Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Chad Braun, head football coach at Monmouth (Illinois) College. Last season, Monmouth finished as NCAA Division III’s No. 1 team in passing defense and No. 9 in total defense. On today’s episode, Coach Braun and host Keith Grabowski talk about game planning and off-field preparation.

Show Notes

3:00 Braun’s start in coaching

6:05 Building culture

7:20 Off-field teaching

8:30 Base defense

10:00 Stopping the pass

10:52 Practicing critical downs

12:10 Stopping the RPO

14:15 Preparing for an option offense

16:05 A mistake Braun has learned from

17:20 A book Braun recommends

19:55 Work-life balance

21:05 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Terry Gambill, head coach at Allen High School (Texas). Gambill won the state championship at Allen as a defensive coordinator in 2008 and won the 2017 state championship as the head coach. On this episode, Coach Gambill and host Keith Grabowski talk about gaining experience and holding players accountable.

Show Notes

1:12 Gambill’s coaching background

2:15 Transitioning from a graduate assistant to assistant coach

4:10 Experience gained from coaching other sports

5:05 Moving up the ranks of a coaching staff

5:45 A mistake Coach Gambill has learned from

7:05 Challenges with being a first-year coordinator

9:00 Taking over a program

10:45 Gambill’s coaching philosophy

12:55 Role of the coaching staff

16:35 Weekly meetings with players

17:15 Building culture

21:25 Experience of having a son on the coaching staff

24:25 Program support

26:05 Expectation of the coaching staff

28:00 Holding players accountable

30:40 Base schemes

32:15 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Chris Kappas, offensive coordinator at the University of Mount Union, an NCAA Division III school in Alliance, Ohio. Mount Union won the 2017 Division III National Championship while leading the nation in scoring offense with 50.5 points per game. On today’s episode, Kappas and host Keith Grabowski talk about developing an efficient offense and game planning.

Show Notes

0:40 Kappas talks about transitioning from defensive coordinator to offensive coordinator

2:25 Kappas talks about some of his signature pieces

5:35 Using compressed formations

9:45 Finding opportunities to create plays

12:05 Allowing your QB to change a play

15:00 Game planning from the offensive perspective

17:05 Practicing screens

19:55 Keys to scoring at a high rate

24:00 Coaching both sides of the ball

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is James Vint, offensive line coach at Estacado High School in Lubbock, Texas. Vint has been an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator at the high school and college level. This episode was recorded live at the USA Football 2018 National Conference at Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Vint and host Keith Grabowski talk about their experience at the USA Football National Conference and trying to make the game safer.

Show Notes

2:23 Trying to make the game safer

7:04 Lessons learned though sport

9:46 Atmosphere of the USA Football National Conference

12:21 Getting involved with USA Football

20:01 Coach and Coordinator clinic report episodes

23:32 Creating a system for good ideas

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Richie Gray, a skills acquisition and coaching education specialist. Gray spent 12 years with the Scottish Rugby Union, where he was involved with development and education. Gray went on to work with the Miami Dolphins during the 2016 season to help with skills development and tackling. This episode was recorded live at the USA Football 2018 National Conference at Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

Show Notes

1:11 Coach Gray’s background

2:41 Coach Gray’s time spent studying tackling

5:05 Importance of teaching tackling at a young age

8:10 Safety through technique

12:20 Importance of skill development

16:05 Creating standardized fundamentals

21:30 “Make it important, then measure it”

23:35 Coach Gray’s time with the Miami Dolphins

26:20 Equipment Coach Gray has developed

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Mike Leonard, head coach at Franklin (Indiana) College, an NCAA Division III school. During his 16-year coaching career at Franklin, Coach Leonard has won five Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships. On today’s episode, Leonard and host Keith Grabowski talk about building culture and continuing to learn the game.

Show Notes

2:00 Leonard’s background in coaching

4:45 Coaches who have helped Leonard throughout his career

7:05 Lessons that Coach Leonard has learned

9:05 Building culture

12:40 Creating a “Champions Manual”

16:30 Preparation with players

19:20 What makes a smart player

20:45 “Treat others right”

23:25 Balancing a coaching staff’s workload

26:45 Continuing to learn the game

28:25 A book Coach Leonard recommends

30:55 Incorporating fun into a program

32:50 The winning edge

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Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Alan Rodemaker, head coach at Valdosta (Georgia) High School. Rodemaker led Valdosta to win a state championship in 2016. This episode was recorded live at the USA Football 2018 National Conference at Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Coach Rodemaker and host Keith Grabowski talk about building culture and game-planning.

Show Notes

1:10 Coach Rodemaker’s background in coaching

3:20 A mistake Coach Rodemaker has learned from

3:55 Coach Rodemaker’s coaching philosophy

5:10 Valdosta’s culture

8:40 Building culture

11:30 Best way to teach the game

12:50 Weight room organization

14:55 How concussion prevention affects coaching

16:25 Game planning throughout a week

18:35 Stopping the RPO

21:30 Special teams practice

22:15 Advice for young coaches

24:25 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Scott Power, Defensive Coordinator at Central Washington University. In 2017 Central Washington was #1 in sacks with 61 on the season, and #1 in rushing defense only allowing 44.4 rushing yards per game. On today’s podcast Scott Power and host Keith Grabowski talk about preparing a defensive game plan.

Show Notes

1:41 Coach Power talks about his start in coaching

5:00 Culture of the defensive unit

6:30 Off-field preparations for the defensive unit

9:00 Using a drone in practice

10:45 Creating sacks

12:35 How many concepts are brought to a game

15:35 Base defense formation

19:10 1 high defense

23:26 Challenges to facing RPO

25:35 Working on defending the RPO in practice

29:10 Hardest offense to defend

31:50 The winning edge

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Contact Coach Power: twitter @Coach_Power

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Merrill Hoge, former NFL running back and current ESPN analyst, serving as a head coach of Your Call Football, a professional football league that lets the fans choose the plays. On today’s episode, Hoge and Keith Grabowski talk about the Your Call Football league.

Show Notes

0:40 Hoge explains Your Call Football

4:17 How game planning is different in YCF

7:02 Responsibilities of the coaches

9:00 Personnel makeup of YCF

10:20 Preseason organization of YCF

12:40 The future of YCF

13:45 YCF player safety

15:22 What coaches could take away from YCF

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Tom Wilson, head coach at Dowling Catholic High School (Iowa). Wilson is a six-time state champion, and led Dowling to its fifth straight this past season. This episode was recorded live at the 2018 USA Football National Conference in Orlando, Florida. Wilson and host Keith Grabowski talk about the current state of the game and look back at Dowling’s 2017 season.

Show Notes

0:35 Wilson talks about the USA Football National Conference

2:55 What Wilson learned from the 2017 season

5:30 Something new implemented this past season

7:20 Keeping a consistent coaching staff

9:50 How the offense evolved during the 2017 season

11:45 How the coaching staff prepares in the offseason

14:50 Challenges facing the game of football

20:50 Youth player development

23:10 The winning edge