Tough being a young coach

Coach, last year at age 25 I was the youngest head varsity football coach in Pennsylvania. I got a head coaching job after 14 interviews! If you interview at enough places, somebody is going to like what you have to offer. Keep interviewing, because it only takes ONE to say YES. Good luck.

Congrats on the baby Dmays

I got into a situations like yours this year. Currently a head coach and i intervewed for a job at a nearby bigger school. My 1st interview lasted 2.5 hours and the other 90 minutes. The thing that bothered me though was the tone of the 2 interviews. In the first one everyone my philosophy of X and O, discipline and program building were 100% agreed with and I left with a great feeling. The 2nd time around though one of the guys gutted me when asked about my power run, option offense saying that would never work here and you better do something different here. Also they gave me a different song and dance about strength training and program building. So needless to say I did not get the job. But honestly in hindsight it is probably best...if the administration is going to rip you on your X and O philosophy and not support you in other areas then...good luck to the guy who got the job. To be honest X and O stuff usually only comes up in interviews just to see if you know what you are talking about...not to make you defend your philosophy to a bunch of guys who are not football coaches.

I feel your pain on the whole deal b/c I told them what they were getting if they hired me. I young, tough, discipline minded coach who is knows that only real way to build a program is though hard work and kids and coaches who want to buy into that. I told them it would not be easy and would take time. I only wanted kids who wanted to buy into my program and I think this was not what they were looking for. In my heart I know I was the best guy who interviewed...just not the best guy for thier job (if that makes sense). As you said I will have my chance again.

For what it's worth:

I got my first head job at 24. I was definitely not ready. I played college ball and thought I knew it all. I was wrong. If I could go back and do it again, I'd have been more patient, and learned more as an assistant. The thing I learned was this: if you get a head job at that early of an age, that probably means they are desparate. If they are desparate to get a coach, it's probably not a real good situation to get into.

I'm now an assistant, at 32, working my way back to the ideal head job. Out of all of this, I think had I been a little more patient, I'd be a head coach (or at least close) at this point in a good situation.

I hope things work out for all of you, at schools who appreciate your hard work. Keep working hard, and (like was mentioned earlier) someone will like what they see and hear, and you'll be on your way to your dream job!!