On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset presented by CoachComm, Chidera Uzo-Diribe, the Outside Linebackers coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, shares his beginnings as a young coach, his opportunity to start his career in the Power 5, and his experience coaching in the National Championship game. A member of the 2023 AFCA 35 Under 35 class, Coach Uzo-Diribe and the Bulldogs are fresh off a Top-25 win over Kentucky, continuing their hot start to the season.  

Follow Coach Uzo-Diribe and Georgia Football on social media here:  

@CoachDiribe96 & @GeorgiaFootball  

Show Notes: 

0:59 Introduction 

1:35 When did you decide that you wanted to be a football coach? 

4:00 Process of getting started as a coach 

5:51 Adjusting from being a player to a coach 

10:31 Finding your voice as a GA 

12:43 Importance of having experience in recruiting prior to your first job 

14:54 Experience with Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship with the 49ers.  

16:42 Learning curves starting out as a young coach 

18:32 Opportunity to get 1st full-time job at Kansas 

24:18 Personal and Life update 

25:28 Including your wife in career decisions and transitions  

26:28 Approaching the coaching profession with personal relationships 

28:21 Challenges as a first-year position coach and turning them into learning opportunities 

33:03 Transition to SMU  

34:43 Process of preparing for your 1st interview 

37:19 Experience with the time period after a HC leaves a program for an assistant 

39:15 Transition from SMU to TCU to Georgia in one offseason 

41:56 Opportunity to coach against TCU and Coach Dykes in the National Championship  

43:56 Learning from coaches with a championship pedigree  

46:06 Conclusion