Preparing for a college football coaching job interview can be one of the most important moments in a coach’s career. With limited opportunities, intense competition, and fast-moving hiring cycles, knowing how to properly prepare, communicate, and present yourself can make all the difference.
In this in-depth panel discussion, experienced college head coaches, coordinators, and a national football media leader share proven insights into best practices for college football coaching job interviews. Watching this discussion will help teach you the intangible skills, beyond just the X’s and O’s, to help you land that dream coaching job.
This conversation is designed to help coaches understand what decision-makers truly value, how to prepare effectively, and how to stand out in a highly competitive hiring environment.
Hosted by Charlie Coiner, Owner of FirstDown PlayBook, this panel focuses specifically on assistant coaching interviews at the college level, covering everything from preparation and presentation to communication, organization, and follow-up.
If you’re looking for additional resources or High School Football Coaching tips, you can check out this High School Coaching Job Interview panel too.
The goal of this panel discussion is to draw on the experience of coaches and media professionals who:
By sharing real-world examples, lessons learned, and actionable advice, this panel of industry experts helps coaches approach interviews with clarity, confidence, and strategy.
This College Football Coaching Job panel features respected leaders from across college football and national coaching media:
Together, this group of panelists bring perspectives from Division I, Division II, NAIA, and national media, offering a unique and comprehensive view of the college football hiring process.
The panel begins by discussing how coaches should prepare before walking into a College Football Coaching Job interview. The discussion highlights how preparation is consistently emphasized as a major separator among candidates.
Top tips that coaches should do before the actual interview:
The panel stresses that preparation beforehand shows respect, professionalism, and true interest in the position and program.
The College Football Coaching Job panel also discuss some of the best practices for presentation and logistics in order to crush your interview. Below are some of the key takeaways:
The panelists dedicate time to breaking down what interviewers are truly looking for during the interview itself. It may not be what you expect, so this portion of the panel is incredibly valuable for interviewees.
Key evaluation areas include:
The panel repeatedly emphasizes that how you teach matters more than how much you know, especially at the assistant coaching level.
The discussion concludes with powerful reminders for coaches navigating the hiring process:
These small details often separate final candidates and influence hiring decisions.
While this content is valuable for anyone looking to prepare for a job interview, this panel is extremely valuable for:
Walking into an interview with this level of knowledge, confidence and preparation, can change the game for the future of your coaching career.
Whether you’re pursuing your first head football coach opportunity or preparing for your next career move, this panel discussion provides real-world advice from the people who hire and lead successful college programs. If you want to approach your next interview with clarity, confidence, and preparation, this College Football Coaching Job panel discussion is a must-watch.
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As we look ahead, be sure to stay tuned in for more college football coaching education, leadership development, and game changing content from our team at FirstDown PlayBook.
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