The guest on today’s USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Tod Creneti, head coach of St. Stephen’s Episcopal High School in Bradenton, Florida. Creneti is in his eighth season at the helm at St. Stephen’s. Creneti has helped the Falcons to their first two state championships in 2016 and 2017. He was also named a state coach of the year after the 2017 season. During his tenure as head coach, Creneti has totaled a 48-28 record in seven full seasons with four straight eight-plus-win seasons. Last year, St. Stephen’s averaged 48.1 points per game while only allowing an average of 7.3 points per game defensively.

Creneti has been in coaching for 27 years since coming out of college. Prior to St. Stephen’s, Creneti worked as a head coach and assistant athletic director at St. Petersburg Catholic High School (Florida) for four seasons. Creneti also has experience at the FCS level with two years at Georgetown University. In college, Creneti played quarterback at NCAA Division III school Gettysburg College (Pennsylvania). Outside of football, Creneti is also the founder of Foundation Coaching, a personal development organization using ideas and lessons from sports and applying them to life. Creneti is also involved with a similar organization called the Positive Coaching Alliance, helping young athletes develop.

On today’s podcast, Creneti and host Keith Grabowski discuss transforming into a winning culture, developing player relationships and running the quick game offense.

Show Notes

1:07 Growing up around football and coaching

2:13 Transition from playing football to coaching

2:59 Lessons learned in coaching journey

4:49 Building a championship-winning program

6:31 Strategies for drawing players to a program

7:55 Showing a positive culture outside of wins and losses

9:24 Guiding coaching staff toward a winning culture

11:27 Best things his coaching staff does for the team

13:13 Philosophy of the quick-game offense

16:39 Adjusting quick-game to the defense

19:15 Quarterback reading the defense and finding the “key defender”

19:54 Adjusting for the ability of your offensive line

21:17 Balancing the run game into a quick passing game

22:47 Helping young coaches invest in player relationships

24:59 Working with Foundation Coaching

27:11 The Winning Edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Andy Ryland, senior manager in education and training at USA Football. While working at USA Football, he has helped develop the Heads Up Football and Master Trainer programs. Ryland has also worked in improving tackling techniques in football. Before coming to USA Football, Ryland spent time playing for the U.S. men’s rugby team. He played linebacker in college at Penn State University.

In a series of articles on the USA Football website, Ryland has talked about the “vision-decision-action” cycle in football. This involves players analyzing situations happening in-game and reacting effectively. This builds on the training done in practice, where players can apply decision-making and situational analysis they have learned in real time. Ryland discusses this topic in three different articles found below:

Space, time and numbers in American football drills

Decision in the VDA cycle: How quick decision-making creates quicker athletes

The Vision-Decision-Action Cycle and American football drills

On today’s podcast, Ryland and host Keith Grabowski talk about using practice to prepare players for in-game situations, adapting to unique decisions and the Vision-Decision-Action cycle.

Show Notes

1:22 Training effective decision-making by players

5:23 Adapting drills to teach more dynamic skills

9:18 Teaching players how to handle chaos on the field

15:54 Moving the starting point in drills to give players different angles

21:11 Creating game-like environments in team period practice

26:08 How to use scout teams to replicate game situations

34:37 Making drills in practice more realistic to the game

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Andy Ryland, senior manager in education and training at USA Football. While working at USA Football, he has helped develop the Heads Up Football and Master Trainer programs. Ryland has also worked in improving tackling techniques in football. Before coming to USA Football, Ryland spent time playing for the U.S. men’s rugby team. He played linebacker in college at Penn State University.

In a series of articles on the USA Football website, Ryland has talked about the “vision-decision-action” cycle in football. This involves players analyzing situations happening in-game and reacting effectively. This builds on the training done in practice, where players can apply decision-making and situational analysis they have learned in real time. Ryland discusses this topic in three different articles found below:

Space, time and numbers in American football drills

Decision in the VDA cycle: How quick decision-making creates quicker athletes

The Vision-Decision-Action Cycle and American football drills

On today’s podcast, Ryland and host Keith Grabowski talk about using practice to prepare players for in-game situations, adapting to unique decisions and the Vision-Decision-Action cycle.

Show Notes

1:22 Training effective decision-making by players

5:23 Adapting drills to teach more dynamic skills

9:18 Teaching players how to handle chaos on the field

15:54 Moving the starting point in drills to give players different angles

21:11 Creating game-like environments in team period practice

26:08 How to use scout teams to replicate game situations

34:37 Making drills in practice more realistic to the game

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Lane Kirkland, head coach at Carey High School (Idaho). Carey High School is an 8-man football school in Idaho. Kirkland starts his 18th season as a head coach at Carey, coming off a 13-0 record and a state championship last season. Over the course of his tenure at Carey, Kirkland holds a 147-36 record as a coach. This includes winning a total of four state championships in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2017. Over the past 13 seasons, Kirkland has amassed a 123-25 record while at Carey.

Kirkland took over the head-coaching position at Carey after his father, Heber Kirkland, retired from the same position. Heber Kirkland won two state championships while he was the head coach. Prior to coming to Carey, Lane Kirkland spent one season in Oakley, Idaho teaching and coaching football. Along with coaching football at Carey, Kirkland also teaches history and helps coach the basketball and track and field teams.

On today’s show, Kirkland and host Keith Grabowski talk about 8-man high school football, having consistency in your program and the creative uses of sandbags.

Show Notes

0:58 How football is different in Idaho

2:11 Building teamwork and pride within the community

3:27 Pillars he builds his program around

4:57 Working hard and having energy at practice

6:42 Using sandbags to build strength and conditioning

9:24 Maintaining consistency within the program

11:24 Newly popular concepts and schemes in 8-man football

12:31 Incorporating RPOs in practice

14:11 Changes in 8-man football to promote safety

15:57 Excitement and intensity being affected by rule changes

16:56 The Winning Edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Lane Kirkland, head coach at Carey High School (Idaho). Carey High School is an 8-man football school in Idaho. Kirkland starts his 18th season as a head coach at Carey, coming off a 13-0 record and a state championship last season. Over the course of his tenure at Carey, Kirkland holds a 147-36 record as a coach. This includes winning a total of four state championships in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2017. Over the past 13 seasons, Kirkland has amassed a 123-25 record while at Carey.

Kirkland took over the head-coaching position at Carey after his father, Heber Kirkland, retired from the same position. Heber Kirkland won two state championships while he was the head coach. Prior to coming to Carey, Lane Kirkland spent one season in Oakley, Idaho teaching and coaching football. Along with coaching football at Carey, Kirkland also teaches history and helps coach the basketball and track and field teams.

On today’s show, Kirkland and host Keith Grabowski talk about 8-man high school football, having consistency in your program and the creative uses of sandbags.

Show Notes

0:58 How football is different in Idaho

2:11 Building teamwork and pride within the community

3:27 Pillars he builds his program around

4:57 Working hard and having energy at practice

6:42 Using sandbags to build strength and conditioning

9:24 Maintaining consistency within the program

11:24 Newly popular concepts and schemes in 8-man football

12:31 Incorporating RPOs in practice

14:11 Changes in 8-man football to promote safety

15:57 Excitement and intensity being affected by rule changes

16:56 The Winning Edge

This is the weekly recap of this past week’s Coach and Coordinator podcasts! Host Keith Grabowski was joined by two recent high school state champions, a successful high school head coach from Ohio, an FCS offensive line coach and several coaches talking about freshman participation in high school. On the daily shows were Jermaine Smith, Geoff Marcone, Dan Reardon and Matt Jones. On the new “Your Call” show was Brad Burchfield, Aaron Chantler, Tim Rogers, Eric Kasperowicz, Todd Fox, Mike Kuchar and Blaine Powell. Listen in to hear a preview of each show!

This is the weekly recap of this past week’s Coach and Coordinator podcasts! Host Keith Grabowski was joined by two recent high school state champions, a successful high school head coach from Ohio, an FCS offensive line coach and several coaches talking about freshman participation in high school. On the daily shows were Jermaine Smith, Geoff Marcone, Dan Reardon and Matt Jones. On the new “Your Call” show was Brad Burchfield, Aaron Chantler, Tim Rogers, Eric Kasperowicz, Todd Fox, Mike Kuchar and Blaine Powell. Listen in to hear a preview of each show!

Today’s guest on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Matt Jones, offensive line coach at Texas Southern University. Jones is in his second season at Texas Southern coaching the o-line. Last year, Jones helped Texas Southern to a rushing average of 126.5 yards per game and only allowed 15 sacks in 11 games. Jones came to TSU after spending one year in the same position at Jackson State University. Prior to Jackson State, Jones spent two seasons in the FBS with Tulane University. Jones coached at Villanova University for one season before moving to Tulane.

Jones began his coaching career at the NAIA level with Avila University in Missouri. While an offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Avila set 16 program records including fewest sacks allowed, rushing yards in a season and rushing touchdowns. Before going to Avila, Jones coached offensive line and tight ends at the University of Saint Francis in Illinois. Jones started in coaching as a student assistant while at Eastern Illinois University and then Lincoln-Way Central High School (Illinois) after graduating from Eastern Illinois.

On today’s show, Jones and host Keith Grabowski talk about his philosophy coaching the offensive line, safe blocking techniques and his social media presence with #LinemanLunch.

Show Notes

1:08 The use and beginning of #LinemanLunch

3:56 Using visuals in improving coaching

4:41 Beginnings of his coaching journey

6:00 Advice to coaches who want to advance to the college level

7:42 Mentors throughout his coaching journey

11:38 Being prepared to test your knowledge of your position

14:19 Promoting learning and teaching in your program

16:10 Developing a culture within your position team

19:55 How offensive line techniques have changed and will adapt

24:26 Teaching safe techniques and fundamentals

26:15 Using techniques from other sports into football

28:44 Balancing building skills and learning schemes in practice

32:19 Being efficient with teaching formation

34:50 Having the coordinators all on the same page

38:50 Creating confidence with play-call decision making

40:37 Benefits of using the Duo play on the offensive line

43:54 Deciding between blocking schemes based on offensive formation

45:04 The Winning Edge

Today’s guest on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Matt Jones, offensive line coach at Texas Southern University. Jones is in his second season at Texas Southern coaching the o-line. Last year, Jones helped Texas Southern to a rushing average of 126.5 yards per game and only allowed 15 sacks in 11 games. Jones came to TSU after spending one year in the same position at Jackson State University. Prior to Jackson State, Jones spent two seasons in the FBS with Tulane University. Jones coached at Villanova University for one season before moving to Tulane.

Jones began his coaching career at the NAIA level with Avila University in Missouri. While an offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Avila set 16 program records including fewest sacks allowed, rushing yards in a season and rushing touchdowns. Before going to Avila, Jones coached offensive line and tight ends at the University of Saint Francis in Illinois. Jones started in coaching as a student assistant while at Eastern Illinois University and then Lincoln-Way Central High School (Illinois) after graduating from Eastern Illinois.

On today’s show, Jones and host Keith Grabowski talk about his philosophy coaching the offensive line, safe blocking techniques and his social media presence with #LinemanLunch.

Show Notes

1:08 The use and beginning of #LinemanLunch

3:56 Using visuals in improving coaching

4:41 Beginnings of his coaching journey

6:00 Advice to coaches who want to advance to the college level

7:42 Mentors throughout his coaching journey

11:38 Being prepared to test your knowledge of your position

14:19 Promoting learning and teaching in your program

16:10 Developing a culture within your position team

19:55 How offensive line techniques have changed and will adapt

24:26 Teaching safe techniques and fundamentals

26:15 Using techniques from other sports into football

28:44 Balancing building skills and learning schemes in practice

32:19 Being efficient with teaching formation

34:50 Having the coordinators all on the same page

38:50 Creating confidence with play-call decision making

40:37 Benefits of using the Duo play on the offensive line

43:54 Deciding between blocking schemes based on offensive formation

45:04 The Winning Edge

Today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast features a variety of high school football coaches across the nation. They all join today’s show to share their thoughts on including freshman players in practices with the varsity team. Several years prior, this would not be a topic of debate as players were always separated into their varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams. But some coaches today have started to go against the norm and include all those players together. Today’s show features a total of seven guests in to talk with host Keith Grabowski about freshman integration.

Brad Burchfield - Head Coach, Bishop Hartley High School (OH) - Twitter: @brad_burchfield

Aaron Chantler - Head Coach, Auburn High School (WA) - Twitter: @coach_achantler

Tim Rogers - Head Coach, Forest Hills Central (Michigan) - Twitter: @Cochtimrogers

Eric Kasperowicz - Head Coach, Pine-Richland High School (PA) - Twitter: @CoachKasper

Todd Fox, Head Coach, Norwalk High School (OH) - Twitter: @foxtodd77

Mike Kuchar - Defensive Coordinator, Rahway High School (NJ) - Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Blaine Powell - Head Coach, Sullivan High School (IN) - Twitter: @coachpowell91

On today’s podcast, host Keith Grabowski talks with all seven guests about their approach to including freshman with their varsity players and how that has impacted their players and their program.

Show Notes

3:53 Brad Burchfield talks about the advantage of incorporating freshman

6:05 BB: Keys to bringing in freshman to a championship team

7:20 BB: How playing time is a factor to all players

12:49 Aaron Chantler shares why it is important to involve freshman with the varsity

18:05 AC: Coordinating between different team’s schedules

23:48 AC: Benefits of having coaches align culture with whole team

27:10 Tim Rogers discusses developing staff to assist players from freshman year on

30:07 TR: Being able to develop players early in the process

33:16 TR: How freshman integration builds the overall team culture

37:03 Eric Kasperowicz gives a different look at setting practice

41:00 Todd Fox shares the importance of involve freshman regardless of program size

44:20 TF: Players having primary and secondary positions on the team

48:39 TF: Balancing freshman playing with and competing against upperclassmen

51:15 TF: Avoiding hazing and unfair treatment of freshman within the team

53:45 Mike Kuchar discusses practicing freshman with varsity players

55:06 MK: Building a program’s culture and keeping freshman on the team

1:01:32 MK: Avoiding matching up freshman with upperclassmen in practice

1:03:11 MK: The 21-Hour Program

1:08:08 Blaine Powell looks at incorporating incoming freshman in the off-season

1:11:53 BP: Addressing the safety of freshman in drills

1:13:46 BP: Key to keeping a player in the program for all four years

1:16:11 BP: Building a culture of respect to all players on the team