Quality Time

I always encourage staffs, no matter what level of play (HS,College,Pro), to spend off time with each other
to a reasonable degree. One of the best staffs I ever had was a close knit group and none of us drank. How unusual is that? At any rate we had an oyster bar about a mile from the stadium and man did we put away some oysters! It was a place where they steamed them right there in front of you, then brought them to your seat (we all sat at the bar) then shucked them and watched you enjoy as you dipped them in that great sauce and swallowed them! You can say anything you want to say, but there is no such thing as a group of football coaches not talking football where there is two more of them gathered. We designed the most grandoise offensive and defensive schemes ever devised at those seesions and never used a single one that I can recall! Hehehe. I also, on the pro level insisted that we have a family night for the players, coaches and thie wives once a week. We would try and go someplace different each week and eat a great dinner, all compliments of the team. It did not cost them a penny! it was not long at all that the wives started asking the week before: "Where we going next week?" When I was a high school coach, I would take the whole team out for Pizza on me. You can't get them to really put out for you if you don't give them respect and privileges in return. Just my way.

Coach Easton

I believe I saw a story on Lou Holtz having a Family Night with his family and those of his coaches once a week during the season while at South Carolina. Not sure if he did it else where but everyone agreed it was a nice way to be together away from the field and include the family.