

Coach and Coordinator Podcast
Keith Grabowski
Keith Grabowski interviews the most knowledgeable head coaches, coordinators, and position coaches from professional, college, and high school football. Keith and his guests discuss the philosophy, concepts, schemes, and strategies that they have learned throughout their careers. Each show includes a specific idea that can be applied to help coaches at every level find the winning edge.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 11, 2021 • 49min
Reaching Different Learning Styles + Living on the Edge- AJ Cooper, Edge's Coach at Washington State
On today’s podcast, host Keith Graboowski is joined by AJ Cooper, Edge’s Coach at Washington State. Cooper has been in that role for one year with prior coaching experience at the University of Wyoming (6 years) and North Dakota State (8 years). As one of the only coach’s in the country with the actual title of “Edge’s,” Coach has become an expert on coaching that positional group. He joined the podcast today to talk about how he coach’s his position group both on the practice field and in the classroom.
Show Notes
1:05 What the “Edges” are
2:05 Coach’s Journey
4:12 What he learned during his time at NDSU
5:45 Who were Coopers mentors and what they taught him
9:09 Thinking outside the box
12:00 What Cooper’s meeting rooms are like
16:05 Different teaching methods
18:44 Type of players Cooper looks for in his recruits
23:20 What Coach does in Indy drills that help players get better
27:35 Training his players to be effective in the run game
31:00 Teaching how to set the edge
34:30 Importance of the whole defensive unit being on the same page
36:00 Keys to being successful in this business
39:34 Coach’s talk at the Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic
43:02 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2021 • 28min
Offense R&D Series - Interior Lineman
On today's podcast, host Keith Grabowski shares part 1 of his series on offense research and development. The series focuses on matching personnel, philosophy, and schemes and packaging all of those together into a cohesive offensive package. Today's episode details the different skill sets of the interior offensive line (centers and guards) and how and why they fit well into different types of schemes. The articles with video that support this podcast can be found here: http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-the-interior-offensive-line-part-1/ http://coachandcoordinator.com/2021/01/offense-rd-series-interior-offensive-line-part-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 9, 2021 • 1h 5min
Developing a Pre-Snap Routine for Offensive Linemen- Allen Rudolph, OL Coach Ohio University
Joining Host Keith Grabowski on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, is Allen Rudolph, Offensive Line Coach at Ohio University. Coach joined Ohio in 2019 after spending the previous three years at Arkansas State where he was also the Offensive Line Coach. Rudolph is known for getting the most out of his offensive line units and takes pride in the culture he builds in his offensive line rooms. He came on the podcast today to speak about some techniques and coaching points that he uses to train his offensive linemen as well as share his story.
Show Notes:
1:34 Coach’s Journey
5:17 Which mentors and lessons had the biggest impact on Coach
10:40 “The Rock”
14:20 How coaching Canadian Football changed his thinking as a coach
21:39 Value of training the eyes
28:30 Practice techniques to teach the eyes and building processes
33:25 Running GAP and Zone schemes
38:20 How Coach trains his players for Pass Protection
45:52 Training Independant hands
51:38 Advice Coach would give on how to be successful in this business
56:18 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4, 2021 • 42min
Coaching for a Loving not a Living- Tim Albin, Ohio Offensive Coordinator
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski welcomes Tim Albin, Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach. Albin has been at Ohio since 2005, when he came over after 4 seasons at Nebraska. Since taking over as offensive coordinator, Albin’s offensive have been wildly successful and have run a very diverse offense. Albin comes on the podcast to discuss the energy he has brought throughout his career as well as how he fits together his diverse offenses.
Show notes:
1:04 Coach’s journey
3:17 Key lessons from Coach’s mentors
6:38 Key pillars that make up his coaching philosophy
13:00 How Coach’s energy and enthusiasm has varied over time
16:50 How Coach fits together his diverse offense
22:00 Coach’s courses on Coach Tube
32:15 Coaching for a loving not a living
35:58 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2021 • 34min
Don't Let Perfect be the Enemy of Good-Kevin Loney, Runningbacks Coach, Bowdoin College
Today on the Coach and Coordinator podcast, Host Keth Grabowski welcomes Kevin Loney, Runningbacks Coach at Bowdoin College. Coach has been at Bowdoin for over 5 years and has Head Coaching experience at Nichols College, where he was from 2011-13. He came on the podcast today to talk about his journey through the coaching world.
Show Notes
1:06 Coach’s journey
3:50 Who were coach’s mentors
8:40 Biggest aspects of Coach’s development
12:51 How Coach rejuvenated his career after his first experience as a head coach
17:20 What type of player they recruit at Bowdoin
21:46 Core ways Bowdoin runs their program
27:57 Coach’s course at the Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2021 • 25min
Year Round Plan for Training Quarterbacks- Jeff Steinberg, Head Coach, Beaumont High School
On today's podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Jeff Steinberg, Head Football Coach at Beaumont High School. Coach Steinberg has won over 160 games and has TWO Southern Section Championship, a section that has over 600 teams. In 2018 he accepted the head coaching job in his hometown at Beaumont High School. Coach came on the podcast to talk about training your quarterback year round.
Show Notes:
1:40 Steinberg’s philosophy on Coaching QB’s year round
3:00 The twelve month teaching progression
5:11 What to work on from January to March with your QB’s
7:45 Recommendations for work from April-June
9:21 Planning for the summer
10:56 Effective ways to use the go-pro for the QB
12:40 Panoramic view with the go-pro and the best camera angles
13:20 360 degree camera
15:40 Getting “inside the helmet”
17:00 Affordability of these cameras
18:02 Creating libraries for training
18:50 How useful this system will be regardless of what system that QB is in
20:13 Rundown of Coach’s courses on Coach Tube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2021 • 42min
Coaching w/ Effort+Intensity and 3rd Down Defense-Jared Keyte, ST Coordinator + Safeties Coach,Maine
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Jared Keyte, Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties Coach at the University of Maine. Keyte has been at Maine since 2016 and prior to his current role, worked with the outside linebackers. Before joining Maine, Keyte spent time as a quality control coach for Rutgers. Coach played a crucial role in Maine’s 2018 Championship season as he contributed weekly to the defensive game plan. Keyte joins Grabowski today to talk about the energy and effort he puts into coaching as well as Maine’s third down defense.
Show Notes:
1:09 Coach’s Journey
4:36 What were key takeaways from his mentors
6:57 Different ways of teaching and streamlining how to do it
10:34 Training coaches
13:03 Intentional effort
15:31 Special Teams Philosophy
19:14 What Coach looks for positionally in his players for KOR
20:54 Schematic difference between different kicks
23:08 Teaching Special Teams fundamentals
25:48 Adjusting to teams that kick away from your returners
28:22 Defensive approach on 3rd down
30:18 Coaching up how guys give help
32:00 What types of drills they run for their safeties
33:50 How offenses have adjusted to their system
35:46 Teaching guys to avoid giving away indicators
37:50 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2021 • 55min
Coaching Generation Z- Brian Polian, Special Teams Coordinator Notre Dame
On today’s episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Brian Polian, Special Teams Coordinator at Notre Dame. While he is an excellent special teams coordinator, Polian has recently studied and published his own book, Coaching and Teaching Generation Z: Honor the Relationships, and has become an expert in that field. Polian and Grabowski talk about different aspects of dealing with the newer generation of players and how relationships have changed over time.
Show Notes
2:03 Coach’s journey
5:37 Lessons he learned along the way and why he continued to coach
8:25 What covid has helped coach appreciate in terms of coaching
11:53 Honor the relationship before honoring the task
14:09 Research require for his book
16:50 Navigating through race
19:50 Advice for coaches trying to build relationships with players
23:48 Self determination
26:52 Connectedness of winning and relationships
30:00 Building blocks of relationships
36:15 Taking advantage of the little moments
41:30 Tips for giving feedback
46:13 Keys to coaching generation z
50:08 How Coach came out of this feeling about himself Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2021 • 48min
Ride or Die Special Teams- Thomas Sheffield, Special Teams Coordinator, Nevada
On today’s episode of the coach and coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Nevada Special Teams Coordinator, Thomas Sheffield. Prior to being at Nevada, Sheffield at Arkansas-Pine Bluff for 3 years, where he served as Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach. Sheffield has a unique style of coaching and came on the podcast today to talk about his journey as well as his coaching techniques.
Show Notes:
1:21 Coach’s journey
4:15 How he landed on coaching special teams
8:50 Philosophy coach developed for his coaching special teams
14:04 Ride or Die Culture
20:00 Simplifying scheme for players and balancing that with technique and competition
27:00 Drills and techniques to help prevent big penalties
31:33 Putting the ego aside
41:10 Winning edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2021 • 44min
3-Down Creepers, Press Man and Walking to Build Relationships- Ola Adams, DC Villanova University
On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski is joined by Ola Adams, Defensive Coordinator at Villanova University. Coach Adams has been with the Wildcats since the 2015 campaign in a variety of roles and has only begun his defensive coordinator duties starting in the 2019 season. Coach has been known for his ability to adjust, study and improve whichever group he is coaching in any given season and has excelled with each new challenge. Coach comes on the podcast today to talk about the keys to being successful with the 3-down front as well as building relationships with players.
Show Notes:
1:17 Coach’s journey
4:26 How coaching different positions helped him
10:05 Taking advantage of your opportunities
14:10 Walking meetings
19:35 Continuing new things that arose from covid
21:45 Keys to being successful with the 3-down front
24:00 Simulated blitzes, creepers and other aspects of his 3-down front
33:46 Keys to being able to play press man coverage
38:44 Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


