Coach and Coordinator Podcast

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

Today’s episode is from our archives and features Brent Dearmon from when he was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas Tech. Since that time, he’s gone on to do big things.Coach Dearmon is currently the head coach at the University of North Alabama. Prior to his current role, he served as the offensive coordinator for Florida Atlantic in 2022 after spending the 2021 season as OC at Middle Tennessee. His previous experience also includes serving as head coach at Bethel University. In his one season at Bethel in 2018, Dearmon guided the team to an undefeated regular season mark. Bethel earned a number-three ranking while averaging 540.3 yards and the second-highest scoring average in the country at 55.0 points per game. He was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year.Dearmon then made the rare jump from NAIA to FBS when he joined Les Miles' staff at Kansas in 2019 as a senior offensive consultant. Midway through the 2019 season, Dearmon took over as the program's offensive coordinator and led the team to a 24.1 scoring average and more than 400 yards of total offense per game.Brent Dearmon has always been at the forefront of RPO thinking, and it’s become a big part of the offenses he has directed. In this episode (one of four with Coach Dearmon in our library), he talks about assembling gap-sound RPOs that attack the defense across the entire field.Be sure to listen to the Winning Edge at the end of the episode for our takeaways and ideas for implementation from this episode.Show Notes: Evolving the RPO Keeping a downhill rushing mentality, while opening up more to the pass Doing RPOs in a sound way, while protecting the QB The Hot Gap Pre-snap reads The benefits of Power built into RPO The Counter game Turning Buck Sweep into RPO The three questions Dearmon asks for every concept RPO and practice Coaches need to ask, "Who do you say you are?" Winning Edge: Takeaways and ideas for implementation Follow Brent Dearmon on Twitter @BrentDearmon.Related Resources:Coach Dearmon’s Courses: Gap Sound RPOsRPOsIdentifying and Attacking Coverages with the RPOCoach Dearmon on CoachandCoordinator.com:The Hot GapAdditional Coach Dearmon Episodes:Our First Interview with Coach DearmonCreating a Common Language for CoachingC- and D-Gap RPOs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Riebock is the offensive coordinator at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas. He’s coached at all levels of college football, gaining valuable experience from the coaches he’s worked with all along the way.On today's episode, Coach Riebock shares how he utilizes data in the offseason to help determine what the offense will look like for the coming season. He also goes into detail about how Midwestern State utilizes technology to create a better workflow and better teaching tools for their players.Show Notes: A framework for preparing every position How a coach’s workflow and process evolve Find people that will mentor you Using data and analytics to come up with a simple plan Understanding how much you need in a game plan A system must handle all situations, or it’s not complete Using numbers to dictate what you can do Preparing and adjusting in spring Identifying and dealing with trends Using free technology to prepare players in the classroom Using interactive quizzes Using Go Army Edge technology to work through and understand concepts A more efficient way to walk through Eliminating uncertainty with interactive game plan a day ahead of practice Using technology for blitz pick-up with offensive line and running backs How the technology fosters better discussions Stealing time with the technology What the weekly plan with technology looks like Follow Billy Riebock on Twitter @RiebockBilly.Winning Edge – Takeaways and Ideas for Implementation:1) Know how much offense you need... Coach Riebock’s story about asking Coach Skrosky why they don’t change up plays in a certain situation made me recall something I have learned in the past – know how much you need by utilizing and studying the data of your past seasons. I highly recommend Brian Billick’s book, Developing an Offensive Game Plan. In the book, he lays out step-by-step what the process is for determining how much offense you need.Coach Billick writes, “Regardless of what type of team you coach (high school, college, or youth), you must think on three levels: yearly, weekly, and game day. Each level has very set parameters as to how much offense will actually be run in any given segment. The more you can overlap the amount of total offense you can carry vs. the amount that can be effectively practiced, the more effective the offense you actually run on game day will be.”2) Constantly evolve by examining how you are teaching and coaching... Ask yourself if you have the best methods, best tools, best technology to prepare your players. I heard a quote from retired Army General Eric Shinseki, who said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.”That’s where we are in our profession as the game becomes more and more dynamic, and we must find ways to best develop our players.3) Use an “expert” system to implement new technology and workflows... It reminds me of an African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This approach gives you the benefits of moving quickly and also going far with new technology.That expert should be the one to learn it and then efficiently teach it and help the others on the staff troubleshoot it. In that way, you will more efficiently implement new tools into your workflow.Please go to coachandcoordinator.com to sign-up for our newsletter, the Weekly Tip Sheet. We share the best ideas from the past week’s episodes, recommended resources, and share our featured episodes.And follow us on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Amanda Ruller joins the podcast to share a different perspective on networking in this profession, finding a way to the top, and then dig into ideas and drills for training running backs.Coach Ruller is currently the running backs coach at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She recently served as the assistant running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks through the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship program.Her unique background in strength and conditioning, data and analytics, and sports media, as well as her experience as an elite multi-sport athlete, is something she leverages to advance in the profession.There are plenty of takeaways from this episode, including insight and advice to become known to the people who can help elevate you, as well as ideas for creating purposeful drills.Show Notes: Finding a way into the coaching profession Her start in strength and conditioning Creating something to give  Marketing yourself Sports broadcasting as an avenue to build relationships Spending camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship with Seattle Seahawks Persistence Find what you are passionate about and go and do it Data, analytics, and the NFL Combine Doing work for free to get noticed Putting together drills that are purposeful Training vision in the running backs Create to the standard to create the results Speed cuts Pressure step Be used to the movement but not the rhythm Jump cuts Working with the Seahawks Physio ball to create different timing in drills Follow Amanda Ruller on Twitter @AMANDAbolic.Watch Coach Ruller's Speed Training Presentation from Lauren's First and Goal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Taylor to learn more about the Joe Moore Award, the only college football award that honors a group instead of an individual.Aaron Taylor played for Joe Moore at the University of Notre Dame. Taylor was a two-time All-American and a first round pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. He played professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers.Taylor currently works as a college football analyst, television sportscaster, and he is the founder of the Joe Moore Award. He shares all the details behind this award, and through hearing about Joe Moore and his methods, we learn of the impact that elite coaching makes.Whether you are an offensive line coach or not, there is plenty to take away for what it takes to be an impactful coach.Show Notes:  Who was Joe Moore? The Joe Moore O-Line Camp Kirk Ferentz's first attempt at the award The impact of a coach It started with belief and strict adherence to the fundamentals The detail that goes into finding the best college OL by the committee Toughness, teamwork, technique, consistency, and finishing The watchlist starts with 131 units Steed Lobotzke and Air Force as a finalist How the six aspects show up on film Lance Zierlein - three phases of a block Accounting for different methodology and technique There is no QBR for fat guys Common traits in the coaches leading these top units The Joe Moore Offensive Line Credo The “toughness drill” - base blocks for two hours You have five more in you The Foundation for Teamwork Th creation of the trophy The Moore Method - O-Line University course Follow Aaron Taylor on Twitter @AaronTaylorCFB.Take The Moore Method OL University CourseFor more information, visit JoeMooreAward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Waufle most recently served as the defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills. Coach Waufle served as defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2003 and coached in Super Bowl XXXVII. Waufle coached primarily single-gap four-man defensive lines in 4-3 Defenses. He was the defensive line coach for the New York Giants from 2004 to 2009. He won Super Bowl XLII in 2007.He returned to the Raiders in 2010. From 2012 to 2016, he was the defensive line coach for St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams under head coach Jeff Fisher. He coached the Buffalo Bills defensive line in 2017 and retired after the 2017 season.In the segment from the 2022 C.O.O.L. Clinic, he shares how his classroom is unique and then goes into the six components of get-off, which he repped every single day.While he focuses his presentation on defensive line play, there’s a lot to learn here about teaching your players, regardless of the position, to master their technique.The entire talk is available on CoachTube and the link in the show notes will give you 25% off. It’s definitely worth adding to your library.Watch Coach Waufle's Entire Presentation (SAVE 25%)The 2023 C.O.O.L. Clinic site has been launched. Be sure to take advantage of early bird savings. To learn more, visit https://cool2023.coachesclinic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode from our archives, recorded in 2019, features Chris Kappas who was recently named the 2022 AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.Demonstrated in this episode, Coach Kappas has shown his ability as a coach on both sides of the ball. He has been recognized as the Football Scoop D3 Coordinator of the Year in 2015, while he was the defensive coordinator for National Champion Mount Union. The following year, he led a top offense in the country, switching sides of the ball for Mount Union in another championship run. He then moved on to be the defensive coordinator for Austin Peay in 2021, finishing his stint there with the 2022 FCS Assistant COY honors.In this episode, Coach Kappas talks about how his year of coaching offense helped his defense and how attention to detail is so important in everything his units do.Show Notes: Coach’s experience on both sides of the ball How coaching offense helped him see the game differently What Coach changed on his defense after being on offense, specifically with RPOs What Coach learned the most from his experience Small details Coach believes give Mount Union an advantage How attention to detail has evolved and how it benefits his units Pursuit Pointing out details to players The mental process of players in game situations Which offenses create the most problems for defenses in today’s game What are some defensive trends that give offenses the most problems Follow Chris Kappas on Twitter @CKappas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Tschetter is the defensive coordinator for Wartburg College who led Division 3 in rushing defense, while also recording the most interceptions. They ranked in the top 25 in most defensive categories.Today, we dig into what Wartburg does in order to set their players up for success on defense.Coach Tschetter was influenced by several of our past guests, including Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator Scott Power, Randolph-Macon head coach Pedro Arruza, and retired Wisconsin-Platteville head coach Mike Emendorfer.Show Notes: Play fast: lighten the mental burden Relentless Communication Assignment sound: do your 1/11th Technique focused Tackling, block defeat, and creating turnovers Teaching tackling in the team meeting, plus quizzing Be multiple Stop the run: force offenses to be one-dimensional Create chaos Win the situational Don’t flinch and turn the page Base defense from 4-3 learned from Northwest Missouri State Defensive line responsible for A and B gaps Leveraged-based run fits Success on run by understanding opponent and situation Schematic success on run Up-the-field movements instead of horizontal Benefits of playing zone coverage Tracking INTs in practice Preparing for what attacks cover three Follow Matt Tschetter on Twitter @Coach_Tschetter.Related Episodes:Scott Power: Sack the QB and Shutdown the RunMike Emendorfer: Crazy Formations, Adding Wrinkle, Game Day Comms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As coaches, we always seem to be in a hurry to get to where we want to be, to get to that position we set as a career goal. In that haste, we may forget that we have plenty of opportunities to improve ourselves and build our skills in the place we are at. That’s exactly what Caleb Collins did in progressing through the ranks from being a high school teacher, to an analyst, to an on-field position coach in the FBS. He found ways to use the positions he was in to get the reps he needed to improve his skills as a coach.In this episode, Coach Collins shares examples from his journey, as well as the methods and progressions he uses to coach the outside linebackers at Baylor. While he gets focused on the specifics of outside linebacker play as we go, you can learn from the way he thinks about it and the methods he uses to prepare his position for success on the field.Show Notes: How teaching in the high school classroom helped him to an on-field FBS job Getting reps at coaching your own room Traits desired in an outside linebacker Setting the tone with the Jack Linebacker in the install Setting the edge and rushing the passer Teaching alignment and recognition Using technology to speed up the process and get more reps Stance and start progression Pass rush progression Keys instead of ball key Understanding the set Hand combat Upper body violence instead of hip flip Coaching cues for pass rush Skill toolbox Follow Caleb Collins on Twitter @BU_CoachCollins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calvin Renfroe is in year seven as the offensive coordinator at Olivet Nazarene. In this episode, he talks about what the staff calls “position battles.” He shares the process they use to constantly evaluate their players and give them feedback so that each player is continuously improving.The position battles have proven to help improve performance on the field, as well as build the culture at Olivet.Show Notes: Defining position battles We don’t choose starters - the players choose Where this idea stemmed from How evaluation builds the culture Being efficient with grading Example - quarterback, adjusted completion percentage Aggressive adjusters Grading decision making Playmaker points Transparency is key Method for sharing the grades How grades work into the practice plan Make it take it Tuesday Using grades to improve concepts or techniques and highlight strengths Creating an environment for learning and coaching Adding a component to grade to emphasize something This is a living breathing document Using the data to improve your own coaching Overview of how it works for other positions Follow Coach Renfroe on Twitter @CoachRenfroe.Watch Coach Renfroe’s Course on RPO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices