Coach and Coordinator Podcast

From the Archives: Today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast begins a new series called “Home Team.” This series features guest host Joel Nellis, head coach at Brookfield Central High School (Wisconsin). He was on the Coach and Coordinator podcast as a guest July 2. Jim Leonhard is in his third season on the coaching staff at Wisconsin. He started by coaching the defensive backs his first season, then moved to defensive coordinator in his second season on the staff. As a defensive coordinator in 2017, Leonhard was a finalist for the Broyles Award for the nation’s top assistant. Before coaching, Leonhard spent 10 seasons in the NFL as a player with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. Prior to playing professionally, Leonhard was an all-American defensive back at Wisconsin. On today’s podcast, Leonhard talks about how he integrates his family with his work and the importance of time management with balancing football and home life. Show Notes 1:10 Leonhard on how he met his wife 2:04 How his wife helps make work-life balance easier 3:23 What makes his sons unique 5:06 Transitioning from playing to coaching with his family 7:06 Early career decisions made with his wife 8:54 Making time for family while in season 10:36 Having a kid-friendly environment at work 12:39 Diving into coaching without serving as a graduate assistant first 14:19 Using coaches’ knowledge and teaching skills 16:24 Game planning without looking too far ahead 18:57 Preparing the best ways to win the game 21:47 Coaching players to understanding and executing 24:33 Getting players to buy in to the game plan 27:11 Learning from other programs while focusing inward 30:19 Being fully prepared and still losing the game 34:18 Knowing when to sacrifice time and when not to 36:13 Making an importance on seeing the big picture 37:54 His kids putting things in perspective after a loss 39:32 Legacy for his family through coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archives: RPO innovator Joe Osovet is the guest on this episode of the Coach and Coordinator podcast. The head coach at ASA College in Brooklyn, New York, Osovet sits down with Keith Grabowski to discuss their practice philosophy and success in the red zone. Show notes 1:08 Osovet’s process for putting together the game plan 5:10 Attacking third down 6:25 Breaking down the practice week 9:18 Finding success in the red zone 10:56 Adjusting to spread offense 12:22 Adding a wrinkle late in the season 14:30 The winning edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archives: Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Craig Yeast, the offensive coordinator at Franklin (Indiana) College. In the 2017 season, with the help of Coach Yeast, Franklin College led the nation in passing offense and total offense. On today’s episode, Coach Yeast and Keith Grabowski talk about offensive schemes and how Franklin College prepares for game day. Show Notes 1:10 Coach Yeast reflects on the 2017 season 2:15 What the coaching staff looks at prior to game day 4:05 How to determine which matchups to exploit 6:10 Developing a game plan 8:10 Coach Yeast talks about different packages they use 13:10 How Franklin College’s quarterbacks prepare for game day 17:10 Coach Yeast talks about their practice organization and drills 22:50 Coach’s best concept 26:45 How much RPO plays a part in the offense 27:45 RPO does not change play calling mentality 30:55 Coach Yeast looks ahead to the 2018 season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Kelley is the head football coach and athletic director at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark. Coach Kelley is best known as the first coach to adopt a game strategy free of punting. Since taking the head coaching position in 2003, Kelley has led the Bruins to an unprecedented seven state championships. Coach Kelley joined the podcast today to share some of his thoughts on culture as well as how analytics help drive his coaching strategy. Show Notes: 1:07 Rationale for more than just two guys touching the football on scoring plays 3:12 How defenses react 4:40 How analytics help his defense 6:18 What stats Coach focuses on more than other teams 9:25 Why they don’t use goal boards 11:22 How his staff evaluates the players 14:04 The culture of competition 17:12 Making every kid important 20:43 Overview of Coach’s five unstoppable plays 23:44 Coach’s work with Rick Jones 25:30 Questions from Coach’s video 26:55 Coach’s contact Info http://coachandcoordinator.com/ Connect with Coach: Twitter: @CoachKelley1 @CoachKGrabowski Related Content: https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/outside-the-box-with-kevin-kelley-88-success-rate-penalties-self-scout-traveling https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/rick-jones-greenwood-arkansas-high-school-coach?in=user-804678956/sets/state-champion-coaches https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/kevin-kelley-final?in=user-804678956/sets/state-champion-coaches https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/lessons-from-2018-rick-jones-greenwood-high-school-ak https://soundcloud.com/user-804678956/continuing-learning-growth-at-the-fbs-level-rick-jones-senior-assistant-at-the-univ-of-missouri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former U.S. Navy Commander Mike Abrashoff attracted worldwide attention for his success in turnng around a struggling ship, the USS Benfold, which became the subject of his first book It's Your Ship. Since that instant leadership classic hit the bestseller lists he's been a fixture on the lecture circuit, spreading the empowering message that any organization can be turned around with hard work and a compassionate firm leader. Abrashoff graduated from the US. Naval Academy and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for nearly twenty years. He was a military assistant to former secretary of defense William J. Perry. In this interview Abrashoff translates the success he had on the Benfold to how coaches can use his strategies and ideas to create excellence in their programs. This is a simple yet powerful approach to leadership. In the interview, Abrashoff said that Bill Belichick has mentioned It's Your Ship among his favorite books. Mike also points out how Western Michigan head coach PJ Fleck sat in his audience and filled a notebook during Abrashoff's talk. Abrashoff also mentions he is intrigued by Fleck's leadership style in the interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archives: On today's Coach and Coordinator podcast, ten-time state champion and 47-year coach Herb Brogan of Lumen Christi Catholic School (Jackson, Michigan) joins host Keith Grabowski. Brogan discusses what's kept him at one place for so long, how he dealt with the toughest of circumstances and his keys to sustained success. Show notes 0:55: What got Brogan into education and coaching 1:40: Things Brogan realized he needed to succeed 4:08: Spending nearly a half-century at one school 6:55: Creating an environment that keeps assistant coaches long-term 8:35: Difficult circumstances in how Brogan took over the program 11:06: Offseason dedication 14:35: The program’s explosive running offense 17:25: Spending time on younger kids, non-skill positions 21:28: Pushing players to excel in today's society 25:10: The future of the game 30:10: The winning edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Himebauch, OL Coach, Birmingham Stallions On today's Coach and Coordinator podcast, offensive line coach Jonathan Himebauch with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL joins host Keith Grabowski. The Connecticut native, and former USC and pro football player, has 20 years of coaching experience. That includes stints in both the CFL, XFL, AAF and NCAA, with stops at Nevada, Wake Forest, San Diego State and UNLV. Himebauch discusses his extensive coaching career, player relations and more. Show notes 1:15: Himebauch’s football journey, from coach’s kid on up 9:45: Engagement and communication with students 12:30: Learning what players will respond to 17:40: Process for player learning and evaluation 25:50: Players have to believe in you and what you’re teaching 31:55: Offensive line culture 38:30: Key difference between American and Canadian football 41:30: Advice for coaches at any level 44:45: The winning edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archives: This week on the Game Plan series, Keith Grabowski and Charlie Coiner talk to former quarterback coach Wade Wilson about 2-minute offense. They discuss the specifics about teaching and the approach of the 2-minute offense from the quarterback position. Coach Wilson ties it in to the college and high school level with his prominence in the NFL with young quarterbacks. Though time and the relationship between the levels may differ, the concepts and approaches demand the same attention from the position. 03:55 Wade Wilson Bio 06:00 2-minute offense with young QBs 07:20 Organizing 2-minute offense 08:12 In the meeting & practice 09:40 Having 2-minute offense in up tempo offense 10:30 QB orchestrating the 2-minute offense in practice 11:40 Believe 12:20 Working with a mobile QB 13:50 Ball carrier situational awareness 15:00 Organizing the rotation in 2-minute offense 16:15 Being patient 18:15 Working in last plays 19:55 Coach Wade’s favorite play to set up Hail Mary 23:00 Execution of the Hail Mary 25:10 Play call out of Hail Mary position 27:20 Pay attention to detail 27:55 Common themes in all levels 28:25 Finding the package for 2-minute offense 29:20 Take time to walk through it 31:45 First Down Playbook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archives: On today’s episode of Coach and Coordinator, host Keith Grabowski talks with Tyrone Nix, outside linebackers coach at Ole Miss. A 24 year coaching veteran, Nix has coached every positional group on the defensive side of the ball. Nix is in his first year back at Ole Miss, but previously served as their defensive coordinator from 2008-2011. Prior to this season, Nix served as the safeties coach at Virginia Tech for one year, a defensive analyst at Texas A&M for one year and the defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee from 2012-2016. Nix joins the podcast today for part of the “Training Camp” series to talk about how he handles his linebacker group during camp. Show Notes: 1:33 Coach’s Journey, including Steve Spurrier, Brett Favre, Jimbo Fischer and more 5:22 Fraternity of Coaches 7:02 Going against his brother who is also a coach on staff 9:08 Opening message in camp to his LB’s 11:09 Pointing out positives during camp 14:36 Coaching discipline and taking players out of conflict situations 16:44 Keeping the best athletes on the field 17:52 Teaching LB’s to bait QB’s into making wrong reads 20:02 Teaching and Coaching physicality of the LB position 22:42 Use of the hips 25:26 Tackling techniques Coach works in practice 27:48 Evaluation during camp 30:01 Winning Edge Connect with Coach: @CoachTyroneNix Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archives: The guest on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast is Andy Kotelnicki, offensive coordinator at the University of Buffalo. In his fourth season at Buffalo, Kotelnicki worked with the quarterbacks his first two years at the program before turning to the running backs last season. Offensively, Kotelnicki led Buffalo to ranking second in the Mid-American Conference in yards per game last season and set a school record for total offense in a single season. Kotelnicki has coached three All-MAC players and helped quarterback Tyree Jackson set the school record for passing yards thrown by a freshman. Before Buffalo, Kotelnicki coached at the NCAA Division III level for two years with Wisconsin-Whitewater, also as offensive coordinator. The two years Kotelnicki was there, Wisconsin-Whitewater went a combined 28-0. Kotelnicki also had stops at the University of Mary (Bismarck, North Dakota) at the D-II level, his alma mater UW-River Falls, and FCS school Western Illinois, as an offensive assistant at each stop. On today’s podcast, Kotelnicki and host Keith Grabowski talk about moving from coaching Division III to FBS, having multiple schemes and the keys to having a high-powered offense. Show Notes 0:49 Coaching history, staff moving from Wisconsin-Whitewater to Buffalo 4:28 Differences between FBS and Division III football 9:14 Adjusting to the personnel of a new team 13:18 Having flexibility within your scheme 14:40 Balancing complexity and ability to learn 15:30 Working through adversity last season at Buffalo 19:16 Accountability with how a game goes 20:32 Emphasizing ball security and drive efficiency 24:16 How to set and maintain the tempo of a game 29:26 Coordinating tempo with the rest of the team 31:41 Use of RPOs, trying to distort the defense 34:09 The Winning Edge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices