Great Things Happening in Player Development
There's a lot of GREAT programming happening now! This newsletter will highlight some of those professionals.
The Player Development Pod
This week’s podcast episode highlights the hiring process new head coaches take as they get the keys to the program.
Here are the six groups hired by new head coaches:
The order of hiring in college football looks like this from my experience.
1st - Personnel/Recruiting
The head coach is hired, and his first hire is someone in recruiting or personnel who then begins building recruiting or building the roster the coach wants. You can that here in this post where Kalen DeBoer arrives in Alabama and his GM Courtney Morgan gets off the plane with him. The video is here: Courtney Morgan arrives with Kalen DeBoer
I saw this happen in person when Joey McGuire, who I worked on staff with at Baylor, was hired as the Texas Tech Football Head Coach. His first hire was personnel star on our staff James Blanchard. Here’s a post of them arriving together in Lubbock.
2nd - Strength Coach(es)
The head coach is going to begin winter training soon and wants his own strength coach who will be a catalyst of the culture he wants while he and the other coaches are out on the road recruiting players.
3rd - Coordinators
The head coach wants to get as many coordinators hired as soon as possible so they can get on the road and recruit. Specifically, any players who are committed and on the fence. You want them to be around the coordinators who will be putting them in positions to succeed.
4th - Assistant Coaches
Very similar to the coordinators the coach wants his guys on the road to recruit the area and secure a good signing class.
5th - Logistical Support Staff
These are the positions that are getting all the operations squared away while the coaches are on the road recruiting. They are getting with those in the athletic department, academics, campus, and other entities that will ensure the day to day goes well.
These positions could be chief of staff, director of operations, more personnel staff (specifically on campus recruiting).
6th - The Rest of the Support Staff
This where player development comes into play, although I would argue the correct person in this role should be hired earlier. This time is usually after national signing day or right before in my three experiences. The other staff coming on board during this wave are quality control coaches, analysts, additional personnel staff, additional strength staff, additional operations staff, and any other positions a head coach wants on his staff.
Player Development Happenings
University of Texas Football - Kevin Washington
The Texas Football team had a networking event connecting current players with former players and others in Austin community.
Check it out below:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TexasFootball/status/1750543981589492222
Brigham Young University Football - Mike Hall
The Cougars had a financial literacy session.
Check it out below:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BYUfootball/status/1750682004650152309
TCU Football
Frogs for Life program kick off.
Check it out below:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TCUFootball/status/1751059232844095652
I love seeing these programs getting started. If you know of any other programs to highlight, please let me know.
Quick newsletter for you. Thank you for reading.
Resources
COURSES
Guide to Player Development Online Course - Self Paced
Player Development LIVE Cohort Course Interest
WORKSHOPS
BOOKS
Player Development Guide eBook
Head Coaches Guide to Player Development eBook
COACHING
Player Development Coaching Program Interest