The Coaching 101 Podcast

On The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson close out season seven by reflecting on coaching mistakes they’ve outgrown and how self-reflection improves teams and personal life. After a Lou Holtz quote about character in the final stretch, they discuss key lessons: time in the office doesn’t equal wins (an 0–10 season revealed inefficiency), winning at all costs isn’t the only goal (focus on development and process), chasing trends to look “cool” without purpose hurts execution, and too many rules create enforcement problems—simpler standards and individualized accountability work better than “equal” treatment. Daniel adds mistakes like believing X’s and O’s solve everything, assuming you have all the answers, and thinking leaders can’t ask for help. They explain why coaches miss their own flaws (confidence, loneliness, excuses, and critiquing others) and suggest improvement through mentors, self-care, continuous learning, structured feedback, and accepting hard truths.

00:00 Podcast Cold Open

00:26 Walkup Music Idea

01:38 Season Finale Setup

01:59 Mistakes Theme Intro

03:01 Quote and Book Plugs

05:45 Sponsors Shoutouts

08:16 Kenny Mistake Time Equals Wins

12:14 Beyond Winning At All Costs

14:36 Stop Chasing Trends

16:28 Simpler Rules Better Culture

20:25 Daniel Xs and Os Limits

22:39 Leaders Ask for Help

22:59 Asking for Help

23:34 Staffing Beyond Friends

24:19 Why Leaders Miss Flaws

27:25 Finding Reality Checks

28:30 Excuses and Blame Traps

31:29 Confidence Versus Humility

35:49 Healthy Self Improvement

41:32 Feedback Culture and AARs

44:08 Hard Truths and Growth

45:15 Sponsors and Wrap Up

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

On The Coaching 101 Podcast, Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson recap returning from Boston clinics, then discuss how they script plays and drives. Simpson explains that because their offense is unique, early plays aim to both score and gather information by showing motions, shifts, empty, trips, and unbalanced looks to confirm defensive alignments, rotations, and player keys, revealing advantages and matchups. Chamberlain adds scripting can also create future scouting complexity while avoiding rigid adherence to long 15–20 play scripts that can ignore hot plays, rhythm, personnel groupings, or standout athletes. Simpson uses a “3 plays for each of the first 3 drives” approach plus additional first/second half calls, and also scripts third-down and red-zone calls as tools to rely on under pressure. They note scripts evolve weekly based on opponent strengths, their own personnel, and tendency breakers without overthinking.

00:00 Podcast kickoff in Boston

00:44 Family trip and Bruins stories

02:46 Clinic tour and spring prep

04:18 Head coach time management

05:48 Quote of the week setup

07:32 Sponsor shoutouts

10:52 Scripting plays overview

12:27 Early script to gather intel

17:36 Daniel’s scripting philosophy

20:22 Breaking the old script rules

22:06 Script as a flexible tool

23:08 Call Sheet Mindset

24:26 Scripting Three Drives

25:57 Personnel Rotation Planning

27:38 Situational Scripts

29:41 When to Go Off Script

32:14 Evolving Weekly Scripts

38:05 Wrinkles and Tendency Breakers

41:32 Overthinking Tendencies

42:45 Wrap Up and Sponsors

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

On The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Coach Kenny Simpson discuss clinic season in Houston and Daniel’s new head coaching job, then share a quote: “The best competitors have a short memory and have a long focus,” emphasizing competing without fear of failure. They highlight sponsors and Kenny’s resources, then dive into teaching high school players concepts rather than memorized plays by starting with the big picture, using rules-based “families,” layering installs, and keeping language modular and consistent to avoid “wasted words.” They explain using formations, tags, and simple blitz/coverage rules to appear complex to opponents while staying simple for players, plus crawl-walk-run and pressure-testing in practice. They close with a game-management scenario on when to sub up 28 and the risks of doing it too early.

00:00 Clinic Season Check In

00:59 New Head Coach Buzz

02:44 Honeymoon Phase Advice

04:48 Quote of the Week

06:25 Sponsor Shoutouts

08:57 Teaching Concepts Not Plays

13:43 Rules Based Offense Defense

16:15 Families and Simple Rules

19:52 Consistent Language and Tags

24:30 Defensive Word Examples

25:55 Sticks Tag Cover Three

26:59 No Wasted Words

30:37 Rules Over Memorization

31:43 Making It Work Fridays

37:59 Install Crawl Walk Run

41:05 Situation Of The Week

46:44 Sponsors Books Clinics

50:46 Final Sign Off

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson close out a shorter Coaching 101 Podcast episode by discussing why coaches should keep their football systems simple during clinic season, when it’s easy to overload an offense or defense with new ideas. They define “simple” as being simple for players (not necessarily for coaches or opponents), emphasizing fundamentals, clear rules, fewer mental errors, and the ability to make in-game adjustments through tags and modular layering rather than constantly adding new concepts. They argue that simplicity improves execution, confidence, tempo, and problem-solving, and they describe a funnel approach where coaches handle complexity while younger or less experienced players receive streamlined responsibilities. Kenny shares examples of building depth from a core concept like stick by changing who runs it, adding reads, and attaching it to runs as RPOs, while stressing that drawing up layers doesn’t matter without blocking, throwing, catching, and tackling. The episode includes a quote on poise from John Wooden about “just being you,” notes upcoming clinics (including a 4-2-5 defensive clinic in Boston March 13–14 and Kenny’s GUN-T clinic schedule), and sponsor mentions for Aport video boards, Winning Edge Performance Analytics, and Blended Threads, plus updates on Kenny’s books and the GUN-T System website and system owner pricing.

00:00 Welcome to Coaching 101 + Why This Episode Is Short

00:24 Clinic Season Danger: Don’t Bloat Your System

02:09 Fundamentals First: Simple Done Well Beats Creative Too Soon

02:50 Book Updates & the Buck Book Restock

04:27 Quote of the Week: John Wooden on Poise (Be Yourself)

07:38 Sponsor Shoutouts: Aport, Winning Edge Analytics, Blended Threads

09:43 Upcoming Clinics: 4-2-5 Boston + Gun-T Tour Dates

11:53 Part 1 Begins: What “Simple Scheme” Really Means

12:57 Simple for Players, Complex for Opponents: How to Layer Without Overload

22:56 Why Simplicity Wins: Faster Adjustments & Players Recognize Answers

25:08 Simple Systems = Confident Kids (Adjustments & Tempo)

26:34 How Simple Is Simple? Tempo, Two-Way Players & Football IQ

27:43 Keep Rules Small: Coverages, Checks & the “Funnel” Teaching Model

29:22 Why Two-Minute Offense Works (and Why Not Use It More?)

30:20 Why Simple Wins: Fundamentals, Fewer Errors & Smarter Line Roles

32:52 Modular Tags: Add “Looks” Without Adding Complexity

34:15 Burn It Down to an Identity: Core Runs + Layering Concepts

35:29 Stick Concept Deep Dive: Tags, Reads, Motions & RPO Attachments

39:51 Defense Version of Layering: Edge Blitzes + Coverage Rolls

41:40 Crockpot the Playbook: Trim, Master the Basics, Then Expand

43:20 Wrap-Up, Sponsors, and Where to Find the Hosts

48:05 Final Thanks & Closing Message: “Find a Way”

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Daniel Chamberlain and Coach Kenny Simpson open with February coaching updates, including state conventions, the coaching carousel, and clinic season, and discuss the difference between social/job-networking clinics and scheme-intensive clinics. They share an Abraham Lincoln discipline quote and relate it to the GWAT 100 February mileage challenge. Kenny promotes his books (Complete Guide to Buck Sweep from the Shotgun and O-10 to 10-0), the Gun-T system update (7.0), and the move of Gun-T resources to gunteesystem.com, then lists upcoming Gun-T clinics (Sacramento, Houston, Ohio, Boston, and a newly added Tampa clinic March 20–21). Daniel promotes the 4-2-5 Defense Clinic in Boston (March 13–14), possible Naples, Florida dates, speakers including Brady Bradbury and a Massachusetts state-championship coach host, and notes early-bird pricing and hotel deadlines. The main topic is in-game adjustments: defining them as planned, built-in counters to unexpected looks or opponent changes (personnel, fronts, coverages, or targeted matchups), not desperation play-calling. They emphasize preparing adjustments in the offseason, keeping a small, concept-based system with tags, practicing answers during the week, assigning coaches specific “eyes” (front, back end, formations, fits), and communicating clearly between drives and at halftime, with great coaches adjusting in real time. Examples include flood-and-go, pop pass, false pulls, and formation changes when opponents struggle to align. They discuss evaluating adjustment ability (between drives vs halftime vs “we’ll fix it next week”), and the importance of writing down halftime plans. A “situation of the week” covers facing an unexpected bear front after preparing for two-high; Kenny explains abandoning dead scripted calls, using numbers/space and built-in tools, and coordinating quick conversations with line and QB coaches to adjust run game, protections, and pass/RPO answers before the next series. They close with sponsor mentions (Aport video boards and fundraising, Winning Edge Performance Analytics, Blended Threads), and share where to find them and the podcast on social media.

00:00 Welcome + February Coaching Carousel & Clinic Season

00:30 State Conventions: Networking, Gossip, and What Clinics Are Really For

02:55 Quote of the Week: Discipline (Lincoln) + Team Themes Update

04:14 G-Watt 100 Challenge: Discipline in Real Life

05:42 Books, Gun-T System Updates, and New Website Resources

07:56 Upcoming Clinics Tour + 4-2-5 Boston Details

12:45 Today’s Topic: What Are In-Game Adjustments?

19:03 Why In-Game Adjustments Matter (Neutralize Strengths, Exploit Weaknesses)

24:39 How Great Coaches Adjust: Between Drives, Halftime, and Preparation

30:16 Practical Steps: Defensive Adjustment Process (Don’t Chase Ghosts)

31:29 Defensive End-Game Adjustments: Stop the Star, Pressure the Backup QB

33:03 Offensive Built-In Answers: Tags, Flood-and-Go, and Planning for Counters

34:08 Practice Like Friday: Scout-Team Freedom & Midweek Adjustment Reps

35:51 Coach’s Eyes & In-Game Communication: Assigning Keys and Spotting Trends

36:50 Halftime Case Study: Real Adjustments vs Desperation Calls

38:24 Pregame Film Study & Learning from Officials’ Keys

41:46 Write It Down: Call Sheets, Walking Halftime Meetings, and Staying Organized

43:15 System Design: Modular Tags, Communicable Calls, and Player Ownership

49:11 Situation of the Week: Too-High to Bear Front—Immediate Game-Day Response

55:37 Sponsors, Clinics, Where to Find Us, and Final Message

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

In this episode of the Coaching 101 Podcast, co-hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss strategies for simplifying football by effectively counting the box and leveraging formations. They share insights on handling snow days, recent clinics they've attended, and upcoming events. The episode dives into the importance of understanding numbers and leverage in both the run and pass game, and offers tips on using formations, shifts, and motions to gain an advantage. They also discuss how to teach players, particularly quarterbacks, to recognize and exploit defensive weaknesses. Tune in to make football coaching simpler and more effective!

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:33 Weather and School Updates

01:36 Clinic Experiences and Travel Stories

03:47 Upcoming Clinics and Events

06:37 Quote of the Week and Announcements

12:43 Counting the Box: Basics and Importance

20:21 Edge Setting and Defensive Intentions

21:25 Formations and Motions to Gain Advantage

22:07 Run Game Solutions and RPO Strategies

22:54 Utilizing Shifts and Motions in Offense

24:31 Condensed Formations and Blocking Strategies

25:46 Quarterback Run Game and Defensive Challenges

28:57 Counting the Box and Leveraging Advantages

33:31 Teaching Players to Read Defenses

36:52 Coaching Strategies and Player Autonomy

40:13 Conclusion and Announcements

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Join hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson on the Coaching 101 Podcast as they welcome special guest Kevin Swift from Oregon. In this episode, they delve into the importance of making football simple for success, exploring Coach Swift's impressive 41-year career. They cover topics like avoiding coaching burnout, evolving as a coach without losing core identity, the importance of relationships over X's and O's, and sustaining longevity in the coaching profession. Additionally, hear insights about balancing personal life with a coaching career, building a supportive community, and the significance of player relationships. Tune in for a wealth of knowledge and experience from seasoned coaches who have thrived in the football industry.

00:00 Introduction to the Coaching 101 Podcast

00:34 Meet Coach Kevin Swift

01:50 Coach Swift's Coaching Journey

05:27 Quote of the Week and Sponsor Shoutouts

09:36 Discussing Longevity in Coaching

16:30 Challenges and Rewards of Coaching

36:46 Evolving as a Coach

39:37 The Importance of Innovation in Coaching

40:19 Building a Collaborative Coaching Environment

41:18 Adapting to New Defensive Strategies

41:48 The Journey of Becoming a Head Coach

42:52 Challenges of Coaching in Small Towns

43:52 Developing Assistant Coaches from Scratch

45:32 The Role of Senior Players in Coaching

46:14 Creating a Winning Culture

48:34 Balancing Football and Personal Life

54:54 Evolving Coaching Philosophies

56:06 The Importance of Relationships in Coaching

01:00:39 Sustaining a Long Coaching Career

01:08:21 Closing Thoughts and Resources for Coaches

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

In this episode of The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss offensive line development and recruiting with Joel Nellis, Head Football Coach at Brookfield Central High School and owner of Trench Training. Coach Nellis covers the fundamentals of offensive line play, the importance of get-off, footwork, and core strength. He provides insights on the height and weight benchmarks for different levels of play. The discussion also explores the value of non-padded showcases and how to recognize a well-coached offensive line. Additionally, Coach Nellis talks about his trench training program and the importance of aligning with high school coaches to best serve the athletes.

00:00 Introduction to the Coaching 101 Podcast

00:49 Meet Coach Joel Nellis

01:22 Joel Nellis' Coaching Journey

02:55 Family and Community Involvement

04:30 The Importance of Offensive Linemen

06:03 Quote of the Week and Sponsor Messages

11:10 Recruitment Insights for Offensive Linemen

31:33 Coaching High School Basketball: Adjusting to Player Sizes

32:07 Strategies for Overcoming Depth Issues

33:23 Teaching Versatility in Player Positions

34:07 Protecting Weaker Players in Offensive Line

35:42 Importance of Consistent Coaching and Culture

42:29 Adapting to Different Player Levels and Development

44:15 The Value of Repetition in Training

47:36 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Camps and Showcases

53:07 Identifying Well-Coached Offensive Lines

56:48 Promoting Trench Training Camps and Resources

01:01:07 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss their experiences and strategies in offensive game planning in football. They focus on analyzing opponents, adjusting to unexpected challenges, and using motion and shifts to manipulate defenses. They also share insights into breaking down defenses, identifying key players and their tendencies, and developing effective game plans. Additionally, they touch on the importance of adapting when faced with unforeseen game-day scenarios. The episode is filled with practical tips and philosophies that coaches can use to enhance their game plans and achieve better results on the field.

00:00 Introduction and National Championship Recap

03:31 Quote of the Week and Team Themes

05:13 Sponsorships and Announcements

11:26 Offensive Game Planning Philosophy

20:50 Breaking Down the Defense

26:42 Analyzing Defensive Backs and Tackling Strategies

27:31 Understanding Defensive Alignments and Formations

29:15 Breaking Down Defensive Tendencies

30:33 Identifying Key Players and Their Roles

33:03 Gaining Advantage Through Numbers, Space, and Leverage

37:17 Building and Adapting Your Game Plan

48:11 Handling Unexpected Game Situations

51:17 Closing Remarks and Resources

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

In this episode of The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson dive into their experiences during a busy football season. They discuss the implementation of the pin and pull play, differentiating it from traditional buck sweep, and its adaptation within the gun tee system over the years. They provide valuable insights on play interactions, rule modifications, and making strategic decisions to fit their team's strengths. Additionally, the episode covers overcoming setbacks, such as missed podcast schedules and personal challenges, while emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and preparation. Sponsors and upcoming clinics are also highlighted, along with recommendations for coaches looking to enhance their playbooks without overwhelming their systems.

00:00 Introduction and New Year Updates

01:19 Clinic Recap and Networking

04:29 Coaching Themes and Quotes

07:10 Podcast Sponsors and Supporters

10:38 Pin and Pull Play Discussion

24:18 Communication and Formation Strategies

24:54 Counting and Blocking Rules

26:13 Teaching Pulling Techniques

27:47 Implementing New Plays

30:07 Balancing Playbook Complexity

34:52 Situational Play Calling

39:20 Sponsors and Announcements

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com