.Meet Mike Peck, offensive coordinator at Burley High School in Burley, ID.Show Notes: Spread the field and attack horizontally and vertically Based out of 10 personnel and empty, but highlight personnel year-to-year Hang your hat on runs and passes for the base offense Two factors that create execution: installation and practice The players understanding of why Install as a year-round activity leading up to the season Front loading for better learning Quarterback school The quarterback should be out on the field teaching it with you  Tools used to teach in the classroom Quizzes and competition Seven-day install format Practice format Early outs: walk through Situational periods in practice Unscripted situations so play callers get work Debrief periods so players understand why and what happened right or wrong Coach learning from the debrief as well Kids don’t come in on weekends Technology to allow coaches more family time Follow Mike Peck on Twitter @CoachPeck11.Related Episode:From the Archives – Noel Mazzone: https://bit.ly/42UL1fiBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com for enhanced show notes with links to related episodes, resources, articles, and our winning edge takeaways. Also sign up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet, which highlights the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources.Coach Peck’s 7-day install template is also available on coachandcoordinator.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Kotwica has 17 years of coaching experience, including 15 seasons in the NFL. Most recently, Kotwica served as the assistant special teams coach for Minnesota in 2022 and was part of a coaching staff that helped the team to the NFC North Division title.A graduate of Army West Point, where he was a linebacker and team captain, he went on to serve as a helicopter pilot, reaching the rank of Captain and serving in the Iraq War, as well as in Bosnia and Korea.He began his coaching career at the US Military Academy Prep School as a defensive coordinator before jumping to the NFL as a special teams coach or coordinator for the New York Jets, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, and now the Denver Broncos under head coach Sean Payton.On today’s episode, he shares his influences and the importance of our roles as coaches, developing a leadership style, innovation, and the use of technology in teaching and developing players.Show Notes: Early influences Coaches saw ability that translates into being a coach Military background shaped leadership and coaching The people make the experience rewarding  From the military into coaching - offer from Bobby Ross Mike Westhoff - having standards Leadership - being the CEO  You must be yourself as a leader Coaching with technology Passive and active learning Integrating a new piece of technology into workflow  Enhanced player development  Post-practice punt protection period How to be innovative Advice on implementing technology Follow Ben Kotwica on Twitter @BKotwica44.Watch Coach Kotwica's Presentation from Lauren's First and Goal:Punt Install with Technology and Drills: https://bit.ly/3KjpkP5Related Episode:Figure It Out with Mike Westhoff: https://bit.ly/3JVFPPEBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com for enhanced show notes with links to related episodes, resources, articles, and our winning edge takeaways. Also sign up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet newsletter, which highlights the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources.Follow us on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Football is in Lance Zierlein’s blood. He is the son of retired NFL Coach Larry Zierlein and an analyst for NFL.com since 2015. His opinions on the best players in the game are highly respected across the industry.Today, he joins us to share his involvement in the Joe Moore Award, shed light on the process for determining the award's winning unit, and reveal the characteristics of the highest-performing offensive line units in the country.Through the conversation, both the physical and mental aspects of elite offensive line play show through, and he shares the common characteristics displayed by the coaches leading these top units.Show Notes: How he became involved with JMA The process is a funnel Our watchlist is everybody Duke Manyweather - LSU five-man protections in 2019 Three phases of the block Learning about how OL play evolves from his dad - NFL Coach Larry Zierlein Evaluating pass protection of the unit The true sign of teamwork in pass pro Run schemes that lend themselves to teamwork Assessing varied technique Characteristics of the OL coaches leading the best units Follow Lance Zierlein on Twitter @Lance Zierlein.Additional Joe Moore Award Episode:Aaron Taylor: https://bit.ly/3zchYGrRelated Resource:The Moore Method - OL University: https://bit.ly/3zchYGrAdditional Offensive Line Episodes:Sonny Dykes - Putting Together an Offense: https://spoti.fi/42NgiALBob Wylie - Coaching That Builds Relationships (Part 1): https://bit.ly/3TPJgfmBob Wylie - Coaching That Builds Relationships (Part 2): https://bit.ly/3nsAuYIKyle Caskey - Blitz Pick-Up: https://bit.ly/3lJ9UtZResearch and Development Series:Tackles: https://bit.ly/3FYLwLxInterior Linemen: https://bit.ly/40FMofZBe sure to go to coachandcoordinator.com for enhanced show notes with links to related episodes, resources, and articles, as well as our winning edge takeaways detailed in text. Also sign-up for our free Weekly Tip Sheet, which highlights the best ideas from the previous week, trending episodes, and featured resources.Follow us on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Cushing is the run game coordinator at Duke and also coaches the offensive line. Prior to serving on the Blue Devils staff, he spent three years as the head coach at Eastern Illinois University.Coach Cushing spent 15 seasons in a variety of roles at Northwestern University, including ten seasons as the offensive line coach. He also coached the super backs, tight ends, and H-backs, after starting as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line. Cushing had recruiting coordinator responsibilities as well, twice earning national recognition as one of the Big Ten’s top recruiters.Coach Cushing got his start in coaching as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne.In this segment from the 3rd Annual Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic, Coach Cushing focuses on what it takes to create a consistent player. While he gives examples with the offensive line, what he describes applies to all position groups, units, and the team.He establishes that consistency is the hallmark of greatness. His discussion includes mental consistency in training players' minds, especially related to the game plan, player-owned culture, and consistency with cultural messages.Show Notes: Consistency is the hallmark of greatness Mental preparation Beginning of a meeting Homework Follow Adam Cushing on Twitter @CoachCushing.Listen to Coach Cushing's Entire Clinic Talk: https://bit.ly/42JDa49Additional Adam Cushing Episodes:Simplifying Culture: https://bit.ly/3LUgdpgAdditional Adam Cushing Video Course:Culture and Leadership: https://bit.ly/3z9Y6nqPlease go to coachandcoordinator.com for expanded show notes, including our winning edge takeaways and links to resources. And while there, be sure to sign up for our Weekly Tip Sheet, which shares the best ideas from the podcast.Follow Keith Grabowski on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices