Jordan Neal joins the podcast today to discuss his prodigious offense at Hendrix College (Conway, Ark.). Neal, the program’s offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, pulls back the curtain on his offense that averaged more than 600 yards per game in 2016. He describes his one-word play calls, his 10-10-100 drill and the one simple metric that is a great barometer of team success.

Show notes

:56 An offense that averaged 600+ yards/game

2:47 Being process-driven and outcome-oriented 

6:00 Building ball security into program culture 

9:31 Importance of doing homework as a coach

13:37 One-word play calls

17:58 Manipulating the defense with reads

22:50 Third down play calling

25:15 This simple metric is a great barometer of success

27:41 "If you can't block, you can't play"

30:23 Making adjustments on film vs. keeping practice tempo

32:50 10-10-100 drill 

36:16 Two-minute drill 

40:08 The winning edge

Apopka (Fla.) head coach Rick Darlington is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Darlington has built Apopka into one of the top programs in the state of Florida through his mastery of the single wing offense. He discusses his program’s 6 core values, how programs can overcome talent deficits and how he handles the process of interviewing potential assistant coaches

Show notes

:37 Rebounding from a playoff upset and Apopka's 6 core values

4:01 Offseason program

6:03 Handling problem players

7:29 Getting an entire staff on board

9:03 The art of the interview process

11:53 Inside Darlington's "1907 Pop Warner" offense

15:08 Base plays in single wing

16:12 In-game adjustments

17:14 RPO in the single wing

21:53 The winning edge

Dan Tudor joins Keith on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast. Tudor is a recruiting guru, and has a company devoted to it. Tudor Collegiate Strategies focus is to develop unique communication strategies for college coaches, athletic departments and admissions departments. In the podcast, Tudor discusses the importance of recruiting in all levels of football, how to create a “story” and how coaches should leverage the power of social media.

Show notes

2:25 The importance of recruiting in all levels of football

6:12 Creating consistency in your team message

11:12 Coaches are marketers

14:25 Tips on creating a strong team message

19:31 Coaches can benefit from using social media

24:38 How making a “sale” can equal wins

30:54 Connecting with Dan

Shane Fogarty, assistant coach at Fordham University, is today’s guest on the Coach and Coordinator podcast. At Fordham, Fogarty oversees the special teams units and the running backs. In the podcast he discusses Fordham’s “HIT” technique, building special teams culture and running back drills.

Show notes

:31 Why Fogarty became a football coach

1:30 How his personal education played a role in coaching

3:24 Building culture within the special teams unit

5:40 Defining the “HIT” technique

10:23 Working solely as a return unit

11:15 What Fogarty looks for in recruiting players for special teams

15:26 Practice drills for punt return

17:40 Why he prefers shorter practice times

20:14 Emphasizing pass protection with the running backs

29:18 Best coaching advice he’s received

30:39 Creating balance in life

32:28 Two-minute drills

35:03 The winning edge

USA Football’s own, Aaron Ingram, joins Keith on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast. Ingram is the USA Football Senior Manager of Football. He discusses his pathway to USA Football and what sets the U.S. National Team camp program apart. He also dives into the unique challenge of getting ready for international competition, how the Master Trainer program works and how experience with the National Team can benefit coaches too.

Show Notes

1:02 The path to USA Football

2:25 What sets the National Team program apart

4:29 Takeaways players bring back to their high schools

6:02 Teaching coaches

7:16 Overview of the Master Trainer program

8:58 USA Football National Conference

10:12 How players can become a part of the National Team

11:39 Coaching experiences on the National Team

12:51 Developing a team culture in a short period of time

16:43 Game-planning for international competition

17:33 RPOs helping the team offensively

20:32 National Team Alumni looking back at their experience

22:19 Two-minute drill

24:29 The winning edge

George Penree, the defensive coordinator at St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.), is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. He discusses his “PAC” approach to developing leadership: Process-oriented, Accountable for actions and Consistent. He also explains his 3-3 stack defense and why he thinks it’s important to simulate stressful situations for players to prepare them for game day.

Show notes

1:10 St. Scholastica

2:23 Start as a football coach

4:19 "Everything you do should be about making your kids better."

5:27 Establishing leadership skills in players

7:12 Building culture in the team defense

10:11 Getting your kids to be solution-oriented

12:58 Behind the curtain of Penree's 3-3 stack defense

15:41 Benefits of 3-3 stack

17:27 Adding 4-2-5 elements and keeping consistent with terminology

19:23 Stopping what the offense does best and dictating what they do

22:07 Flipped Classroom

25:34 Keys to running a great walkthrough practice

28:01 As a young coach, not doing enough listening

30:44 Creating balance

33:15 Two-minute drill

34:35 The winning edge

Scott Donaldson is today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Donaldson is the head coach at Heidelberg University (Ohio). Donaldson climbed the ladder from grad assistant, to positional coach, to defensive coordinator to head coach—all at the same school. He discusses his journey as well as the need for coaches to establish boundaries in professional relationships. Donaldson also explains his Dog Soldiers concept and dives into all things special teams-related.

Show notes

:42 Start as a football coach

1:45 Lessons learned as a young coach

2:42 Transition from grad assistant --> position coach --> coordinator --> head coach

9:09 Continuing to build on team culture as a head coach

11:20 Donaldson's "Dog Soldiers"

15:41 Handling special teams as a head coach

20:02 The week-long focus on special teams

24:05 Efficiency in special teams reps (since they often require lots of running)

26:25 Making an entire special teams plan cohesive

31:05 The mistake of not being yourself as a young coach

35:07 Creating balance for yourself...and your staff

36:45 Two-minute drill

Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Buddy Blevins, offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Blevins shines light on his simple naming conventions that help players align correctly. He also discusses why he believes that coaching in the film room is no replacement for coaching on the field, as well as his transition from arena football to traditional outdoor football.

Show notes

:46 Start in the coaching profession

1:49 Key lessons learned

2:41 Rules for routes out of different formations

4:21 A simple naming system that makes sense

6:57 Juggling new installations with old, reliable plays

10:14 The transition from arena league to outdoor football

15:02 Keys to success: Technique, effort and discipline

22:49 Balance can come in cycles

24:52 Two-minute drill

26:45 The winning edge

Quarterback guru Jeremy Plaa joins the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast today. Plaa is the head coach at Downey High School (Modesto, Calif.), where he’s won eight or more games in each of the past three seasons. Plaa discusses his stretch concept, his system for scoring practices and how he uses his “PIE” wheel to mete out discipline.

Show notes

:27 Start as football coach

2:21 Development as a coach

3:51 Have fun, take risks and be aggressive

5:04 Building culture and Plaa's 5-point system for rewarding players

6:16 Air Raid mixed with RPO

12:02 How Plaa uses simple word calls to prevent his OL from drawing ineligible receiver downfield penalties

13:39 Plaa's "ostrich stretch" concept

16:23 Keeping score at practice

18:37 Making the mistake of not listening to kids

20:25 Advice to a young coach

22:08 PIE wheel

24:45 Leveraging new technology

27:45 Two-minute drill

29:35 The winning edge

Jeff Steinberg, head coach at Rancho Verde High school, joins Keith on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast. Steinberg played football in Canada before transitioning to a coaching role in the United States. He discusses his adjustment from Canadian rules to American, modes of communication and being process-driven.

Show Notes

2:19 Why Steinberg became a football coach

3:56 Adjusting from Canadian football to American football rules

5:43 How to stay ahead of the game

7:31 Modes of communication

9:17 Thought process on the sidelines

12:19 Sideline routines and rituals

17:42 Building culture throughout the program

21:31 How to avoid a “maintain” mentality

23:42 Book recommendations

29:22 Appropriate pathway for players

33:17 Being “where your feet are”

35:11 Two-minute drill