COACHING PHILOSOPHY
*****1. My #1 Responsibility is to the Athlete*****
I read a story from a college coach who was in the airport and seen a ceramic figure of a kid with a football. He reached
down and had to buy it because that statue looked like it needed a coach. He said he heard it say, “teach me about
football and about life.” I believe a coach is sometimes a friend, councilor, teacher, role model, boss, mentor, and
father. I know in my life some of the best parts of my character came from great coaches who influenced me. I am
grateful to them, and take what I do seriously. I will always be available to my athletes and their concerns.
2. TRUST
Be honest, let them know exactly where they stand. Keep an Open Dialogue. What you say, you do. Be loyal.
Integrity is when your words match your actions.
3. BE POSITIVE
Build Belief. Care--they don’t care until they know how much you care. Be Motivated and excited, find the good and
bring it out. Create an atmosphere to learn about football. There is always a mix of hard discipline vs. nurturing, make
sure positive is foremost.
4. BE YOU
There are many successful football schemes. Take the ideas that fit with you, but ultimately rely on your core.
5. BE ORGANIZED AND DETAILED
People follow leaders with a clear vision and plan. Always be flexible to situations and athletes, but know your core and
follow it. Success is in details. There is only one kind of discipline, perfect discipline. Simple Clear Details.
THE REASON WHY I COACH (MY HISTORY)
I would just like to first say I know any team or program I associate myself with has already had success in the past. I
am very lucky to be able to work with them. Any group I have been with its success is the work of those athletes and
individuals. They are the house builders, I just hand them a hammer. This section isn't to promote myself or glorify
myself in any fashion. It is just an honest statement to help build trust with any parent or athlete I coach and is curious.
Integrity, trust, and credibility lead to high levels of motivation which lead to optimal performance. We are in this
together to grow as athletes and people.
I guess to explain why I coach I would like to talk about my history. I wasn't involved in the youth sports that I played
in high school, but I feel I would have benefited from them. I fell in love with football as a youth and waited for my
chance to be able to play the game. In high school I was given that opportunity and excelled. I was captain of the
freshman team lead by now County Council Member Coach Gerry Scheub (a leader who inspired me at that age). I was
a three year varsity starter playing defense and offense tackle. I earned 1st team all-area, all-state, and was the first
defense tackle to every lead his team in tackles at Andrean. I was a varsity wrestler for 4 years and placed 6th in state
my senior year.
I owe a lot to a lot of people. I had some great coaches from Ivan Zimmer, Chuck Swallow, and Paul Morales (who
worked with me individually weekly in wrestling). As I look Back at my workout ethic, I really thank a couple of Lowell
guys Shane Cwik and Jason Mitchell who really consistently got me in the gym and working out hard at that level. I also
found a great friend in Tim James who I constantly competed with and against. It is funny how fate brings you Back to
your past and the community who you owe.
While I was great in some areas I lacked in others. Being 'cool' and the social scene was an area I couldn't control in
myself. I lacked leadership and commitment. I abused the privileges that go along with success which lead to failures. I
fell, but it's not whether you fall but if you get Back up. These failures would eventually lead me to the reasons why I
coach.
I was offered some division II and III offers. My best offer came from DI Western Michigan. Knowing now what I didn't
know then, I believe I should have taken that offer. I wasn't sure anything about how college football worked and lacked
any real support system to sit down and talk it out. I eventually met with Purdue's coaches and planned to walk on
there. With a growing fear and anxiety towards the college football situation and my social failures mounting, I would
never try that dream. I believe a really good coach is meant for that role and I could have benefited from that. I am now
committed to be that myself.
I do not want to sound like I am blaming my former coaches for my lack here, either. Ultimately, it was my poor
decisions and character that is at error. In college I did work hard and earned a Philosophy Degree. I believe it was
some of those coaches voices in my head pushing me to work hard at academics. I am very great full to them and hope
that I can aspire to inspire people the way they inspired me.
My failures caught up to me after college. Burned out of schooling, I looked for an easy job with little responsibility. I
lived an unmotivated life I lived a fake dream for me of being a musician but lacked all the drive or work ethic to make it
happen. It was another failure, but I got up and had grown stronger from my mistakes. Actually all my web skills to
make these pages developed during that period. It is just like I coach, mistakes you learn from, grow, and become
better.
At some point, those coaches voices I began to hear again; but I wasn't sure where to direct my energy. I knew my
Philosophy degree translated well to becoming a lawyer. I took the pre-law school exam and did great. I was on the
road to becoming a lawyer when Coach Tim James (a friend since high school) asked me to help Coach his son in Pop
Warner. I agreed knowing I loved football and needed some community service booster for my law school resume. The
experience was tremendous. I feel I have found a career where my strengths produce results in an area I love working
in. A few months later her I am ready to be there for any athlete who needs my help.