Dr. Howard Gauthier, professor at Idaho State University in the Athletic Administration Masters Program, was kind enough to invite me speak to his Coaching Management class on June 22.
I had a blast with the presentation and thought it might be helpful to other young coaches to hear about the challenges and opportunities available at the small college level. This was the short list of things that I believe will help you be successful.
1. Integrity. To be a successful coach at the junior college or NAIA level you have to know who you are and what your values are. The younger you are the more black and white your rules have to be.
2. Live Debt Free. With the lower pay and instability that comes with coaching if you're going to be able to focus on fund raising and recruiting you won't be able to drive a late model car for several years after your first head coaching gig. Being debt free will allow you piece of mind and the ability to follow any opportunity that presents itself. Remember, buying a house is great, but it'll take you about 5 years before you can break even on it if you have to relocate...
3. Fund Raising. If you can raise money in athletics, you will always have a job. Find something that you believe in and are comfortable with and build on that. Whether it's orange sales, media guides, free throw-athons, camps, or kid nights find something you enjoy and try to make it better each and every year. By all means every where you go ask other coaches what they do for fund raisers, and steal the best ideas!
4. Recruiting. Odds are you'll be the only full time coach on staff, better talent wins 90% of games. Can it be drudgery to be on the phone two hours a day five days a week? Sure, if that's your mindset going in, or it can be a chance for both you and the recruit to become invested in each other. My first question is always GPA/ACT, but my second tells me a lot more about the kid, "Tell me about your summer job." Finding out a recruit's attitude towards work will tell you a lot about how they'll be come February practice.
5. Academic Plan. To play for me if you are "Undecided" you automatically become a business major. Have a road map for each popular major offered, and check every semester to make sure your players are on track to graduate.
6. Weight Training. Odds are you'll have no dedicated Strength Coach at a small college. The weight room is one area that will set you apart quickly. You have to be at every workout and you have to have a plan. On a budget, but want a fantastic system? Coach Dos Remidos and his book "Men's Health Power Training" is about the best thing out there that relates to just about every sport. You can buy customizable spreadsheets from his web-site for around $30, that and read his book and your set. I've used his system for the last 3 years, two years with women and one year with men and haven't an ACL tear since.
7. Community Outreach. You have to get out and teach your players that the world does not revolve around them, at the same time remember they have a life outside of athletics and you do too. Try to ensure that you don't become the city's moving crew or go to organization for bodies.
8. Web-Cast ALL of Your Games. Jack Pennington at pennatlantic.com is the guy to talk to if you want to get your games web-cast at no cost to you. You'll need a computer and a high-speed connection, other than that the process is painless and takes about an hour to set up, after that 5 minutes and you're set. If you're filming your games you already have the camera you need to make this happen. It's a fantastic recruiting tool!
9. Alumni Connections. If you don't already have your alumni coming back to be a part of your program make that your legacy. No one cares more about your program than the people who wore that jersey. My experience has been that this is one of the favorite weekends for both the former players and current players.
10. Be Indispensable to your AD. Go to other coaches games/matches/meets require your players to do the same. We're all a part of the same place and journey. The more hats you volunteer to wear the better mentor you'll be down the road.
Thanks for the read and if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to help e-mail me or give me a call!
All the best,
Coach Snow
I had a blast with the presentation and thought it might be helpful to other young coaches to hear about the challenges and opportunities available at the small college level. This was the short list of things that I believe will help you be successful.
1. Integrity. To be a successful coach at the junior college or NAIA level you have to know who you are and what your values are. The younger you are the more black and white your rules have to be.
2. Live Debt Free. With the lower pay and instability that comes with coaching if you're going to be able to focus on fund raising and recruiting you won't be able to drive a late model car for several years after your first head coaching gig. Being debt free will allow you piece of mind and the ability to follow any opportunity that presents itself. Remember, buying a house is great, but it'll take you about 5 years before you can break even on it if you have to relocate...
3. Fund Raising. If you can raise money in athletics, you will always have a job. Find something that you believe in and are comfortable with and build on that. Whether it's orange sales, media guides, free throw-athons, camps, or kid nights find something you enjoy and try to make it better each and every year. By all means every where you go ask other coaches what they do for fund raisers, and steal the best ideas!
4. Recruiting. Odds are you'll be the only full time coach on staff, better talent wins 90% of games. Can it be drudgery to be on the phone two hours a day five days a week? Sure, if that's your mindset going in, or it can be a chance for both you and the recruit to become invested in each other. My first question is always GPA/ACT, but my second tells me a lot more about the kid, "Tell me about your summer job." Finding out a recruit's attitude towards work will tell you a lot about how they'll be come February practice.
5. Academic Plan. To play for me if you are "Undecided" you automatically become a business major. Have a road map for each popular major offered, and check every semester to make sure your players are on track to graduate.
6. Weight Training. Odds are you'll have no dedicated Strength Coach at a small college. The weight room is one area that will set you apart quickly. You have to be at every workout and you have to have a plan. On a budget, but want a fantastic system? Coach Dos Remidos and his book "Men's Health Power Training" is about the best thing out there that relates to just about every sport. You can buy customizable spreadsheets from his web-site for around $30, that and read his book and your set. I've used his system for the last 3 years, two years with women and one year with men and haven't an ACL tear since.
7. Community Outreach. You have to get out and teach your players that the world does not revolve around them, at the same time remember they have a life outside of athletics and you do too. Try to ensure that you don't become the city's moving crew or go to organization for bodies.
8. Web-Cast ALL of Your Games. Jack Pennington at pennatlantic.com is the guy to talk to if you want to get your games web-cast at no cost to you. You'll need a computer and a high-speed connection, other than that the process is painless and takes about an hour to set up, after that 5 minutes and you're set. If you're filming your games you already have the camera you need to make this happen. It's a fantastic recruiting tool!
9. Alumni Connections. If you don't already have your alumni coming back to be a part of your program make that your legacy. No one cares more about your program than the people who wore that jersey. My experience has been that this is one of the favorite weekends for both the former players and current players.
10. Be Indispensable to your AD. Go to other coaches games/matches/meets require your players to do the same. We're all a part of the same place and journey. The more hats you volunteer to wear the better mentor you'll be down the road.
Thanks for the read and if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to help e-mail me or give me a call!
All the best,
Coach Snow
