USE THE BEST PERSONNEL

Evan James 


As the head coach and kicking coordinator, I will meet one-on-one with each Varsity assistant coach (paid and volunteer) during the off-season to discuss their background and area of expertise in the kicking game. I will communicate with the coaching staff prior to the meeting how every paid Varsity coach will be assigned to lead a kicking game unit, and the volunteer assistant Varsity coaches will be expected to serve as an assistant on one of the teams. I will also communicate how the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator will not be assigned a specific unit but will be asked to step in and assist when needed. I will ask the coach to share their playing experience and coaching experience in the kicking game, which special team(s) unit they would be most comfortable and least comfortable to coach, and what is their philosophy on the kicking game. I will use the knowledge gained from the meetings to assign each paid Varsity position coach a special team unit based on the discussions and whom I believe will give the team the best opportunity to succeed. I will also assign the volunteer coaches to a specific unit to serve as an assistant.



I will also conduct follow-up meetings with the paid Varsity coaching staff to communicate the kicking game unit assignments: Punt = Offensive line coach, Punt Return = Linebackers coach, Kickoff = Defensive backs coach, Kickoff Return = Running backs coach, PAT/FG = Quarterbacks coach, PAT/Field goal Block = Defensive line coach, and Onside-kick Team and Hands Team = Wide Receivers coach. During the follow-up meetings I will convey the expectations as the lead kicking game unit coach. Expectations include: Be fully committed and enthusiastic to the special team unit you are leading, consistently communicate with the head coach and assistant coach of the unit prior to coming out to the practice field to ensure schemes, drills, and personnel are prepared and time is used efficiently, Make the players are exact in everything they do (be obsessed with fundamentals, especially during summer camp), watch film and organize a scout playlist on the opponent’s counter kicking game unit (Punt à Punt Return), have their unit’s repetitions from the Friday night game graded and ready to critique prior to Saturday morning’s kicking game film segment. Each kicking game unit lead coach will also be responsible for maintaining an accurate depth chart, discussing opponent scout and any new scheme with the head coach by Sunday meetings, and creating scout cards for the practice week. The Punt coach will create a scout team with specific player names, as well as draw-up the opponents’ scheme. The Punt Return coach will then be responsible for leading the scout Punt Return team during practice. I will be in charge of posting the special teams 1 and 2-deep depth chart, as well as the scout team depth chart outside of the locker room. I will also be responsible for reminding players to check both of the depth charts before coming out to practice.



The Saturday morning team meeting will involve watching all of the special team’s repetitions from the previous night’s game. As mentioned earlier, every lead kicking game unit coach must have his unit’s repetitions graded and ready to critique prior to this morning’s meeting. I will be responsible for compiling a playlist of the kicking game repetitions and having them grouped for each coach to go through them with the players. I will have all the players and coaches present during this film segment. I want players to hear from the coaches and recognize on film the impact the kicking game plays on the outcome of a game. Coaches will be encouraged to use athletes on the special teams unit and also to try and keep personnel changes to a minimum to shorten the amount of time that it takes the unit to get set. Each phase of the kicking game will have at least TWO 10-15 segments during the week leading up to a game. Punt and PAT/FG will have three segments throughout the week. Coaches will be encouraged to use the first segment of the week to review fundamentals and techniques (special teams circuits), as well as introduce any new changes to the depth chart and scheme. Coaches will be encouraged to use the second segment of the week to rep. scheme vs. air and a LIVE opponent look (scout team). On game-days, specialists (kickers, holders, long snappers, and returners) will go out to the field 15-minutes before the rest of the team to take reps. on air.