Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Steve Steele, head coach at Pierre T.F. Riggs High School (South Dakota). Steele led Pierre Riggs to the Class 11AA state championship in 2017. In this episode, Steele and host Keith Grabowski discuss Steele’s extensive use of data and analytics to gain an edge on the competition.

Show Notes

1:39 Getting players to buy into culture

3:26 Annual camping retreat

5:24 How camp activities translate to the field

8:42 How Steele uses analytics

12:19 Breaking down analytics

19:21 What he looks for in data

21:17 Turning the data into a game plan

25:11 Using analytics on the defensive side

26:55 Working smarter, not harder

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Coach Steele’s twitter: @Steele_House

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Dub Maddox, offensive coordinator at Jenks High School (Oklahoma). Maddox has a new book coming out, “Adapt or Die,” which is a field manual for coaches and players that provides fundamental tools to improving timing and space creation. In the book, he also reveals how to implement new R4 scheme strategies that drive adaptability through simplicity. On today’s episode, Maddox gives an overview of “Adapt or Die” and talks about creating a specialized language for players.

Show Notes

1:19 Maddox talks about his new book, “Adapt or Die”

5:29 “Space, timing, talent”

10:20 Breaking down the RPO

17:21 Getting players to understand the game plan

19:38 Creating a specialized language to help players

24:38 Letting your players know when to adjust

25:58 Overview of “Adapt or Die”

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Pete Shinnick, head coach at the University of West Florida. 2016 was the first season for the West Florida football program and the Argonauts compiled a 5-6 record, marking the most wins by a first year NCAA Division II program in over a decade. The following year, Shinnick led West Florida to play in the D-II National Championship. Shinnick has been awarded the 2017 AFCA Coach of the Year, the 2017 D2Football.com National Coach of the Year, and the AFCA Region 2 Coach of the year. On today’s episode, Shinnick and host Keith Grabowski talk about what he looks for in a player and creating unity among players and the coaching staff.

Show Notes

1:31 Starting a football program

4:38 Shinnick’s background

8:24 Lessons Shinnick has learned throughout his career

11:10 Teaching players off the field

15:23 “Flip coaching”

18:21 What Shinnick seeks in players

23:36 Pillars of West Florida’s culture

26:39 Creating unity among coaches and players

30:45 Translating culture to the field

35:40 Offense at West Florida

41:18 RPOs

42:26 Gap scheme

47:28 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Gabe Fertitta, head football coach at Catholic High School of Baton Rouge (Louisiana). This past season, in his first year as head coach, Gabe Fertitta led Catholic to win the 2017 LHSAA Division 1 State Championship. On today’s episode Coach Fertitta and host Keith Grabowski talk about program alignment and the cur dog culture at Catholic High School.

Show Notes

1:51 Coach Fertitta’s time at Catholic

3:04 Culture at Catholic High School

4:42 Making the switch to head coach

7:30 Aligning with the culture

11:30 Cur Dog culture

15:25 Offense and defense at Catholic

18:42 G-scheme concept

24:54 Continuing to perform at a high level

Subscribe to the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast on iTunes.

Coach Fertitta’s twitter: @Fertitta_Gabe

Coach Fertitta’s email: [email protected]

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Glen Snodgrass, head coach at York High School (Nebraska). York has been state-ranked for the past six years and won a 2017 state championship. On today’s episode, Snodgrass and host Keith Grabowski talk about their strength and conditioning program and the culture at York.

Show Notes

2:02 Snodgrass’ background

4:31 Lack of experience at first coaching job

6:33 Turning around a program

11:00 Strength and conditioning program

14:23 Culture at York

19:27 Youth football program

23:23 Involvement with youth players

26:41 Setting up a versatile offense

35:14 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Ryan Goddard, head coach at Pueblo South High School (Colorado). Goddard is in his eighth season at Pueblo South and has accumulated a 55-37 record. Pueblo South won a 2017 state championship, the first in program history. On today’s episode, Goddard and host Keith Grabowski talk about leadership and multisport athletes.

Show Notes

2:12 Turning around a program

6:55 Culture at Pueblo South

8:05 Goddard’s coaching philosophy

9:31 Servant leadership

11:04 Offense and defense at Pueblo South

14:24 Importance of multisport athletes

17:26 When player development starts

18:50 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Mark Lusic, head coach at Amherst High School (Wisconsin). When Coach Lusic took over the program in 2010, Amherst had never been to a playoff game. With Lusic’s help, Amherst now has four state titles and has won the last three in a row. On today’s episode, Lusic and host Keith Grabowski talk about getting players to buy in and the option offense.

Show Notes

1:46 Coach Lusic’s background

4:36 Getting players to buy in

7:05 Getting buy-in from the athletic department

10:45 Culture at Amherst

12:54 Getting players to stay in the program

15:04 Managing playing time

17:40 Installing the option offense

20:46 Defense Amherst runs

22:40 Keeping a consistent staff

26:30 The winning edge

Subscribe to the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast on iTunes.

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is John Pennington, head coach at West Virginia State University. This past season, West Virginia State finished near the top in multiple categories in Division II, including No. 1 in red zone offense, No. 7 in third-down conversions, No. 14 in total offense and No. 14 in sacks allowed. On today’s episode, Pennington and host Keith Grabowski talk about player development and strategic flexibility.

Show Notes

1:45 Pennington’s time at West Virginia University

3:22 Pennington’s coaching philosophy

4:35 Winning the “Ideal Mountaineer Man” award

6:14 Pennington’s coaching journey

10:18 Advantage of coaching multiple positions

15:04 Type of offense at West Virginia State

18:36 Favorite formation

26:36 Six keys to being successful in the red zone

34:48 Mental preparation

37:16 Culture at West Virginia State

44:30 The winning edge

Today’s episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is the first in our new “Best Of” series. We went back to past interviews and picked out some of the best ideas shared by our great lineup of coaches. This episode focuses on the idea of quarterback development.

Show Notes

6:23 Terry Shea: Developing relationships with Quarterbacks

8:31 Darin Slack: Developing QB confidence

13:04 Dub Maddox: Understanding why

14:26 Will Hewlett: My training is driven by the law of specificity

17:35 Will Hewlett: Most high school QBs operate on 70 percent potential

20:37 Will Hewlett: Pre-pass position

24:45 Hal Mumme: What to look for in a QB

27:11 Terry Shea: How to keep QBs healthy

28:41 John Bond: Importance of footwork

34:50 Dan Gonzalez: QB rhythm

36:41 Craig Yeast: Preparing for game day

40:40 Chris Kappas: Allowing your QB to change plays

41:46 Tom Lombardo: Allowing QB to call plays in practice

44:46 Andrew Coverdale: QB like it, love it

47:58 Dan Gonzalez: unmasking coverage

50:54 Will Hewlett: Breaking out of everyday drill mentality

53:01 Will Hewlett: Practice routine

57:41 Dub Maddox: Practice progression

58:54 Nick Restifo: RPO film session

1:03:29 Nick Restifo: Practicing RPOs

1:04:32 Joe Osovet: Game planning based on QB experience

1:05:51 Matt Drinkall: Tackling QB during practice

1:07:33 Austin James Smith: Virtual reality technology

1:14:51 Craig Candeto: Technology

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is DaLawn Parrish, head coach at Dr. Henry A. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Parrish is in his 12th season as head coach at Wise and has accumulated a 120-30 record, six conference titles, seven regional titles, and four state titles, including the last three in a row. On today’s episode, Parrish and host Keith Grabowski talk about the culture at Wise High School and creating a great coaching staff.

Show Notes

1:36 Coach Parrish’s background

2:45 Decision to pursue the high school route

3:48 Emphasizing the importance of academics to players

4:50 Culture at Wise

7:08 Having a diverse coaching staff

9:38 Continuing to learn as a coach

10:41 Being a physical team

11:43 Problems facing football in the state of Maryland

13:17 How safety has evolved in the game

15:59 Challenges in the upcoming 2018 season

18:40 Building men

19:32 The winning edge