Overcoming Age

Coach C,

Two years of coaching is not going to qualify you for many HC jobs. Certainly not trying to demean your efforts but there is so much more involved in being the HC than you can possibly be cognizant of at 24 years of age. The mental aspects of the job are quite demanding, dealing with the players (and you will find that each one is an individual and requires motivation in different ways) as well as, dealing with the parents on the High School level. You may feel as though you are ready to assume the reigns of a program, but my recommendation is that you bow your neck and make up your mind to learn for a few more years before stepping up. To become the HC when you really are not ready, is much more disasterous than you can forsee right now. Many good young coaches find it a very traumatic experience, enough so as to get out of coaching all together. Talk with other HC's in your area and get their input, talk with some veterans who have been around more than just 5-10 years and listen to what they have to say, even if it is not what you want to hear. Please understand that I am not trying to discourage you, just offer some advice to help you in your future endeavors in coaching. Best of luck to you.

Coach Easton

As a Head Coach with 285 players 25 assistant coaches, another 14 at my intermediate schools and no secretary I would be glad to discuss this topic. A head coach must be focused, he must have a plan that all his staff members believe in and must above all else have loyal staff members to carry out his plan. If you don't have your staff on the same page as the head coach then it will be hard to succeed. Coach Campbell

Fellows I appreciate the imput. THis is a small 2a high school in alabama. I thin there was about 25 players last year. I don't believe this is like any of the school yall are at. I am sure there are things that come with all head coaching jobs thatgive people problems no matter what age they are.

Coach C,

I agree with Lou. I took my job as a head coach in North Carolina last year at age 27, then the youngest HC in the state. I also coach at a smaller school and the problems and headaches are not as massive as the bigger schools. I think the other coaches are right in saying it would certainly help to have more experience as an assistant under your belt, but if you can get the HC job now and are confident this is a good and manageable situation, I say go for it. I think you can be an assistant a long time and still have some difficulty adjusting to the new responsibilities of being the head man. I had a lot of adjusting and learning to do "under fire" my first year, but it really paid off this year with a great season.
However, no matter how small or big the school, your time will be completely absorbed with football. This is something that still surprises me. If you're doing everything you need to do to keep your team competitive, you won't have much time to do much else. I would certainly go after the position and please let me know if I can assist you in anyway now or in the future. By the way, as an Alabama native, I'm curious, are you in North or South Alabama?

Ben Williamson
Head Football Coach
Christ School
Asheville, NC

I met Coach Poss at a clinic in Atlanta last year. Seemed like a nice guy...