Head Coach Total Interviewing packet

David Chambless

Hiring quality and reliable assistant coaches is a major component to running a successful football program. Subsequently, finding reliable and quality assistant coaches at the high school level can be a difficult task. When hiring my assistant coaches I give them a very clear and detailed list of expectations and responsibilities. I do this so that they understand the amount of work that goes into being a football coach and the limited compensation at the high school level they will receive for their time. If a coach is offered and accepts the job we are clear as to what the job entails and what the compensation for the job will be. Not all coaches are required to give the same amount of time and not all coaches are compensated for their time. Most high school football programs in our area rely on some form of a volunteer coaches who are in entry levels of their coaching careers.



However, there are general expectations or 5 commandments for all coaches who are on my staff.



1. Care about kids



If you do not care about kids and show you care about kids by getting to know their names and who they are then you will not be a good fit for our coaching staff.



2. Want to make a difference



Being a coach on my staff means you want to impact a young mans life and help him mature and become a better person because he interacted with you.



3. Be loyal to the program and the head coach



Coaches will disagree with me and may want or feel like certain things could be ran differently but at the end of the day you are loyal to the program and the head coach.



4. Never talk to parents about playing time



This is so important but often overlooked and has a significant ripple effect if a coach decides to discuss with parents playing time. My assistant coaches are instructed when approached by a parent to only discuss how that player can improve or get better and what good things the player is doing at that time. If playing time is brought up by the parent "never by the coach" they are to be directed to the head coach of that level either freshman, JV or Varsity. It is not an assistant coaches job to discuss playing time at any level with a parent.



5. Be willing to learn



Any coach who thinks he knows everything he needs to know about football will soon find out that learning is never ending and you can always learn more and be more knowledgeable about the game.



After those 5 basic rules our in-season and off-season assignments branch out based on title and position.



Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Coordinators



Off the field



Develop/Implement/Install/Adjust playbook

Discuss and evaluate personnel

Creating call sheets for games

Run film sessions

Create with head coach offensive/defensive game plan

Practice scripts for team and 7 on 7 periods

Generate quizzes to check for player competency

recruit and develop interest for the football program

Participate in youth camps

Attend booster/fundraising events

enroll in coaching clinics and professional development

On field



Call offensive/defensive play calls

Communicate with assistant coaches (substitutions, adjustments, and breakdowns)

Half time adjustments ready to be discussed and if needed executed

Position Coaches



Off Field



film breakdown

player development

Weight room attendance and facilitation

recruit and develop interest for the football program

Participate in youth camps

Attend booster/fundraising events

enroll in coaching clinics and professional development

On Field



Personnel and substitutions

positional technique

positional responsibilities

Every day drills EDD's

These are a short list for general assignments. I assign specific responsibilities to coaches based on experience and need. There are coaches who signal, coaches who are in charge of sidelines, coaches who are in charge of film set up and breakdown, coaches who are in charge of managers, coaches who are in charge of locker room, coaches who are in charge of equipment, etc. These are all things that need to be done and need to be delegated to maximize efficiency.



Loyalty



Without loyalty the entire operation and program is at jeopardy. It may seem as if everything is running smoothly but if there is no loyalty in a program or to the head coach who is running the program then there will be divides in the program eventually. It usually occurs when the team loses or begins to lose continually. If there is no loyalty when adversity in a season or game appears the team wont be able to overcome it. Outside influence will begin to appear and become more frequently acknowledged, rumors are created, and can eventually cost a head coach his job. Without loyalty the program is never stable enough to create continual success.