Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator Podcast is Scott Pingel, head football coach at Christian Brothers College High School (CBC) in St. Louis. Coach Pingel helped propel CBC to win a 2017 state championship, his second at CBC. On today’s episode, Pingel and host Keith Grabowski talk about building a strong culture and CBC’s offense and defense.

Show Notes

1:10 Pingel’s coaching background

2:15 Playing football while also coaching

4:10 Developing yourself as a coach

5:05 Transitioning from offensive coordinator to head coach

6:45 Continuing to have a strong culture

9:55 “Tell them, show them, demonstrate”

11:15 Allowing players to run practice

14:50 Offensive and defensive schemes

17:05 Takeaways from the 2017 season

20:40 One back power

22:45 Practicing the RPO

30:30 Biggest challenge of getting back to the state championship

31:25 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Brennon Marion, offensive coordinator at Howard University. This past season Howard University ranked #2 in yards per completion. On today’s episode Coach Marion and host Keith Grabowski talk about Howard’s fast paced offense.

Show Notes

0:55 Coach Marion’s coaching background

8:05 Building culture

10:05 Philosophy behind the offense

11:35 Maintaining a fast-paced offense

12:50 Keeping it simple

16:35 5 receivers lined up on the sideline

18:00 Excelling in average per completion

19:50 Double post

21:05 QB’s focus

23:00 Using undersized lineman

24:20 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Loren Johnson, head coach at Highland Springs High School (Virginia). Coach Johnson has led Highland Springs to three consecutive state championships, (2015 through 2017). On today’s episode, Johnson and host Keith Grabowski talk about building culture and Highland Springs’ success over the past three years.

Show Notes

1:20 Johnson’s coaching background

4:15 A mistake Johnson has learned from

6:50 Important lessons learned through the game of football

10:25 Building culture

15:50 Preparing players off the field

19:05 Offensive and defensive formations

23:25 Success these past three years

25:35 Biggest challenge in getting back to the state championship

28:35 Multisport athletes

30:15 Playing longer seasons

32:30 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Wallie Kuchinski, defensive coordinator at the University of St. Thomas, an NCAA Division III school in St. Paul, Minnesota. This past season, St. Thomas led Division III football in multiple categories, including total defense, third-down defense and rushing defense. On today’s episode, Kuchinski and host Keith Grabowski talk about game planning and coaching tackling fundamentals.

Show Notes

1:13 Kuchinski’s background in coaching

5:50 Key lessons Kuchinski has learned through his career

8:00 Building culture

10:40 Teaching in the meeting rooms

15:10 Helping players understand the playbook

20:45 Coaching technique

22:30 Stressing tackling fundamentals

27:50 Circumstantial football

32:45 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Brian Kight, CEO of Focus 3. Brian Kight provides simple systems that produce exceptional results for teams, organizations, and individuals. This episode was recorded live at the USA Football 2018 National Conference at Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Focus 3 and USA Football have partnered to offer training to coaches as well. On this episode, Kight and host Keith Grabowski talk about the future of football and the coaching community.

Show Notes

1:10 Keith and Brian talk about the USA Football National Conference

2:25 The football coaching community

5:30 Brian Kight’s mission

7:05 Experiences with football

9:25 Future of the game

12:30 “Doesn’t matter, get better”

15:20 Virtual training system

19:20 Looking ahead in 2018

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Kelley Lee, head coach at Eastern New Mexico University, an NCAA Division II school in Portales, New Mexico. This past season, Eastern New Mexico led all of Division II in rushing with 352 yards per game and time of possession. On today’s episode, Lee and host Keith Grabowski talk about making adjustments and teaching styles.

Show Notes

:40 Lee talks about his background in coaching

2:10 Don’t be someone you aren’t

3:05 Advice to young coaches

5:25 Importance of relaying information you players

7:00 How to maximize different teaching styles

8:30 Determining a game plan

12:25 Importance of practice

14:35 Establishing base plays and counters

17:20 Making adjustments during a game

24:05 Battling from behind

26:30 Implementing RPO offense

32:45 Stressing ownership and responsibility to players

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Troy McAllister, head coach at Phillips Academy High School in Chicago. In 2015, McAllister helped Phillips Academy become the first Chicago Public School to win an Illinois high school football state championship. This past season, Phillips Academy won its second state championship, finishing with an undefeated 14-0 season. On today’s episode, Coach McAllister and host Keith Grabowski talk about McAllister’s experience at Phillips Academy and building a program.

Show Notes

1:25 McAllister’s first practice at Phillips Academy

2:45 Building culture

4:00 Building a new coaching staff

5:10 First Chicago Public School to win Illinois state football championship

6:30 Improving in weak areas

8:20 McAllister’s coaching philosophy

12:20 Balancing off-field teaching and live practice

16:20 Overthinking your system

18:20 What Coach McAllister learned this past season

19:45 Proposed ban on tackle football

23:30 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Rich Wright, head coach at North West Missouri State. This past season North West Missouri State led the nation in multiple categories including total defense, scoring defense, 3rd down conversion % defense, and punt blocks. On this episode Coach Wright and host Keith Grabowski talk about the importance of safety and being dynamic on the defensive side.

Show Notes

1:20 Coach Wright’s start in coaching

4:00 Key lessons Coach Wright has learned

5:45 Building culture

8:00 Teaching in the classroom

9:20 Being dynamic and adapting based on formations

12:05 Teaching fundamentals

17:20 Importance of player safety

24:45 3rd down defense

29:45 Commitment to special teams

35:10 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Brian Hughes, offensive coordinator at LIU Post. Coach Hughes has been at LIU Post for 22 years and helped the team finish top 10 in passing offense, total offense, and scoring offense this past season. LIU Post also finished #1 in NCAA D2 in 3rd down conversion percentage. On today’s episode Coach Hughes and host Keith Grabowski talk about developing yourself as a coach and preparing your team for game day.

Show Notes

1:15 Coach Hughes’ background in coaching

3:10 Lesson Coach Hughes’ has learned early in his career

6:58 Translating drills to in game play

9:30 Coaching the defensive side

11:32 A mistake Coach Hughes’ has learned from

14:00 Advice to young coaches

21:55 The culture behind the offense

29:04 Preparing the team

32:50 Evolution of the offense at LIU Post

39:45 3rd down offense

49:20 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Kyle Archer, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut). Wesleyan led all of Division III in completion percentage with 70.7 percent and finished top 25 in passing offense. On today’s episode, Coach Archer and host Keith Grabowski talk about the passing game and game planning.

Show Notes

1:00 Coach Archer’s start in coaching

4:30 Learning new ideas

6:50 Implementing new ideas in your playbook

8:30 Teaching the game

14:20 The culture at Wesleyan

15:45 Key components to a high completion percentage

21:55 Practicing the game plan

26:10 Understanding the defense

29:50 The winning edge