

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
Feb 23, 2021 • 29min
Offense R&D - The Tight End
We continue our Research and Development series with a focus on the tight end position.
Skill utilization and skill development are the two main functions of coaching. Our research and development series has put a focus on these components because the proper placement of personnel and a focus on the improvement of each player on your team provides huge benefits in building a positive culture. Today’s installment focuses on the tight end position.
The Evolution of the Modern Tight End
The tight end position has undergone a revolution from the more athletic tackle who wore a numbers in the 80’s and provided an extra gap and blocker in the run game to disappearing from many high school and college offenses in a 10 personnel era to coming back as one of the most dynamic hybrid positions on the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2021 • 36min
Up-Tempo Offensive Line Install with Cody Kennedy, Tight Ends Coach Arkansas
On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Cody Kennedy, newly minted Tight Ends Coach at Arkansas. Kennedy is in his first year with the Razorbacks with prior stops at Tulane, Georgia, West Georgia, North Carolina-Pembroke and West Alabama. In 2018, as an offensive line GA at Georgia, he helped the Bulldogs earn a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given out to the best offensive line in the country. Kennedy joined the podcast today to talk about offensive line installation and how to coach a line in an up-tempo offense.
*When this podcast was recorded Coach Kennedy was the Offensive Line Coach at Tulane
Show Notes:
1:45 Coach’s journey
7:13 What the first meeting is like during camp and install
13:56 Coaching the culture of the offensive line
18:16 Training offensive line for tempo
26:59 Communication during walkthroughs
23:26 Finding extra time to work through practice and building fundamentals
29:10 Managing workloads during camp
30:58 Evaluating reps during camp
34:30 Winning edge
35:06 Connect with Coach
Related Content:
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-developing-tight-ends-with-nick-sheridan-tight-ends-coach-indiana-university
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-qb-installation-with-will-hall-offensive-coordinator-tulane
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-defensive-install-and-camp-adjustments-w-david-elson-dc-ball-state Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2021 • 49min
Defensive Install and Camp Adjustments w/ David Elson, DC, Marian University
On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski talks with Marian University defensive coordinator David Elson for the first edition of our “Training Camp” series. Prior to Marian, Elson served as the Ball State defense coordinator from 2017-19 and has had other stints as defensive coordinator at Western Illinois, Southern Illinois and New Mexico State. Elson joins the podcast today to talk about how he installs his defense during camp as well as adjustments he may need to make during those dogdays of August.
*During the recording of this podcast, Coach was the Defensive Coordinator at Ball State
Show Notes:
2:40 Coach’s Journey
6:22 Teaching his defense while having to adjust and add new players/parts
12:09 Making adjustments during camp based on what you see as a coach
19:19 Ideal time to install base defense in camp
24:16 Distribution of reps during camp
28:23 Making sure the staff stays sharp during camp
30:59 Balancing camp and family life
34:27 The Cardinal Way and recognizing it during camp
40:16 Blending and evaluating guys who buy into culture and communicating with players
46:42 Winning edge
Learn Defense: https://coachtube.com/courses/football/team-defense
Related Content:
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/week-1-preparations-with-kirk-fridrich-head-coach-union-hs
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/all-in-on-offense-the-installation-plan-and-execution-with-arizona-oc-noel-mazzone
https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/7416/using-the-offseason-to-build-a-series-of-plays-for-your-offense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18, 2021 • 46min
QB Installation with Will Hall, Head Coach, Southern Miss
On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, we continue our “Training Camp” series with guest Will Hall, Head Coach at Southern Miss. Hall is in his first season at Southern Miss and had prior stops at Tulane, Memphis, Louisiana-Lafayette, West Georgia,West Alabama and Arkansas-Monticello. At West Georgia, he was twice named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year and was the Super Region 2 Coach of the Year as well. Hall rebuilt the struggling West Georgia program into a powerhouse who spent 17 consecutive weeks nationally ranked and earned the program’s first No. 1 national ranking. Hall joins host Keith Grabowski on the podcast today to talk about the camp installation process for quarterbacks.
*When this podcast was recorded, Coach Hall was the Offensive Coordinator at Tulane*
Show Notes:
2:19 Coach’s journey
5:15 First thing coach installs for a QB
9:52 Recognizing “cloud or bail”
12:12 Installation process early in camp
15:26 Categories for install with QBs
19:19 Moving your head and processing
20:21 “Pick a side”22:14 Eyes and feet
23:51 RAS in-to-out
25:42 RAM read
29:32 Levels read
33:23 Tempo drops
35:33 Tempo
36:44 Tips for practicing and playing with very fast tempo
40:17 Utilizing personnel groupings
43:19 Winning edge
44:32 Connect with Coach
Twitter: @Coach_Hall7
Related Content:
User-804678956 – Training-camp-defensive-install-and-camp-adjustments-w-david-elson-dc-ball-state
User-804678956 – All-in-on-offense-the-installation-plan-and-execution-with-arizona-oc-noel-mazzone
User-804678956 – Week-1-preparations-with-kirk-fridrich-head-coach-union-hs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2021 • 29min
La Tech’s Kurt Hester shares knowledge on strength, conditioning, movement + practice
For today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, Louisiana Tech strength and conditioning coach Kurt Hester joins coach Keith Grabowski to go over his role with the Bulldogs, in and outside of the weight room. Hester also addresses in-season strength training as well as incorporating “Fast Friday” and “No Sweat Thursday” into each teams’ weekly schedule from a scientific perspective. Hester has been in his role at LA Tech since 2013, while also formerly holding the position of National Director of Training for the D1 Sports Training Center (Nashville, Tenn.) and having worked with athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, including Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers.
Show Notes:
1:16 Coach Hester’s out-of-weight-room involvement
4:20 Why old school conditioning is out of date
9:22 Use of technology versus eyes in practice
11:42 Why weight room numbers won’t necessarily reflect on-field play
14:57 Tips to prepare for conditioning during week one and beyond
17:11 In-season strength training
18:51 Proper footwear to maintain health throughout the season
20:19 Using “Fast Friday” in weekly practice routine
22:45 Pregame schedule for multi-position players
23:40 The scientific approach of light practice leading into games
25:54 Coach Hester’s best tip going into the 2019 season
Related Content:
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/strength-and-conditioning-with-sandbags-lane-kirkland-head-coach-carey-high-school-idaho
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/game-plan-in-season-sc-with-jim-arthur-miami-dolphins-strength-and-conditioning-coach
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/micah-kurtz-strength-and-conditioning-coach
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-georgia-special-teams-coordinator-scott-fountain-shares-his-camp-plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2021 • 33min
Arkansas Special Teams Coordinator Scott Fountain Shares His Camp Plan
On today’s Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Arkansas special teams coordinator Scott Fountain. During multiple stints as a special teams coordinator, Fountain has been known for his ability to develop excellent returners in both the punt return and kickoff return game. Fountain joins Coach and Coordinator today to talk about how he teaches different special teams positions during camp as well as how he chooses and develops return men.
*When this podcast was recorded, Scott Fountain was Special Teams Coordinator at Georgia.
Show Notes:
1:12 Distribution of Coaches
2:45 Finding guys to fit roles on special teams
5:52 Spending individual time on special teams and the teaching aspect
11:30 Using his staff
13:10 Camp evaluation process
17:33 Developing a return man
22:08 Simulating guys in returner’s face at practice
24:36 Preparing for all the different kinds of punts
28:11 Recognizing outstanding special teams play during camp and in season
Connect with Coach: @CoachSFountain
Related Content:
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-running-a-linebacker-room-with-tye-nix-outside-linebacker-coach-ole-miss
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-building-your-offense-during-camp-wtommy-zagorski-ocol-coach-university-of-akron
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/training-camp-optimal-performance-during-preseason-wdj-callender-yusef-shakir-and-ryan-horton
https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/best-of-deliberate-practice-special-teams-edition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2021 • 25min
Off Season Research & Development - Offensive Tackles
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski continues his “Offense Research and Development Series” with a focus on the offensive tackle position. He discusses identifying skill sets and placing personnel in the best scheme for their body type and abilities.
2:25 Building next season’s playbook based on personnel
3:43 Looking at different offensive linemen skill sets and body types
4:33 Placing two different body types next to each other on the line
5:40 Looking at “Power” to a 3 technique
9:06 Setting up assignments to maximize skill sets/body types
10:03 Start with stance for OT - the two point stance
12:29 Placing a premium on development
13:24 Development of the hands/independent hands
15:06 Developing posture/using med balls
15:50 Utilizing the correct type of pass sets
16:48 John Strollo - “Fundamentals of Acceleration”
17:38 Drills for footwork in run game
19:17 Use your hips!
20:49 Identify skill sets and development plan for scheme
Articles:
Offensive Tackles
http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-tackles/
Interior Linemen Part 1
http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-the-interior-offensive-line-part-1/
Interior Linemen Part 2
http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-interior-offensive-line-part-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2021 • 37min
Developing Your O-line and Your Career-John Reagan, OL Coach, Maryland
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by John Reagan, Offensive Line Coach at Maryland. Coach has over 25 years of experience including stops at Penn, Kansas, Rice, Air Force, Temple and Akron. Coach his now known for getting the most out of his offensive linemen, but early in his career had experience coaching on the defensive side of the football as well. Coach came on the podcast today to talk about his experiences and how to build and offensive line.
Show Notes:
0:55 Coach’s journey
3:35 How learning different sides of the ball helped Coach’s development
9:30 Reaching different learning styles and teaching things differently
14:22 Matching personnel with scheme
19:37 Building and scouting your “next” team
23:10 How Coach approaches learning and developing new aspects of his coaching
26:25 Staying on top of recruiting
29:41 What the keys were to Coach being able to stay at the higher levels of football throughout his career
32:48 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2021 • 49min
Reaching Different Learning Styles + Living on the Edge- AJ Cooper, Edge's Coach at Washington State
On today’s podcast, host Keith Graboowski is joined by AJ Cooper, Edge’s Coach at Washington State. Cooper has been in that role for one year with prior coaching experience at the University of Wyoming (6 years) and North Dakota State (8 years). As one of the only coach’s in the country with the actual title of “Edge’s,” Coach has become an expert on coaching that positional group. He joined the podcast today to talk about how he coach’s his position group both on the practice field and in the classroom.
Show Notes
1:05 What the “Edges” are
2:05 Coach’s Journey
4:12 What he learned during his time at NDSU
5:45 Who were Coopers mentors and what they taught him
9:09 Thinking outside the box
12:00 What Cooper’s meeting rooms are like
16:05 Different teaching methods
18:44 Type of players Cooper looks for in his recruits
23:20 What Coach does in Indy drills that help players get better
27:35 Training his players to be effective in the run game
31:00 Teaching how to set the edge
34:30 Importance of the whole defensive unit being on the same page
36:00 Keys to being successful in this business
39:34 Coach’s talk at the Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic
43:02 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2021 • 28min
Offense R&D Series - Interior Lineman
On today's podcast, host Keith Grabowski shares part 1 of his series on offense research and development. The series focuses on matching personnel, philosophy, and schemes and packaging all of those together into a cohesive offensive package. Today's episode details the different skill sets of the interior offensive line (centers and guards) and how and why they fit well into different types of schemes. The articles with video that support this podcast can be found here: http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-the-interior-offensive-line-part-1/ http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-interior-offensive-line-part-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


