The fear of moving up
 

So I'm not sure I'm looking for advice here. And I'm not sure I'm looking for guidance. But maybe some stories where you've felt the same? I don't know...
My story;
I've been coaching HS football for give years. My ultimate goal is to be a very successful HC one day, and I've gone into every job looking at it as an accelerated classroom. I'm a good, not yet great coach. I've worked for some godawful HCs, and this past year have worked for the greatest HC I've ever met (and one of the most successful in MO history).
Anyhow, another coach starting his first year as a HC at a very small school called up my present HC, and asked for recommendations to help with his staff. My name was given, and he wants me to coach for him. I've met with him several times, and he told me Friday that he wants me as his DC. I interview on the teaching end on Monday.
I've coordinated at the freshman level for several years, and have coached every defensive position except CBs. I think it's time for me to take the next step, but now that it's nut-cutting time, I'm a bit terrified. It's definitely gonna be trial by fire, and I'm gonna have to learn a ton really quick.
I guess I just wonder what your stories are that are similar.

Go for it dude & good luck :thumb:

You should be fine as long as you aren't telling anyone to rip their sleeves off and tuck their shirts in.

Coach Sev?

Coach Roderique?

Badass dude! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine

never use the spinner defense and you will be fine. good luck!

Ask parents for their opinion. It helps a bunch

Call RAC for advice.

certainly sounds like a good opportunity

will you have to move?
will you miss out on learning from your current 'greatest HC evah'?


good luck

Seriously, Good Luck!

nothing ventured, nothing gained

George Jefferson moved all the way to the top and had white goofy friends.




I think you can move on up. Have courage and then you can teach courage to the kids you coach.

No
But I've met him several times. Really good guy. Obviously a good coach, although he's also able to get some of the best players in the city.

Lol

I'll be in the "area" still, but it's gonna be a long drive every day. I'll probably stay in a hotel in the town I'll be in on Friday nights.

I'll miss working with the HC I'm with now, as well as several others on his staff (our staff is loaded with almost all former HCs). But they've all made it clear that their lines are open if I ever need help or advice.

I worked in small schools for 15 years. Glad you got the joke

My rule with parents is pretty simple.
I'm happy to talk to them about their athlete, and why they aren't playing/are playing a different position. But only AFTER that athlete has had the same discussion with me himself.
And I'll never discuss Xs and Os.

I thought this thread was going to be about Jilly trading you in for a trophy husband.

Good luck if you decide to take the job. Don't be afraid. Think about all the morons who have been able to do this in the past. If they can do it, so can you, and you can probably do it better.

That guy's a machine, Webb City just keeps producing year after year. I have a lot of family in Joplin/Carterville and ALL high school sports are a huge deal for them.

Go for it Sully!

If you want to be the head guy, you have to be willing to take risks and get out of your comfort zone. What better way than to take this gig? Even if you don't do as well as you'd like, you're still gaining valuable experience, learning about the job/future jobs and learning about yourself as well.

DC for high school football is a "job"?

He was great back in the early 80's when working in the Kansas public school system. Three straight 6A State Championship game appearances in a row, with one win.

It was a sad day when he left and that school has never recovered.

If our college system is any indication, I bet this is the second-highest paying job in the whole school district.

Go for it.

sounds like you have made your decision then


Go get'em!!


:clap:

Oh yeah. There's no decision to make. If I'm offered the job, I take it. But there's no doubt a level of anxiety with the new role.

The teaching is the job. And there's a shit ton more stress that goes with that. But yeah, in HS football (and middle school, and even little league) there are position coaches, coordinators, etc.
If it weren't for my football experience, I wouldn't get half the interviews I get. That's why I started coaching while I was finishing school. It may finally be paying off.

Bouchard? The former Harrisonville coach, I think Sully mentioned it in the past on here.

Hey Sully, have you read Bill Walsh's football bible?

I can send you a PDF. It's really expensive in print.

http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1571671722

The fear of moving up
 

It's pretty structured. In all the districts I've dealt with the HC gets one stipend (regardless of sport) and assistants, regardless of level (freshman, position, coordinator) receive an equal, smaller stipend.
On some staffs, the HC will split the stipends for the lower levels.
In the grand scheme, it's not much, considering the time you put in. But it's a nice little bonus.

I haven't.
I'd love to read it, though.

PM me your email

Done

You got this, Sully. Good luck and when in doubt just remember to do the opposite of what Greg Robinson would do and you'll be fine.

I've wished I could be a coach so I wish you all the luck.

That's probably healthy. If an NFL head coach said they had no anxiety before taking a job, or probably before every game, I'm sure they would lying.

The funny thing is this...
I've always been more offensive-minded. I can just "see" all the moving pieces in my head better (plus its a hell of a lot easier to coordinate an offense). But, except for one year, I've always been pigeonholed on the defensive side because that's what I played in the dark ages.

So browbeat the OC when you have a hunch the opposing defense is going to rock the offenses world.

HS coordinators are interesting guys. One of the most humorous exchanges I caught last year was a DC shit talking a college-aged assistant about his backwards ball cap by insinuating thr HC said "The direction of your hat is the direction of your life."

It was the only time I felt good about being atop the press box instead of in it.

Just do your thing man, be a players coach if that's what you're about. I always loved a coach who had your back, but got on your ass when it was called for. Don't worry about the next job. Just put all your effort into this one and just make your players play hard. Players determine the outcome, rarely the coaches, bc they're the ones that choose to listen

Do it and good luck.

I'd say coaching played a bigger role than the players for the Chiefs record last year...

Tim Callaghan is the best coach in KC.

I think it is cool you admit you are a little afraid. The Wright Brothers crashed the shit out their airplane over and over before they got it right. Just give it your best shop and work through it emotionally. You will never forgive yourself if you don't try to do all you can to give all you can.

Sully regardless of what happens you're a lucky guy. I would kill to be a coach. I interviewed for a few jobs but not having a teaching degree hurts.

I just got word this morning.
I got the job (pending board approval, which is apparently a technicality).
Yes, I'm excited as hell.
Am I ready? I've been prepping for this for seven years. Insure there'll be times when I fall on my face. But ultimately, it's my passion and I'm gonna put in the work to not make the same mistake twice.

w00t!

Cool dude! Congrats.

Just saw this on FB. Congrats dude.

Congratulations. What class school is this (assuming you don't want to say the name of the school itself)?

oklahoma drill the kids till they puke..and hit on the freshman cheerleaders at the hs

Congrats man

DO IT!

or nutcracker drills till everyones foreheads are bleeding

congrats and good luck

sweep the leg.

Congrats. If I woke up tomorrow and was a HS freshman all over again that's one of the things I'd love to do.

Knowledge can be gained. There are coaching camps and contacts you can make to increase that knowledge base.

Your success will always depend on your relationships with the kids. If they believe in you and respect you they'll make you look like a genius...

do it!

nothing great EVER happens unless you are willing to jump off the cliff and flap your wings!

this is your passion!
you got this!
good luck!