Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Jim Ballard, College Football Hall of Famer and founder of the Jim Ballard Quarterback Academy. He also had a long professional career across a variety of leagues. Ballard played in the NFL, CFL, NFL Europe and Arena Football from 1994 to 2003. Some of the teams included the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Scottish Claymores, Toronto Argonauts and the Indiana Firebirds. Ballard had his most success during his collegiate career at Mount Union College, an NCAA Division III school in Alliance, Ohio. Including being induced to the College Football Hall of Fame for his play at Mount Union, Ballard was also an All-American while in college.

Ballard started his college career at D-III Wilmington (Ohio) College for one season before transferring to Mount Union. Across his career, Ballard broke 17 D-III passing records and was named all-conference all three seasons. In addition to being an all-American, Ballard was also awarded the Gagliardi Trophy for the Division III college football player of the year in 1993. Today, Ballard works with developing high school quarterbacks at the Jim Ballard Quarterback Academy.

On today’s podcast, Ballard and host Keith Grabowski talk about Ballard’s Quarterback Academy, the challenges of coordinating with high school coaches and parents, and how Mount Union prepared him to teach young athletes.

Show Notes

1:16 Mentoring local quarterbacks into college

2:36 Working alongside high school coaches

3:53 Beginnings of the quarterback development camp

6:16 Developing players going to Mount Union

7:55 Being flexible in teaching how to be a quarterback

10:50 Increasing Football IQ of the quarterback

12:29 Advice to parents of players going through the academy

14:54 Helping athletes gain exposure through camps

16:32 What to show on highlight tapes for quarterbacks

18:50 Having a strong base when throwing the ball

20:51 Being a leader in the huddle and knowing everyone’s role

22:25 Building confidence into leadership

23:42 The Roll Pass at Mount Union

25:15 Simulating the RPO

26:52 How can coaches develop players in-season

28:35 Providing 1-on-1 teaching with the quarterbacks