Installing Today’s Hybrid Pistol Offense Run & Pass from Top to Bottom
This manual provides you with the full offensive line, receiver, and quarterback mechanics for installing each offensive play presented. Coach Campbell has left no stone unturned for implementing today’s Pistol Offense into your program.
I am 28 and have been a head coach at a small high school for 4 seasons, one year as an assistant here. We are the smallest 11 man class in the state now and there is a good chance we will continue to decline in enrollment. There are a lot of circumstances, but the bottom line is that it is a huge risk for my future happiness to stay at my current school (teaching assignment and district is in poor shape financially and losing enrollment). However, it is close to my family and my wife's family. I love the kids here and I am super comfortable with my staff and the teaching and coaching. We have had good success here, going 29-10 during my time as HC despite being 5-4 my first year as HC. I feel like next season could be the best season yet as far as the character of kids. I feel like we could win a state championship.
There is a job open in another part of the state that could be the ideal position. My wife would support me if I wanted to leave, but we would be 3-4 hours from family instead of 45 mins. Even if I interviewed and got the job and my family decided to leave, would I always regret what could have been and leaving this group of kids after working so hard the past 4 years?
In my opinion you have to do whats best for everyone involved in your family. Thats why I am trying to get closer to home. Being 2,100 miles away like I am is a huge difference.
Sit down with your wife, weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision you can make.
1. I would apply and take a run at the "ideal" job. I'm sure others are thinking the same thing you are and there would be a lot of qualified candidates. Consequently, your current confusion may not be an issue. I don't mean to sound demeaning; I hope you understand what I'm saying. Furthermore, maybe you go through the process and it just doesn't feel right. This will eliminate any what if questions that you may otherwise have by not taking a run at it. (I did this once and turned down a HC position. I have remained a DC for 8 years after turning down the job and have never regretted it!)
2. If you go through the process, get the offer, and still are interested in the position, then you have a tough decision. I don't know what to tell you, but to be honest with your gut and what's best for you and loved ones around you.
3. Basically, I'd go through the process. You might find something surprising about the job that only strengthens your belief in remaining where you are. The offer may never come and then at least you've had an experiece to look back on for potential future positions.
CUI-
After reading another post of yours, I see that you were a Central Dutch. I happened to be a Norseman. I didn't play against you, but I had some wonderful battles with Coach Kac. He was a great RB; he ran hard. Anyway, best of luck with your pursuit. Let us know what you decide to do.
ps You're right about your Coach Schipper post. I know my coaches thought highly of him.
Coach
Would you regret not taking the ideal job if the reason for not taking it was your family? I know I would not...ever. My impression of you is that family is very important to you, so therefore, there is no dilema or tough decision.
Karjaw
We dont lose any games we just run out of time.
Fisher Deberry
Thanks for the feedback guys. I decided not to look any further into the previously mentioned job since there were too many ?s
I got a call today from a superintendent from another 2A school here (middle sized school) who had heard about me through some networking I guess. The teaching job looks like it might be ideal, but the school has been bad at football for the past several years. It would be a little further away from our families than I'd like, but manageable... who knows how long it would take to get one in my ideal range of about 150 square miles. I think I am going to interview and at least see what is out there. My gut is telling me to turn it down unless it really knocks my socks off. Hopefully that's not an unprofessional thing to do.
Ed - I coach at AHST. Where are you at now?
FunkyD - Sorry to hear you were a Norseman - I won't hold it against you. Just kidding, I think IIAC FB is the deal. Schipper and Kac were/are both great people. I am really thankful for my college FB experience, and it was nothing to brag about from the standpoint of personal success. Kac was still a stud when I played for him.
I have spoke with successful coaches at the smallest level and the 2nd highest level in Iowa, and they both said they loved their schools and thought they were ideal. I have had a lot of people say I should wait for a good 3A job, which I think my landing such a job would be a long shot anyway.
Which do you think is better and why? Or simply what are the pros and cons of the levels (210 total kids 10-12 or 410 kids 10-12)?
I know from expereince of what it is like to coach at a small class A school (twice in fact). You never know what's going to happen with the districts enrollment or money. If what you say is true and people are moving out of the areas of Avoca, Hancock, Shelby, Tennant (and people I know over in that area say it's happening all over SW Iowa), it might be best for you to start looking. You've proven that you can lead ( going 6-3, 11-1, 7-2, and 5-4 over the last four years), so it might be best to jump ship now before things get worse.
Of course before you jump ship and start looking, your decision will depend on three things ;
1. if you think next year is going to produce a state championship, stick around and get it on your resume. Winning a state championship (or getting close) will defintely help you in your job search.
a. But before you make that decision, you'll need to evalute the team you have coming up.
1. Will it be as strong as or stronger than that team you fielded in '05. And what is your district going to be like? Tough or a bunch of patsys?
2. If the team doesn't match up to that '05 squad: MY ADVICE: MOVE ON.
2. How really important is it to be near family? From your posts I can see your wife is behind you all the way (BIG Positive). Would a little travel time really affect your families' relationships? Could you live with it?
3. If you stay; you need to look in the future. You have said that the district is hurting in student numbers and financial considerations. How will those two things affect your future?
a. here's how and can you live with them:
1. district merges or whole grade shares:
a. even though you have a winning record, will you have tenure over the other districts coach?
2. your school moves to 8 man football.
a. Lately, How many good 8 man coaches have moved up to BIG TIME Jobs? (at last count: 0)
And couls you stand coaching 8 man football?
If I may, let me elaborate on what happens during mergers:
At first, both districts fight to keep their teachers. But in the end it is usually settled by the nasty term: TENURE. Teachers who have the most years of experience, get first dibs on the jobs. So you better hope and pray that: that other coach isn't teaching the same subject as you, or that the districts go blind and decide just by the years, or he has been there for five years or more.
Heck, you might get lucky and they make you CO-HEAD coaches.
I speak from experience on this subject. I have seen it happen many times and I have had it happen to me once. I was at Lincoln (Stanwood) for two years. My teams went 5-4 and 7-2 (playoff appreance). I lost my job to a guy whose team we beat 50-6 and 49-3 (and a losing season for every year he was there), all because he had been with his school for 9 years. My turning around a losing program didn't save my job. Will it save yours?
Best of luck to you coach, and I hope my input helps.
Coach Betsworth
PS: I'm in Cedar Rapids working for a Catholic K-8 school district being the K-8 PE Teacher and Middle School AD.
Wow. Thanks for taking the time to share that.
Our 7-2 team was probably the most talent filled team we have had. The work ethic and character weren't quite right, plus the loss that kept us out of the playoffs was to a team that was as good as any in the state then or since, they had won it all the previous year and were loaded for bear, but some of their kids had to sit out the first part of the season for drinking or something. The 11-1 team kind of surprised everyone but ourselves as we kept winning under some crazy circumstances. Last year (6-3) we seemed to get every bad break imaginable with injuries and us just not seizing the moment (if we hold on to the lead we had in week nine with 4 mins left in the game against the eventual state champs, we are in the playoffs and the state champion doesn't even make the playoffs), but we lacked leadership and expectations from the seniors as our JR class really had to take that role. I guess I feel like our team is a little less talented from top to bottom than the other good ones, but will be more cohesive and competitive. Barring injuries we do have a few athletes that provide star power, and I would like to think we are better coaches than in previous years. We have made some changes that I think will really pay off.
Our district will be rock solid. The state champion has come out of our district three out of the last five years. 5 of the HC's in our district have won state championships in their careers (which makes me think that coaching small school FB must be alright since these guys have stayed around). Although I think we could win a state championship, I am pretty confident that there are 2 or 3 other teams in our 8 team district that probably think the same of themselves.
As far as closeness to family, we could go further away, but if I could wait and get a job around here, it would be ideal. That is the risk... wait for the local job to open up and regret staying, or take a "lesser" job and regret it.
Merging schools is scary, as is 8 man football (although I think over time it would still be football and I could deal with it, the lack of kids to have around would be frustrating I think). I wouldn't be a good co-head coach.
That being said, taking a big time job isn't the most important thing. I had a legendary HS coach tell me last week "bigger isn't always better". I want to make a difference in lives and win games. Anywhere I can do this is big time to me. I understand your point though.
If nothing else, me writing down all this stuff helps in some way. Thanks again. Any other advice would be appreciated.
It's true, Bigger isn't always better. But the opposite can also be true. Bigger is better. Here's why:
1. Resources: Money, support, number of participants.
More kids to recruite, bigger budget, bigger paycheck, more parental support (bigger booster club), more coaches
2. No Mergers
When was the last time a 2A or above had to merge or worry about money problems
3. No Co-Head Coaches.
Rarely does a big school go this way (West Liberty and Mid-Prairie were the last to do this, but not now.)
Just remember; it always depends on what the school/job has to offer. If the support isn't there (administrative, parent, kids) then that job won't be worth having no matter how much of the other stuff there is. I have always said: If the hunger to win isn't there, even Jesus himself would have a hard time making them winners.
Very true. thanks again. Really, 2A's in rural areas aren't even safe because they can become 1A's and go through the same types of demise.
I guess we'll just let God take over.
Take care coach.