Football Job Edge: Special Teams Coaching
The plain and simple truth is that special teams coaching kept me employed as a college and NFL assistant football coach. I was also fortunate to have gained experience coaching on both sides of the ball over this period of time too. That allowed me to be the “swing guy” who could coach almost any position.
However, the one thing that always seemed to be the difference maker when it came to getting a job was that I could coach special teams.
Sometimes the special teams experience was the main reason I was hired. The ability to coach the tight ends or linebackers was secondary to the head coach doing the hiring.
“Special teams coaching kept me employed as a college and NFL football coach.”
Does that seem strange to you? If it does, think about this for a moment. Put yourself in the shoes of an experienced high school head coach. Do you really think he is looking for a 25-30 year old coach to hire to add new offensive or defensive ideas? Not no, but hell no.
He is looking for a young assistant football coach who is smart and can learn as they grow. That head coach is looking for a young position coach who can and will coach a position well with great detail. Here is what else they are looking for. A young assistant coach who can fill as many roles on that staff as possible. This will come up in the interview most of the time.
Keep in mind that some of those roles might be teaching english or as the equipment manager. However, if you want instant value ON the football field, your ability with special teams coaching will be your best route to get hired.
Coaches are just like players when it comes to special teams. I’ve never met a player who said “I got into playing football because I always wanted to cover a punt. Or I dream of executing the key block on a touchdown kickoff return!”
At the same time, you don’t ever hear of many assistant football coaches who at a young age decide they want to begin a career coaching football because they have dreamed of coaching the punt team.
Why Did That Guy Get Hired Instead Of Me?
You will see some young coaches who avoid special teams coaching responsibilities early in their careers because they want to focus on being a great linebacker coach or the best receiver coach. This is a huge mistake.
Several years down the line they do not understand when someone else gets hired for a job that they want. If you look closer it’s probably because the guy who got the job could do both. They could coach the linebackers AND could handle one or two phases in the special teams area.
FirstDown PlayBook Has Your PlayBook Transfer Covered
This is the time of year when high school and college football jobs open. A lot of young football coaches are going to be looking to get a foot in the door. How you interview matters. Your ability to present your ideas on offense, defense and special teams can get you hired before others.
Here is what I am willing to bet you. If you go into that interview prepared with detailed diagrams of what and how you teach and you are going to impress the interview committee. You include special teams coaching with detailed FirstDown PlayBook diagrams…You are a hard assistant coach candidate to ignore.
