Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Craig Yeast, the offensive coordinator at Franklin (Indiana) College. In the 2017 season, with the help of Coach Yeast, Franklin College led the nation in passing offense and total offense. On today’s episode, Coach Yeast and Keith Grabowski talk about offensive schemes and how Franklin College prepares for game day.

Show Notes

1:10 Coach Yeast reflects on the 2017 season

2:15 What the coaching staff looks at prior to game day

4:05 How to determine which matchups to exploit

6:10 Developing a game plan

8:10 Coach Yeast talks about different packages they use

13:10 How Franklin College’s quarterbacks prepare for gameday

17:10 Coach Yeast talks about their practice organization and drills

22:50 Coach’s best concept

26:45 How much RPO plays a part in the offense

27:45 RPO does not change play calling mentality

30:55 Coach Yeast looks ahead to the 2018 season

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is John Roderique, head football coach at Webb City (Missouri) High School. Coach Roderique is an 11-time state champion and led Webb City to its 14th state championship last fall. This episode was recorded live at the USA Football 2018 National Conference at Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Coach Roderique and Keith Grabowski talk about how the game has evolved and the importance of youth programs.

Show Notes

0:35 Coach Roderique talks about his background in coaching

3:00 Coming back to coach at your alma mater

7:30 A mistake that Coach Roderique has learned from

9:10 Preparing players for life

11:25 How technology has evolved in coaching over the years

15:00 How practice has evolved over the years

17:40 Teaching youth programs safer techniques

22:40 Coach Roderique talks about changes he has seen in USA Football over the years

28:05 Importance of keeping fundamentals consistent at all age levels

29:35 Coach Roderique talks about his experience at the USA Football National Conference

30:55 The winning edge

Today’s guest on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Dean Paul, head coach at Ohio Northern University, an NCAA Division III school in Ada, Ohio. In the 2017 season, Ohio Northern led the nation in punt defense, holding opponents to under a yard per return. On today’s podcast, Coach Paul talks with Keith Grabowski about special teams strategy and the culture at Ohio Northern.

Show Notes

0:50 Coach Paul talks about his background in developing as a coach

3:30 Coach Paul talks about the culture of his coaching staff

5:35 The origins of their dog soldier workouts

8:15 The culture at Ohio Northern

9:45 How players learn off the field

13:31 Technology that Coach Paul incorporates in his program

17:20 Coaching organization of ONU’s special teams

20:30 Special teams practice organization throughout a week

23:40 Coach Paul’s special teams strategy

27:45 Using different formations after breaking down an opponent

31:30 Coach’s philosophy on using starters on special team units

33:25 Expectations of the special teams unit

35:35 The winning edge

The Clinic Report - Episode 1 by USA Football

Today’s guest on this NCAA Leaders edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is John Steger, Defensive Coordinator at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Steger helped lead Minnesota-Duluth to finish No. 1 in NCAA Division II in fumble recoveries and No. 2 in turnover margin and third-down and red zone defense. On today’s podcast, Steger talks about developing yourself as a coach and his defensive strategies.

Show Notes

1:20 Steger talks about his coaching background

2:30 Important things to remember when developing yourself as a coach

4:55 How the evolution of the game has affected coaching

6:45 Culture of the coaching staff

8:45 Know your system better than your opponent

10:45 Developing a culture within your unit

13:30 Understanding how kids learn best

18:30 Steger talks about his defense

20:40 Key strategy for stopping today’s dynamic offenses

24:35 Number of calls Steger brings into a game

28:10 Emphasizing turnovers in practice

34:25 The winning edge

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Steve Huff, head coach of College Station High School in College Station, Texas. This past season, Huff led College Station a 5A Division 2 state championship. On today’s episode, Huff talks about the best way for young coaches to develop themselves.

Show Notes

0:35 Huff's coaching background

1:40 Mistakes learned from throughout his coaching career

2:25 Key lessons learned

4:45 Developing culture

11:15 What he looks for in a coaching staff

14:45 Focusing on younger players

19:15 How to keep a consistent staff

23:20 How young coaches should develop

29:50 One thing that gives Huff’s team the winning edge

Host Keith Grabowski checks in with coaches around the country to learn about the new trends, plays, concepts and ideas being shared at coaching clinics across the country.

Today’s guests on this “NCAA Leaders” edition of the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Jason Lewis, the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Heidelberg University, an NCAA Division III program in Tiffin, Ohio. This past season, Lewis helped Heidelberg excel as one of the top schools in fewest sacks allowed. On today’s podcast, Lewis talks about how to protect the quarterback and offensive changes he made last season.

Show Notes

3:05 Lewis talks about how he got his start in coaching

5:05 Learning experiences from rebuilding a team

6:40 How the facilities at Heidelberg have changed recruiting

8:40 Selling traditions to recruits

10:15 Lewis discusses Heidelberg’s culture

11:50 Heidelberg’s offensive procedures

14:15 Going back to a huddle offense

15:35 Lewis talks about their base protection

18:15 Lewis explains blitz pickups

20:15 Lewis talks about drills he uses to improve offensive line posture

22:05 Emphasizing quarterback timing

24:05 How quarterback scrambling and escapes helped Heidelberg

25:30 How to simulate a quarterback scrambling scenario

26:25 Communicating with an up-tempo offense

Today’s guest on this “Lessons from 2017” edition of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Chris Wolfe, head coach at Louisville (Kentucky) Male High School. Wolfe recently received the Coach of the Year for the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Kentucky Football Team. Wolfe will be speaking at the 2018 USA Football National Conference, Jan. 26-28 in Orlando, Florida. On today’s episode, Wolfe and Keith Grabowski talk about his style of defense and a preview of his National Conference topic, Advantages and Strategies in Using 4 Linebackers in a Base Nickel Package.

Show Notes

1:05 Wolfe talks about how to be effective on key downs

3:30 How to notice areas that need improvement

7:30 How other sports benefit can benefit your players

10:25 What Wolfe did differently this year with defense

13:10 Utilizing the best available players

15:20 How Wolfe stops the run with his style of defense

17:10 Wolfe gives a preview of his National Conference presentation

Today’s guest joining Keith Grabowski on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Mike Pollak, manager of contact system training at USA Football. Pollak was a guard for seven years in the NFL playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals. On today’s episode, Pollak talks about the Tip of the Spear contact system, and gives an overview of the on-field demonstration that he will be assisting with at the 2018 USA Football National Conference.

Show Notes

0:45 Pollak talks about how he got involved in the contact system

4:15 How current blocking techniques still involve head contact

7:25 Pollak talks about the Tip of the Spear contact system

10:20 Pollak talks about how the Tip of the Spear system was developed

13:20 Advantages of the Tip of the Spear system in the offseason

16:24 Importance of keeping the head out of contact

18:05 What has changed about over the years when it comes to practicing contact

20:15 Pollak talks about the on-field demonstrations that he will be assisting with at the USA Football National Conference