

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
Apr 20, 2021 • 32min
Simplicity in Coaching (Part 1)- Sanders Davis, Rice Offensive Line Coach
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Rice Offensive Line Coach, Sanders Davis. Coach took over the Rice offensive line in 2020, having previously spent time on staff as a GA. Prior to his time at Rice, Davis spent 5 years at Catholic High School, where he served as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. Davis has had a unique journey through the coaching world and joins the podcast to talk about that journey.
1:30 Coach’s journey
14:15 Developing relationships to progress in the coaching world
18:30 Trying to show coaches that you’re trying to learn and be interactive as opposed to trying to get something out of the relationship
22:52 What aspects of teaching does coach bring over to football Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2021 • 36min
Alignment within your Program with Brian Kight
From the Archives:
Brian Kight and Keith Grabowski team up for this special Leadership Journey edition of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast. This podcast will occur weekly throughout the season, focusing on issues that teams face during the season. Keith and Brian discusses culture and alignment in today’s podcast.
Show notes
2:01 Trying to create alignment within the coaching staff
4:21 The definition of a coach
8:28 How coaches benefit from self-assessments
12:51 Keep systems simple but detailed
15:16 Alignment happens with clarity, support, and accountability
19:46 The reason teams struggle with alignment
23:07 “Embrace the uniqueness of you, but align with us”
26:18 Tips to get players to align
28:01 A foundation of beliefs
31:47 Encouragement for coaches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2021 • 20min
Eric LeGrand - A Mission Bigger than the Game and the NJFCA "Believe" Clinic
On October 16, 2010 at MetLife stadium, Eric LeGrand ran down on a kick off for Rutgers and didn’t walk off the field. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe, and Coach Schiano came out on the field knelt and looked down at Eric and said, “Pray.”
Becoming paralyzed playing the game he loved didn’t change his passion for the game or the lessons he had taken from it. It provided him the courage and inspiration to go out into the world and do more.
Eric has shown the world that obstacles can be transformed into opportunities, and he will continue to drive his mission forward until he delivers on Christopher Reeve’s dream of a world with empty wheelchairs. To Eric, it is not matter of if he walks again, but rather when.
To help Eric on his mission, Coach Schiano, the Rutgers staff, and the New Jersey Football Coaches Association have launched the virtual “Believe” Clinic with all proceeds to benefit "The Christopher Reeves Foundation" on behalf of Eric LeGrand.
Please help this cause while expanding your football knowledge April 22-24 with 31 speakers from high school, college, and the NFL. Live and replay available to all attendees. Only $29.
Here is a run down of some notable speakers:
Greg Schiano, HC, Rutgers - Q&A
Sean Gleeson, OC, Rutgers - Rutgers Offense in the Pandemic and Beyond
Robb Smith, DC, Rutgers - Scarlet Knight Defensive Concepts
Brandon Streeter, PGC/QB, Clemson - Clemson Tigers QB Development
Kevin Higgins, WR Coach, Wake Forest - Developing Wide Receivers Skills and Drills
Ed Foley, ST Coach, Carolina Panthers - Building an Effective Kick Return
Mike Judge, Asst. TE Coach, Miami Dolphins - Drills and Skills, Getting TE’s Ready to Compete
Steve Verbit, Co DC, Princeton - Dynamic Pass Rush Technique Development
Jared Backus, DC, Cornell - 6 Man Pressure Out Of The 3-4 With Technique Emphasis
Satyen Bhatka, DL, Cornell - It's What's Up Front That Counts - Defensive Line Technique vs The Run
The line-up also includes the entire Rutgers staff and top high school coaches talking on offense, defense, special teams, and program development!
Do not miss this opportunity to develop as a coach and help Eric LeGrand’s mission! REGISTER HERE:
https://njfca.coachesclinic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2021 • 36min
Fitting RPO's into the Run Game + Developmental Leagues- Matt Troxel, Vertical Raise
On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Matt Troxel, former AAF and Division 1 College Coach. Troxel most recently coached for the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF, but previously spent time at Oregon State, Idaho State and Idaho. Toxel has coached a wide variety of positions, which has helped him grow as a coach. He joins the podcast today to talk about his time in the AAF as well as how his RPO’s fit into his run game.
1:42 What Coach learned early in his career that helped guide him
7:17 Stepping outside of your comfort zone
11:01 What coach learned at Oregon State
15:23 How Coaching in the AAF helped look at football in a different perspective
18:49 What AAF rule did he like that the NCAA/NFL doesn’t implement
21:10 Importance of developmental leagues
23:46 How the RPO’s fit into his run game
28:04 Tools he used to help develop his QB’s mental game
30:24 Vertical Raise
32:50 The Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2021 • 30min
Gabe Fertitta - 2x State Champ At Catholic HS, Now Assistant At Louisville
From the archives:
Today's guest on the Coach and Coordinator Podcast is Gabe Fertitta, former head football coach at Catholic High School of Baton Rouge (Louisiana). Fertitta led Catholic to its 2nd state championship under his leadership in 2020. This led to an opportunity at the FBS level with Louisville.
On today’s episode Coach Fertitta and host Keith Grabowski talk about program alignment and the cur dog culture at Catholic High School.
Show Notes
1:51 Coach Fertitta’s time at Catholic
3:04 Culture at Catholic High School
4:42 Making the switch to head coach
7:30 Aligning with the culture
11:30 Cur Dog culture
15:25 Offense and defense at Catholic
18:42 G-scheme concept
24:54 Continuing to perform at a high level
Coach Fertitta’s twitter: @Fertitta_Gabe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2021 • 45min
The Leadership Journey with Brian Kight - Accountability
From the Archives: Brian Kight and Keith Grabowski team up for this special Leadership Journey edition of the Coach and Coordinator podcast. Brian and Keith discuss accountability in today’s podcast.
Show notes
1:51 How much a team’s attitude can change from week to week
3:35 Leading men in battle and how it applies to football
5:45 How leadership skills are developed
7:30 How to create your own energy
10:20 Accountability never works in isolation
16:00 Why the right thing to do isn’t always clear
18:05 What accountability is
22:30 Why coaches should redefine accountability for their teams
25:00 Reward alignment and create discomfort for misalignment
29:15 How to utilize accountability properly
35:30 Reward based on what players like, not what you like
40:05 Social discomfort is the most effective form of discomfort Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2021 • 35min
Defending the Evolving RPO Game- Ben Albert, Co-Defensive Coordinator/DL Coach, Duke
On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by Ben Albert, Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach at Duke. Albert has been with the Blue Devils since the 2016 season, where he has had various different roles. Prior to his time at Duke, he spent 3 seasons as the Defensive Line Coach at Boston College and has also been a Linebackers Coach at Temple. Coach joined the podcast today to talk about how he defends the RPO game.
1:01 Coach’s journey
4:23 The “55”
8:23 How they work to be efficient
11:32 How coaching is like being a good parent
13:55 What trends Coach sees to stopping the RPO’s
17:44 What techniques his defensive linemen use vs the RPO game
19:50 Favorite alignments vs the RPO
23:16 Advice to young coaches looking to level up their careers
27:35 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2021 • 29min
15 Coaching Points for the Player Coach Relationship
In this podcast, Keith Grabowski shares coaching points for developing a strong player-coach relationship, emphasizing trust, respect, and honesty. He discusses the importance of eye contact, being yourself, and communicating positively. Examples from FBS spring ball visits and insights on when yelling and physical discipline are appropriate are also covered. The podcast highlights the role of the bench as a motivator, setting players up for success, and maintaining a 'no excuses' mentality.
Apr 9, 2021 • 30min
Addressing the "Why" with Today's Players- Deonte Gibson, OLB Coach, Akron
On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by Akron Outside Linebackers Coach, Deonte Gibson. Coach Gibson was a formerly and elite player in the Big Ten for Northwestern, where he was a 3rd team All-Big Ten selection as well as a 3 time Academic All-Big Ten player. Gibson also found himself in the NFL, where he played for Tampa Bay and Detroit. Coach has been at Northwestern since 2020 and was formerly the defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois. He joined the podcast today to talk about what it’s like coaching and relating to players in today’s game.
1:18 Coach’s journey
4:24 Shift to the new age of coaching as compared to how he was coached
7:40 Addressing the “Why” and how his experiences helped him do that
10:18 How he relates to players initially
12:17 How his youth has helped him coach
13:35 How he tries to be a mentor
15:42 Balancing scheme and technique
18:36 Fine tuning your tools and changing things when needed
20:23 Favorite piece that he’s read and learned
21:30 His favorite defensive call
23:46 What things help Coach stay focused
25:20 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2021 • 19min
Q&A With Jedd Fisch, Head Coach, Arizona
In all the activity of what goes into the process of getting a job and then getting started there, Coach Fisch heard about Lauren's First and Goal Clinic. He had worked the LFG Camp before and wanted to be a part of the clinic even though his schedule was full with getting things going in Arizona.
His topic was marrying the run and pass in which he showed film from his time with the rams and how they make outside zone and play action look the same to create explosive plays.
Today’s podcast is a Q&A moderated by John Loose, AHC at Army and Coach Fisch. He answers a variety of question from running back footwork in OZ, to effectiveness from gun or pistol, his best advice, how to handle a zero technique and more.
There is plenty of insight packed into this quickcast.
Entire clinic talk on CoachTube:
https://bit.ly/3uzm9be
All courses developed from LFG Clinic:
Check out all the courses from Lauren's First and Goal Clinic here:
bit.ly/3tgTrLB
coachandcoordinator.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


