

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
Mar 10, 2021 • 35min
Before You Teach, You Must Reach- Jeff Reinebold, Special Teams Coach, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes Jeff Reinbold, Special Teams Coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Reinbold has been all over both the United State and Canada during his illustrious coaching career. While he has mostly coached Special Teams, he has also held roles on both sides of the ball and has taken pride in building relationships with both players as well as coaches. During the first part of this two part show, Coach details a lot of what he has learned over the years including his relationship with one of his mentors, Dick Vermeil.
Show Notes
1:04 What and who shaped Coach into who he is
5:47 Coach’s experience and what he learned from Dick Vermeil
13:00 Paying it forward
16:15 Before you teach, you must reach
22:10 Getting all the details to put your players in the most successful position Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2021 • 35min
Using Analytics in Practical Ways- Rich Worsell, Akron Director of Research and Analytics
On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, we break from X’s and O’s to talk about how to use analytics in practical ways. To do this, we welcome Rich Worsell, Akron Director of Research and Analytics. While his current job may focus on analytics, Worsell was a great offensive coordinator at his previous stops. Coach took a unique path to get where he is today as he came all the way from England. Host Keith Grabowski will go into detail with Worsell about his past as well as what he’s learned in analytics.
1:20 How Coach grew fondness for football all the way in England
4:15 How Math plays a role in Coach’s life
6:30 When his analytics started to become relevant to his role
10:45 Using analytics to back up your instincts while scouting
14:35 Determining and tracking important data
18:50 Recommendations for starting to use analytics for your program
22:10 How much can you do in the offseason towards building your analytics
25:17 What’s something analytically that surprised coach
27:55 Analytics during gameplanning, specifically on opening drives and kickoffs
29:00 Helpful tools for creating analytics
30:55 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2021 • 29min
MVP Process- Ralph Isernia, HC RPI
On Today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes Ralph Isernia, Head Football Coach at RPI. In seven seasons at RPI, coach has managed to put together an impressive resume, including a .649 winning percentage as well as a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals and multiple ECAC Bowl Titles. Coach joined th podcast today to talk about his “MVP” Process and building a culture.
Show Notes:
1:23 Coach’s Journey
3:45 Important lessons that Coach learned by being a younger coach
6:58 Leadership development over the last year
9:45 Developing a culture and building a brand
13:25 The MVP process
15:50 How coach would describe his offense
20:09 How his offense has helped him find different types of Quarterbacks
22:52 Foundational pieces to his offense
25:03 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2021 • 31min
Personnel Placement and Development- Joel Rodriguez, Offensive Line Coach, FIU
Joining Host Keith Grabowski on today’s edition of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast is the Offensive Line Coach at Florida International University. Rodriguez is currently entering his second season with FIU and has previously served in multiple roles at Miami as well as Fordham University. In addition to coaching, Rodriguez made it all the way to the NFL where he played for the Tennessee Titans. Coach has become a master at placing personnel in their correct roles as well as developing young talent.
1:07 Coach’s journey
3:48 Influence Coach Munchak had on Rodriguez
8:00 Find a way to make a system fit players and vice versa
14:28 How fitting players can help them maximize their skills
16:30 Coach’s MAP scheme
19:28 Which fronts were ideal for running MAP
20:35 Changing schemes based on his Quarterback
24:30 Advice to Coaches looking to move up and on
27:06 Winning Edge
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Mar 3, 2021 • 34min
Be Where Your Feet Are-Matthew Powledge, Safeties and Special Teams Coach, Baylor University
On today’s podcast, Host Keith Grabowski is joined by Baylor Safeties and Special Teams Coach, Matthew Powledge. Coach Powledge joined Baylor in 2020, where he led a successful campaign on special teams that landed returner Trestan Ebner on four different All-American teams. Coach joined the podcast today to walk about his Coaching Journey as well as go over different aspect of his special teams units.
1:05 Coach’s Journey
2:40 The lessons that stuck with Coach the most, “Be Where Your Feet Are”
4:55 Difference between having goals and aspirations compared to constantly looking ahead
7:15 How Coaching Special teams and larger groups has helped him as coach
9:20 Making sure you reach outside your unit
10:45 Setting up his Kick Off Return Units
12:40 Approach towards taking the fair catch and touchbacks
14:17 Different types of returns they run
16:00 How they allot practice time towards KOR
17:55 Drills for frontline guys on KOR
19:55 Which type of personnel Coach looks for different spots in KOR
22:08 Techniques to avoid penalties on returns
25:24 Approach to Kickoff
27:30 Reliance on his gunners in Punt
29:42 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2021 • 27min
Creating a Common Language for Coaching, Brent Dearmon, OC, MTSU
On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Brent Dearmon, Offensive Coordinator at Middle Tennessee. Coach Dearmon is known for his extensive RPO game and tailoring his offense towards his personnel and scheme. Dearmon left Kansas University this offseason, where he had served as the offensive coordinator for the last year and a half. Prior to that, Dearmon was the Head Coach at Bethel University, where he led the team to their best season ever. Dearmon joins Grabowski today to talk about creating a common language amongst his staff and players.
1:23 Coach’s journey
2:51 Creating a common language
5:30 Importance of getting players AND coaches on the same page in terms of terminology
7:25 Teaching in parables
9:45 D-Gap fitter
12:30 The process of changing old terms
13:35 Gift Route
16:05 Vertical movement
18:08 Rocker
20:20 Preparing to make sure all the terminology is the same and establishing pillars
22:38 Coach’s manual
23:52 Advice for coaches going forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2021 • 51min
Adding Choice Concepts to Layer the RPO Game-Alcorn St. OC Elliott Wratten+ WR 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. Today, they talk about adding the choice concept to your RPO game.
1:09 Where the Choice concept fits in the Alcorn Offense
3:51 What the deep choice looks like
9:11 What the backside does and you how work the full field
11:56 Installing the choice concept
15:15 Putting keys on the field during practice
16:41 What the backs do in the scheme
18:20 Running this as opposed to 4 verts
20:15 Protection responsibilities
25:52 QB escape routes
27:50 Different adjustments when you go 3x1 and 2x1
30:55 Using RPO’s in the same formations as the choice concepts
33:55 Attacking hashes
35:02 Switches
37:57 Inside Choice
40:57 What adjustments they make to go to inside choice
45:35 Importance of understanding the next phase of your attack
Coachtube Courses:
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Feb 26, 2021 • 35min
Coaching that Builds Relationships (Part 2)- Bob Wylie, Offensive Line Coach, NFL/CFL
On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes legendary Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie to the show. Coach Wylie has coached at all levels of football starting all the way down at the Pop Warner Level. He got his college coaching career started as the Oline Coach at Brown in 1980. Since then he has had stops at multiple Division 1 college programs as well as stops with the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. Currently, Wylie is coaching the offensive line for the Ottawa Redblacks. This is the second episode of a 2 part conversation with Coach Wylie. During this episode he goes into great detail about his coaching style and how he builds relationships with his players.
Show Notes
1:27 When did Coach learn to speak up as a young coach and how he cares about his players
11:36 Putting in 2 different game plans
15:18 How Coach Wylie teaches the game
22:42 How the COOL Clinic Started
The C.O.O.L Clinic is virtual in 2021. Register here:
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Feb 25, 2021 • 30min
Coaching that Builds Relationships (Part 1)- Bob Wylie, Offensive Line Coach, NFL/CFL
On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Host Keith Grabowski welcomes legendary Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie to the show. Coach Wylie has coached at all levels of football starting all the way down at the Pop Warner level. He got his college coaching career started as the Offensive Line Coach at Brown in 1980. Since then he has had stops at multiple Division 1 college programs as well as stints with the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. Currently, Wylie is coaching the offensive line for the Ottawa Redblacks. This is the first episode of a 2 part conversation with Coach Wylie. During this episode he goes into great detail about his coaching background, philosophy and what he learned along the way.
Show Notes:
0:33 How much Coach Wylie enjoys what he does
3:28 Why football appealed to Coach
8:00 How Coach went from a Pop Warner Coach to an NFL Coach
22:30 How not being afraid to fail guided his coaching style
The C.O.O.L Clinic is virtual in 2021. Register here:
https://cool.coachesclinic.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2021 • 41min
Coaching Cues in the Class Room, On the Field and In Game- Matt Drinkall, TE's Coach Army
The Coach and Coordinator podcasts welcome back a longtime guest today as Matt Drinkall, TE’s Coach at Army, joins the podcast. Drinkall has been at Army since 2019 and prior to that was the Head Coach at Kansas-Wesleyan for five years. Drinkall joined Host Keith Grabowski today to talk about his plan for teaches his players in the classroom, on the practice field and in game.
Show notes:
2:12 Structuring how you coach
6:10 Making assignments as simple as possible
10:45 Communicating in the classroom
13:00 Developing his TE room
15:48 Differentiating the classroom and the practice field
17:38 Getting your personality across in your coaching
18:26 New innovations and methods that Drinkall is using in the classroom
20:35 Most critical things that need to get accomplished on the practice field
23:50 What to do when a player isn’t understanding buzzwords
26:17 Creating Acute and Applicable buzzwords
29:20 In game Coaching Cues
33:40 Advice to Coaches who are getting flooded with information this offseason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


