What job should or would you take?

HEY OACH,

Each scenario has it's own merits, and pit falls. If you are with a WELL ESTABLISHED WINNING PRGRAM THAT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO WIN AND HAS A HEAD COACH WHO IS WELL RESPECTED BY HIS PEERS, my advice is to stay put until the really good job comes open. At age 30, you do not have to be in any big hurry. When you become THE MAN, you will soon learn that it is quite diferent from being an assistant and all you can learn in all areas other than just X and 0's, will serve you well. How to be a good administrator, how to deal with parents, school boards, etc. are parts of the job the assistant does not get much exposure to, as a rule. The longer you stay with a winning program, the more you will learn about these all important facets of the job, and the better HC you will become.

Every young coach worth his salt envisions himself taking over a sagging small school program and turning it into a state powerhouse. In reality, that VERY SELDOM HAPPENS AND YOU END UP LABORING IN MEDIOCRITY.

Ultimately, it is a decision you have to make, nobody can make it for you. If they do, you will end up unhappy. Make your decision and stick with it. Best of luck whichever way you choose to go.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

Like I say, I'm sure you will get varying answers. How the good jobs are awarded in our part of the country(Deep South) is successful candidates most always come from winning programs where the Head Coach has been there for many years and is recognized as one of the best coaches in the area by his peers. A typical case in mind is Mark Richt, the now head coach of the Georgia Bull Dogs. He labored for 15 years as Bobby Bowden's QB coach at Florida State. He could have left for smaller schools on several occasions, but he chose to remain at FSU and learn. When the time was right and he received the right offer he took it. His success speaks for it's self at Georgia. The same principle applies at the high school level here. Talk to Lou Cella sometime. He couldn't wait to be a HC! At age 27 he got his chance at a small Catholic school in Pennsylvania. He proceeded to have two miserable seasons before resigning. He then took a job with a Junior College where he is today, in a very successful JUCO program, and has told me he will remain until a good high school level job is his. The college he works at ended up 5th in the nation lasst year and won it's bowl game. The HC is an ex-NFL player and has been at the school for 12 years with winning seasons in all of them.

Like, Formergriffensafety says, with whom you work on a staff is very important! It certainly is that! However, I found in my career that the reason for the success at the big schools hinged a great deal upon the LONGEVITY OF THE STAFF. When you come in as a new HC with years as an assistant under your belt, they are very quick to accept you as soon as you show them you deserve the job. That's why they win, because they are all on the same page and have worked together for years without egos getting in the way. One of my favorite sayings has always been: THINK HOW MUCH WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IF NO ONE CARES WHO GETS THE CREDIT FOR IT!

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE