Inside the Headset with the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association)

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the University of North Carolina Special Teams Coordinator and Outside Linebackers Coach, Jovan Dewitt. Coach Dewitt discusses the importance of seeking different perspectives, his unexpected battle with cancer, and the significance of meaningful relationships.

Jovan Dewitt, a 21-year veteran of collegiate coaching, joined the North Carolina football staff this past January. Dewitt joined Mack Brown’s staff after a two-year stint as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Nebraska (2018-20). Dewitt also coached with Scott Frost at both Central Florida (2016-18) and Northern Iowa (2009-11). In just two seasons, Dewitt helped UCF improve their scoring defense ranking by 65 spots, as they went from allowing 37.7 points per game in 2015 to 25.3 points per game in 2017. Dewitt’s linebackers also played a role in UCF ranking third nationally with 58 combined takeaways in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Before joining Frost’s staff in Orlando, Dewitt was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Army West Point in 2014 and 2015. As special teams coordinator, Dewitt helped the Black Knights combine for seven blocked kicks in his two seasons. Dewitt has been a part of several top defenses in his career, including coordinating a Florida Atlantic unit that ranked 11th nationally in total defense in 2013. Coach Dewitt also has coaching stops as defensive coordinator at St. Norbert (2006-08), defensive coordinator at Northern Michigan (2004-06), special teams coach at Fairmont State (2003-04), assistant coach at Fort Scott Community College (2002-03), and graduate assistant, running backs coach, and defensive line coach at Northern Michigan (1997, 2000-01).

• [1:28] Start of interview
• [1:40] The most rewarding part of the coaching journey
• [3:03] Lessons learned coaching at different institutions
• [4:26] Valuing coaching at the divisional levels
• [6:16] The shock of getting diagnosed with cancer
• [8:00] Endless support from the coaching profession
• [10:20] Continuing to coach while receiving chemo
• [12:08] Personal three-a-days
• [16:08] Advice to coaches in troubling times

You can follow Coach Dewitt on Twitter.

Be sure to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the Inside the Headset podcast and follow us on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

Transition is a part of the coaching profession, whether it’s a hiring, firing, or moving to a new location to coach, change is inevitable. In this episode of Inside the Headset with the AFCA, we talk with Justin Hood, Interim Head Coach at Davidson College. Coach Hood outlines how he’s set a vision for the program as they embark on a new season.

He also discusses his coaching background and what how coaching is a people business. He recalls experience early in his career at the University of Oregon as an offensive quality control coach being a major benefit to his development as a defensive coach.

To wrap up the conversation, Coach Hood shares some of his favorite parts of the AFCA Convention.

Follow Coach Hood on Twitter: @JusHood3

Have any questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send us an email, podcast at afca (dot) com. Check back next Thursday for another episode of Inside the Headset with the AFCA.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring St. Charles East High School Assistant Coach, Brad McCaslin. Coach McCaslin takes us on a deep dive into his coaching journey, highlights the importance of prioritizing athletes’ mental health, and shares how he uses technology to better connect with his players.

McCaslin has over 20 years of coaching experience with most of it coming at the collegiate level. Prior to St. Charles East, McCaslin spent two separate stints at the University of Buffalo. In 2019 McCaslin served as the buffalos defensive tackles coach as well as the director of player personnel and in his first stint served a defensive analyst from 2016-2017. The time between both stops at Buffalo, Coach MaCaslin served as the head coach at Benedictine University in 2018. Prior to spending two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Michigan University (2014-2015), McCaslin spent two years at Drake University where he served as the team's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach where he helped turn the Bulldogs into one of the top defenses in the Pioneer Football League.

McCaslin came to Drake from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he coached for 14 seasons, including the last six as the Mavericks' defensive coordinator (2005-10). He also served as associate head coach his final four seasons before the program was disbanded in 2010. During his time at Nebraska-Omaha, McCaslin helped propel the program to six conference championships and pioneered a defensive unit that consistently rated near the top of the conference in many statistical categories. Coach McCaslin is also the founder of the XA Score app which is a platform for sports teams to holistically manage and analyze essential data. This data fosters genuine connection by helping coaches to be in tune with their student-athletes while also providing clarity to student-athletes on where they truly stand.

• [1:45] Start of Interview
• [2:30] Personal Coaching Journey
• [15:19] Prioritizing athlete’s mental health
• [19:30] Importance of recovery
• [22:13] The power of diversity
• [27:56] Valuing multi-sport athletes
• [34:34] The XA Score app

You can follow Coach McCaslin on Twitter

You can follow XA Score on Twitter

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring St. Cloud High Schools, Head Coach Mike Short. Coach Short speaks about the importance of multiport involvement, discusses how he is learning to find balance in his professional life and shares his experience with Turf Tank.

Mike Short is the head coach at St. Cloud High School in Florida. He became the head coach at St. Cloud for a second time in March of 2022. First inspired to coach in college coach short has been all over the country serving as a high school football coach and at times a wrestling coach too.

Coach Short spent three seasons at Southern Lee HS, in North Carolina, then went on to spend the 2006-2008 seasons at Gateway HS. In 2009 Coach Short served in a few roles on the St. Cloud staff until 2011. In 2021 Coach Short served on the West Orange staff before moving to Colonial High School for the 2013-2015 seasons. Coach Short also spent one season at Lake Howell before coaching at East River on two different occasions. Coach Short has also spent time coaching in Texas at Robinson ISD High School where he left to return to St. Cloud.

Coach Short has lots of experience in coaching and has had the opportunity to experience a diverse range of football programs.

[0:51] Start of Interview

[1:04] Why Coaching?

[3:34] Everything is Bigger in Texas (Football)

[5:09] Benefits of Being a Multisport Coach

[7:12] Should Players Be Multisport Athletes?

[8:57] Technology and Getting Kids to the Next Level

[11:14] Balance- Why High School Coaching is Different

[13:15] Turf Tank

[16:26] Coaching Offense vs. Defense

[18:53] Social Media Account Information

In Episode 2 of Friday Night Lights we get a game recap of the Indians' season opener against Cooper HS (Abilene, TX). Head Coach Carl Stralow provides the background on how Kris Price came to be the Defensive Coordinator for Keller, and Coach Price discusses the philosophy behind his use of the 3-3 Stack. He also details the complexity of high school offenses in Texas, and Coach Stralow previews the Indians' Week 2 Homecoming matchup with Berkner HS (Richardson, TX). 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Run Game Coordinator from Eastern Kentucky, Jeremy Hawkins. Coach Hawkins discusses the adversity faced in the profession, the financial sacrifice of being a coach, and his professional development with the AFCA.

Jeremy Hawkins joined Eastern Kentucky's staff as the defensive line coach in January 2020. Coach Hawkins has also spent time as player personnel director at LSU and UAB. He was a four-year letter winner at Troy and earned his bachelor's degree in sports and fitness management in 2009 and a master's degree in sports administration in 2014. Coach Hawkins was also recently selected as a member of the 2022 AFCA 35 under 35 class this past winter.

1:45 What drives your passion to coach?

3:55 How do you stay consistent with your energy?

6:35 Time as Player Personnel Director

7:30 Hard times in the coaching profession

12:00 How did you address difficulties financially?

18:20 Professional development with AFCA

21:47 NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship

26:30 Setting the bar for next year’s class

27:00 Social Media/Conclusion

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring East Carolina University Running Backs Coach, De'Rail Sims. Coach Sims discusses some of the methods he uses to improve as a coach, the importance of pursuing professional development opportunities, and the significance of coaching at different levels.

De'Rail Sims was named East Carolina's running backs coach in December of 2018. During his first year at East Carolina, Sims guided his corps to their highest single-season rushing yardage total (1,696) since 2014. Prior to ECU, Coach Sims was James Madison's running backs coach from 2016-18. He helped the Dukes collectively stand 4th nationally in rushing TDs (108), 6th in rushing yards (9,422), and 13th in rushing yards per game (219.1). Sims has also had coaching stints at West Carolina (2013-15), Carson-Newman (2012), Pikeville (2011), and Milerville (2010). Coach Sims has been a part of various professional development opportunities, such as the AFCA's 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2019 and the NCAA & NFL Coaches Academy in 2014.

• [0:27] Start of interview
• [1:10] Coaching mentors and influences
• [2:21] Becoming a collegiate football coach
• [3:30] Lessons learned as a student assistant
• [5:04] Developing as a running backs coach
• [8:15] Teaching progression
• [9:58] Pursuing professional development opportunities
• [19:21] The significance of coaching at different levels

This week on Inside the Headset we are featuring Archbishop Spalding High School assistant football coach, Phil Tran. Coach Tran highlights his experience as an AFCA member, discusses the importance of expanding your personal skillset, and shares the value of coaching multiple sports at the high school level.

Phil Tran is an Assistant Coach for the Varsity Football and Girls’ Varsity Ice Hockey teams at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, MD.  Most recently, prior to Archbishop Spalding, Tran was the Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Football Coach at Calvert Hall College High School from 2018-2019 and at the Gilman School in 2017.

Tran was the 2019 NHSSCA Maryland Coach of the Year and a 2021 NSCA National High School Strength Coach of the Year nominee. Coach Tran played college football at Baylor University, where he lettered, earned 1st Team Academic All-Big XII honors, and won a post graduate scholarship.

• [0:29] Start of interview
• [1:00] From Juris Doctorate to the gridiron
• [7:07] AFCA value on a personal level
• [13:50] Continuing to grow as a coach
• [15:15] Importance of contributing to the profession
• [19:37] AFCA as a mentor
• [21:10] Coaching multiple sports to expand your skillset
• [32:55] Enthusiasm combined with a willingness to learn

This week on Inside the Headset we are featuring Texas Tech Graduate Assistant, John Cannova. Coach Cannova discusses his path to coaching at the FBS level, the importance of personal development, and the significance of relationships within the industry.

John Cannova recently completed his first season as an offensive graduate assistant at Texas Tech where he worked primarily with the Red Raider offensive line. Before Texas Tech, Cannova served in a similar capacity the past two seasons at Utah State (2017-18). Prior to his arrival at Utah State, Cannova spent three seasons at St. Ambrose University in Iowa where he began as a graduate assistant (2014) before earning a promotion to offensive line coach a year later (2015-16). In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Cannova was also St. Ambrose’s academic coordinator throughout his tenure where he helped the football program record the highest team GPA in the NAIA for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Cannova began his coaching career following a successful playing career at North Central College in Illinois. He was a three-year starter at offensive guard and center from 2011-13, pushing the Cardinals to three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) titles and three NCAA Division III playoff berths, including a semifinals appearance in 2013.

• [1:26] Start of interview
• [2:19] DIII football model
• [4:05] Developing a passion for coaching
• [5:26] Breaking into the coaching profession
• [8:16] Separating yourself early in the profession
• [11:42] The transition to FBS football
• [16:41] Characteristics that make a great GA
• [17:41] The move to Texas Tech
• [20:13] Keys to the job search

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset we discuss creating buy-in and discipline with nutrition and strength and conditioning.

In the first segment we talked with Utah State University's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Dave Scholz. Scholz is in his 8th year overall with the Aggies and he has also with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona State University. He shared the process of getting players to eat properly, a couple key supplements student-athletes should be taking, and the importance of sleep.

Follow Coach Scholz on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachScholz

Bryant University's Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Patrick Basil joined Inside the Headset for the 2nd segment. Basil is a Bryant alum who's in his 4th year on staff. He talked about motivating student-athletes in the weight room, building trust, how planning can maximize production in the weight room, and how to break up the monotony in the weight room.

Follow Bryant University's Strength and Conditioning Program on Instagram and Twitter: @BryantStrength

Have an idea, comment or suggestion for the show? Email us, podcast@afca.com

In this episode we find out if Greenwood was able to bounce back from their first loss of the season. We also hear from Coach Jones about his approach to Thursday's before games.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Kyle Segler, the offensive line coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

In this episode, Coach Segler shares his passion for coaching, reflects on change within coaching, and discusses his experience with the AFCA 35 Under 35 Program.

Coach Segler is in his second stint at ULM after coaching at Marshall.

While at ULM the first time he was the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator for one season. Segler's special teams units were some of the best in the Sun Belt Conference, sporting net kickoff and punt return averages that ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Prior to that, Segler was an assistant coach at Sam Houston State for eight seasons, where he coached the offensive line and tight ends. In 2016, he added the duties of special teams coach. Here, Segler's offensive linemen paved the way for a unit that broke 35 school records. He also helped develop four All-Americans.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, he spent the 2009 season coaching at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, helping relaunch a football program that was discontinued in 1945.

Segler was an offensive lineman on Sam Houston's team that won a share of the Southland regular-season title, advanced to the FCS semifinals and finished 11-3. He earned two degrees from Sam Houston, receiving his Bachelor's in kinesiology in 2006 and his Master's in sports management in 2010.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Corey Parker, the cornerbacks' coach at Toledo. Coach Parker discusses his coaching start, and the transition from HS to college coaching, and offers advice to young coaches.

Corey Parker is in his second year as the cornerbacks' coach at Toledo. Coach Parker was a three-time letter winner as a defensive back at Eastern Michigan, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2005. In his first year at Toledo, Coach Parker mentored All-American Quinyon Mitchell and a cornerbacks group that ranked 3rd in the MAC with 12 interceptions. Before Toledo, Coach Parker had an incredibly successful high school coaching career as River Rouge’s head coach. He compiled a 113-34 record with seven district titles, five regional crowns, five state semifinal appearances, and three appearances in the state championship game. River Rouge won the Division 3 state title in 2019. During his tenure, more than 100 of his players went on to play college football.

1:30 Who inspired you to coach?

7:43 Transition from playing to coaching

13:10 Head coach opportunity

23:15 How to manage responsibilities

29:15 Advice for young coaches

35:45 Transition from HS to college coaching

44:00 How has the college job affected your approach to your family?

48:40 Advice for HS guys trying to jump to college football coaching

52:40 Conclusion

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset we speak with David Beaty, head coach at the University of Kansas, and Randy Jackson, head coach at North Forney HS (TX). Coach Beaty discusses his time as a Texas high school coach, lessons he's taken to his program at Kansas, and things he looks for in assistant coaches. Later, Coach Jackson discusses his coaching philosophy, building a strong program culture, and his offensive scheme.

David Beaty began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Naaman Forest HS (TX) in 1994, and after three seasons he joined the staff at Garland HS (TX) (1997-2000). He was head coach of North Dallas HS (TX) (2001) and Irving MacArthur HS (TX) (2002-2005). He made the jump to the collegiate level when he joined the staff at Rice as the passing game coordinator and receivers coach (2006-2007), and he also spent two seasons coaching receivers at Kansas (2008-2009). Beaty returned to Rice in 2010 to serve as the offensive coordinator, was the co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Kansas (2011), and coached receivers and was the recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M (2012-2014). Coach Beaty has led the Jayhawks since the 2015 season.

• [0:24] Start of interview
• [0:45] What it means to be a high school football coach in Texas
• [2:26] Important lessons learned as a high school coach
• [4:13] Traits head coaches look for during the highering process
• [8:00] Former players transition to coaching staff

You can follow David Beaty on Twitter.

Randy Jackson's coaching career began at Quinlan HS (TX) twenty-eight years ago and has taken him all over the state of Texas. He has built a reputation for taking over programs that lack a winning tradition and building them in to competitors. From 2000-2009 he served as the head coach at Dekalb HS, Mason HS, Paducah HS, and Lone Oak HS. More recently, Coach Jackson has led the program at Mesquite Poteet HS (2010-2012), Plano East HS (2013), and Grapevine HS (2014-2016). He was hired as the head coach at North Forney HS in 2017 and is in his second season with the program. Jackson is a published author (Culture Defeats Strategy), and you can learn more about him on his website.

• [11:57] Start of interview
• [12:17] Building programs from the ground up
• [12:32] What it meant to win the Grant Teaff "Beyond the Game" award
• [14:34] Pound the stone
• [16:53] How to grow as a coach in the offseason
• [19:21] Tough people win (TPW)
• [21:30] The importance of being intentional
• [23:24] "Lead19" Student Athlete Leadership Summit
• [25:44] Who drives culture
• [27:09] How wrestling can leverage football athletes
• [30:00] Incentivizing winning and having consequences for losing
• [32:37] Offensive philosophy
• [35:08] Culture factory clinics

You can follow Randy Jackson on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the Defensive Coordinator at Gannon University, Bryan Nardo. Coach Nardo discusses his start in coaching and his career path, his defensive and recruiting philosophy, and the impact the AFCA has had on his career.

Bryan Nardo is currently coaching at Gannon University as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach. He was appointed in February 2022 after 2 years at Youngstown State and 8 years at Emporia State. Coach Nardo was named the Great Lakes Football Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011 while working at Missouri S&T in Rolla, MO. He was also selected as a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2019.

1:20 When did you decide to coach?

2:45 Who did you reach out to for beginning your career?

4:25 Experience as student coach

6:15 Family in the coaching profession

8:20 Work/Life Balance

10:52 How to separate work from home

14:00 Transitioning to a new job

17:25 How long till you got your next job?

18:50 Defensive Philosophy Going to Gannon

21:45 Who do you go to for X&O’s help?

24:12 Experience recruiting at different levels

28:12 What does being a part of the AFCA 35u35 Class mean to you?

30:10 Social/Conclusion

Twitter: @CoachNardo27

Email: nardo001@gannon.edu

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Kennesaw State University’s Head Coach, Brian Bohannon. In this episode, Coach Bohannon details his journey starting the Kennesaw State football program from the ground up, highlights the importance of being passionate about what you do, and shares how he combines old and new school coaching philosophies to be successful.

Brian Bohannon has constructed Kennesaw State from the ground up and turned the Owls into a powerhouse program at the FCS level in just seven seasons. Hired on March 24, 2013 and tasked with building a football program from scratch, Bohannon embraced the challenge and quickly turned Kennesaw State into the best five-year start-up program in college football history in 2019 with a 48-15 overall record, two Big South Conference championships, three straight appearances in the FCS Playoffs and four playoff victories. Bohannon is a four-time finalist for the Eddie Robinson award as the nation’s top FCS head coach, including a runner-up finish in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2017. He was named the AFCA National Coach of the Year in 2017 and is a three-time Big South Conference Coach of the Year.

Bohannon is tied for first in Big South Conference history with 63 victories and he become the fastest coach to win 45 games when he reached the benchmark with a 38-35 win over Campbell on Nov. 9, 2019. In the first five years of the program, 100 national polls have been released with the Owls appearing in over 67-percent of the rankings. Of those 100 polls, Kennesaw State has been inside the top-10 41-percent of the time. In a sideline career that’s spanned 23 years as either an assistant or head coach, Bohannon has been part of teams that averaged 8.6 wins per season and reached the postseason 18 times. Prior to Kennesaw State, he was a part of two national championships while at Georgia Southern, while Georgia Tech played in a bowl game in each of his five seasons on staff. A Griffin, Georgia, native and former wide receiver at the University of Georgia, Bohannon joined the Owls after spending the previous five seasons as quarterbacks/B-backs coach at Georgia Tech where he helped engineer one of the country’s most prolific spread option offenses.

• [1:53] Start of interview
• [2:47] Hosting summer football camps
• [5:53] Starting a football program from scratch
• [14:05] Being passionate about what you do
• [18:41] Climbing the ladder and sustaining success
• [23:44] Combining old and new school football

This week on Inside the Headset we speak with Bill Clark, Head Coach for the University of Alabama--Birmingham. We discuss the process of bringing back the UAB football program in 2017, a unique partnership with the Children's Harbor Family Center, and his high school coaching days in Alabama.

Coach Clark's career began as an assistant at Piedmont HS (AL) in 1990. After two seasons, he was named defensive coordinator at Tuscaloosa County HS (AL) (1992-1994), and he also went on to serve as the DC for Coffee HS (AL) (1995-1996), and Dothan HS (AL) (1997-1998). In 1999, Clark was named the Head Coach from Prattville HS (AL), where he had a combined record of 106-11 and collected back-to-back state titles during his nine years there. Coach Clark jumped to the collegiate level in 2008, joining the staff at South Alabama as the defensive coordinator (2008-2012), and he was the Head Coach of Jacksonville State for one season (2013). In 2014, Coach Clark took over the UAB football program, but after one season, the school announced the program would be eliminated. In the summer of 2015, it was announced the program would be reinstated, and Clark has led the Blazers to back-to-back bowl games since their return in 2017.

• [1:43] Start of interview
• [1:53] Bringing back the UAB football program
• [3:01] Children's Harbor Family Center
• [5:14] Annual Children's Harbor game
• [6:36] Coaching high school football
• [9:10] "More with less"
• [10:06] The transition from high school to collegiate football
• [11:42] Characteristics head coaches look for when hiring young football coaches

You can follow Bill Clark on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Nate Shreffler, the offensive coordinator at Hillsdale College. Coach Shreffler recaps his collegiate coaching career and experience as a play-caller. He also reflects on his selection as the AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.

Nate Shreffler has been the offensive coordinator for Hillsdale College since 2010. Shreffler runs many of Hillsdale College football team's charitable efforts, including the "Guys with Ties" program and the Chargers' volunteer tutoring program at local elementary schools.

0:37 Introduction

1:17 Unique opportunity coaching at alma mater

3:05 First start as coach

5:35 Coaching at Olivet

8:25 Next job transition

10:53 How to stay sharp in today's landscape

12:45 Advice for young coaches as playcaller

15:28 Victory Day Program

17:48 Reflection on selection as AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year

20:00 Conclusion

@CoachShreff

Related Content: Inside the Headset: Joe Gerbino

Related Content: Inside the Headset: George Papageorgiou

In our first segment, Coach Nick Winkler details his start in coaching as a GA at Saginaw Valley State before taking a job at AJ Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. He discusses the some of the joys and challenges of coaching in Alaska, along with how he develops his players and exposes them to collegiate coaches. He also provides some key takeaways from his participation in the 2017 AFCA 30 Under 30 Coaches’ Leadership Institute.

Follow Coach Winkler on Social Media: @winkler_coach

In our second segment (16:38) we are joined by Chris Croft (@CoachChrisCroft), Visiting Professor of Sport Management at University of Southern Mississippi and Pete Van Mullem (@VanMullem_Pete), Associate Professor of Sport Administration at Lewis-Clark State College.

They recently conducted a study with AFCA Member Head Coaches about the career path to their current head coaching positions. Listen in to find out the findings of the study and their 6 Tips for Becoming a Collegiate Head Coach.

A link to the study’s findings along with contact information for Croft and Van Mullen can be found here: www.afcaweekly.com/careerpath

Our final segment (38:10) featured this week’s AFCA Staff Spotlight with Coordinator of Publications, Stacy Sirkel. Stacy shares her background and how she got to the AFCA and the creative process into AFCA graphic designs.

Have any questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send us an email, podcast at afca (dot) com. Check back next Thursday for another episode of Inside the Headset with the AFCA.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring interviews that we recorded on the Green Carpet prior to the AFCA Coaches Awards ceremony at the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio. We spoke with some of our award winners, presenters, and members of the AFCA's Board of Trustees, including Verne Lunquist, Mike Leach, Marv Levy, Pat Fitzgerald, and Bronco Mendenhall.

This episode is brought to you in part by GameStrat. Use the promo code AFCA2019 for 10% off any package.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

• [2:04] Start of general session
• [2:48] Performance levels not meeting expectations
• [3:38] Looking into the 'why' instead of the 'what'
• [4:03] Evaluating cause and effect
• [4:49] Two improvement strategies
• [6:37] B.C.D. - Blame, Complain and Defend
• [7:40] Gaining the individual best
• [14:05] Team performance and collective best
• [16:11] Elevating work ethic
• [20:29] Coach Meyer's coaching journey

• [0:32] Start of interview
• [0:59] Implementing something new
• [2:51] Creating meaningful football schemes
• [6:56] Getting into the coaching profession
• [7:49] Landing the first opportunity
• [9:30] Gaining different perspectives
• [11:27] Translating your knowledge to the players' ability
• [13:36] Putting the athletes in the best position possible
• [16:10] Contributing success factors
• [18:29] Coach Todd Berry's influence

In Episode 1 of Friday Night Lights Season 2 we introduce Greenwood High School (AR) Head Coach Rick Jones.  Coach Jones tells us about his coaching journey and what led him to Greenwood.  We explore what it is like coaching for a community that takes its football seriously and has high expectations.  Coming off back to back state championships, Greenwood is shooting for a three-peat and it all starts with Coach Jones.

This week on Inside the Headset we speak with Travis Niekamp, Defensive Coordinator for Illinois State University. We discuss the transformation of the Illinois State football program, his development as a coach on both sides of the ball, and how he strives to prioritize his family while also being a coach.

Coach Niekamp's career began at his Illinois State, his alma mater, as an outside linebackers and safeties coach (1998-1999). In 2000, he joined the staff at Army working with the tight ends (2000-2003). Niekamp served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Eastern Washington (2004-2007) before moving to Washington State to coach linebackers (2008-2011). He later joined Louisiana-Monroe to initially coach the tight ends, but crossed back over to the defensive side to coach linebackers and special teams after his first season, and he eventually served as the co-defensive coordinator (2012-2015). Niekamp coached linebackers and special teams at Montana (2016-2017) prior to being named the defensive coordinator at Illinois State in 2018.

• [0:25] Start of interview
• [1:25] Playing at Illinois State
• [3:28] Coaching at alma mater
• [6:27] Development of program
• [9:27] Transition from player to coach
• [13:53] Advice to GAs
• [16:36] Being flexible as a coach
• [21:24] How transitioning to a new job impacts family
• [26:45] Prioritizing family alongside coaching football

You can follow Travis Niekamp on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we speak with Northern Colorado's Safeties Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Woody Blevins. We discuss his time as Sport Psychology Director, how he approaches player development on and off the field, and his 30-day challenge for his players.

Woody Blevins began his coaching career in 2011 as a student assistant at his alma mater, Colorado Mesa, and he worked with the cornerbacks and assisted with special teams. In 2012, he was brought on staff at the University of Northern Colorado as a defensive assistant working with the secondary, and he was promoted to safeties coach prior to the 2014 season. Along with the safeties, Blevins works with the special teams at UNC, and he also held the "Mental Edge" title while he served as the Sport Psychology Director for the Bears.

• [1:42] Start of interview
• [2:00] The worst safeties coach in America
• [4:40] Personal growth binge
• [8:46] Being a "Mental Edge" coach
• [12:17] Mind Gym and A.C.T.
• [17:40] GameStrat Ad - Discount Code
• [18:13] Character development
• [28:43] The 30 day challenge
• [32:16] The best piece of advice

You can follow Woody Blevins on Twitter.

This episode is brought to you in part by GameStrat. Use the promo code AFCA2019 for 10% off any package.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the University of Montana’s head coach, Bobby Hauck. Coach Hauck discusses his deep history with the university, explains Montana’s unique football culture, and shares why he decided to serve on the AFCA Board of Trustees. 

Bobby Hauck is preparing for his fourth season in his second stint as the head coach at the University of Montana. Hauck first coached at Montana in 1988 after graduating in 1987 and is now the winningest coach in Montana's history. In addition, Hauck's Grizzlies are the most academically successful of any program in school history, including five 4.0 GPAs. In this second stint as Montana's head coach, it is likely that Coach Hauck will seek to win more Big Sky Conference championships and again outscore his opponents by over 1,000 points in under 100 games.

Hauck got his start in coaching immediately after he graduated college, he served as a defensive line and defensive backs coach at Montana from 1988 to 1989. Hauck then took on many responsibilities as he joined the UCLA staff from 1990 to 1992, served as the OLB coach from 1993 to 1994 at Northern Arizona, and then took on more responsibility at Colorado from 1995 to 1998 and spent 1999 to 2002 coaching at Washington before heading back to Montana. In 2003 Hauck returned to Montana as head coach and remained there until 2009. From 2010 to 2014 Hauck served as the head coach at UNLV and then as the associate head coach and special teams coordinator at San Diego State from 2015 to 2017. Starting in 2017 Hauck is serving as the head coach at Montana once again.

• [0:30] Start of Interview
• [1:04] History with the University of Montana
• [3:35] Montana’s Recruiting Philosophy and Unique Culture
• [6:34] Staffing Characteristics
• [8:21] Making Connections
• [9:50] Staff Retention
• [11:35] FBS vs.FCS football
• [14:17] Serving on AFCA Board of Directors

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Former Utah State and Texas Tech Head Coach, Matt Wells. In this episode, Coach Wells shares his past experience coaching his alma mater at Utah State, highlights the importance of getting players involved in the local community, and shares what being a part of the Allstate Good Works team has meant to him.

Matt Wells was named the honorary coach for the Allstate Good Works Team this past year. Coach Wells was most recently the head coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2019-2021. Beginning with his arrival at Texas Tech, Wells stressed the importance of building a positive, player-driven culture within the football program. He described it as having a "We, Us and Our" mentality, meaning it takes every individual, inside and outside of the program, to contribute for the Red Raiders to be successful on Saturday. That motto applied to the Red Raiders' work in the community as well as the Texas Tech football program committed countless hours to various non-profit organizations and local school districts over his tenure. During the 2020-21 academic year alone, the Red Raiders combined for more than 1,200 hours of community service, serving organizations such as the local YWCA, the South Plains Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

Prior to Tech, Wells was the head coach for his alma mater at Utah State, following two seasons as an assistant coach on staff. Utah State experienced its best stretch in history during Wells’ tenure as the Aggies won 44 games and played in five bowl games under his guidance, quite the feat for a program that had only eight postseason trips to its record prior to his promotion. Wells, the fourth-longest tenured coach in program history, departed Utah State as the only coach to lead the Aggies to at least three bowl games as well as multiple bowl victories. In fact, Wells was a player (1993), a coordinator (2012) or the head coach (2013-14) for four of Utah State’s five bowl wins in its history. Wells closed his tenure in Logan as the second-winningest coach in program history with 44 victories. Wells has also had coaching stops at New Mexico, Louisville, Tulsa, and Navy.

• [1:45] Start of interview
• [2:05] Spring ball
• [2:30] Coaching at his alma mater
• [4:20]  Leaving a place he loved for another role
• [7:05] Maintaining program success with staff turnover
• [10:30] Transition from Offensive Coordinator to HC
• [13:18] Developing a player-driven culture and volunteerism
• [15:30] What it meant to be the Head Coach of the Allstate Good Works Team
• [16:20] Being back home and on the Oklahoma staff

This week on Inside the Headset we speak with Rob Everett, who most recently coached tight ends and was a defensive assistant for the Memphis Express in the AAF. We discuss how he has incorporated technology to more efficiently coach and teach players at the high school, college, and professional levels. The best part? All the technology he uses is free.

Rob Everett's coaching career began as an offensive line coach at Washington-Lee HS (VA) in 2002. From there, he worked with the offensive lineman at Robert E. Lee HS (VA) for two seasons (2004-2005) before being promoted to head coach of the program (2006-2010). Coach Everett then went on to serve as the defensive coordinator at Westfield HS (VA) from 2011-2015 before jumping to the collegiate level at Bridgewater College, where he was the defensive coordinator (2016-2018). Everett coached in the Alliance of American Football with the Memphis Express under Head Coach Mike Singletary in 2019.

• [0:29] Start of interview
• [0:40] "Football teacher and innovative coach"
• [2:26] Incorporating technology in coaching
• [3:51] Useful apps and programs
• [6:22] Flipped coaching
• [10:15] Chasing efficiency
• [14:04] Importance of technology to coaching
• [17:06] Eliminating excuses
• [20:46] Getting staff onboard
• [25:53] Transitioning process
• [29:04] Digital playbooks
• [31:53] Coaching in the AAF

You can follow Rob Everett on Twitter and GoArmy Edge. 

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Marshall University Tight Ends Coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Kyle Segler. Coach Segler shares his unique coaching journey, discusses the opportunity to become a special teams coordinator, and highlights the significance of the AFCA 35 Under 35 program.

Kyle Segler will enter his second season as Marshall’s tight ends coach/co-special teams coordinator in 2020.

He joined the staff in Huntington after coaching at ULM, where he was the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator for one season. Segler's special teams units were some of the best in the Sun Belt Conference, sporting net kickoff and punt return averages that ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Prior to that, Segler was an assistant coach at Sam Houston State for eight seasons, where he coached the offensive line and tight ends. In 2016, he added the duties of special teams coach. Here, Segler's offensive linemen paved the way for a unit that broke 35 school records. He also helped develop four All-Americans.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, he spent the 2009 season coaching at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, helping relaunch a football program that was discontinued in 1945.

Segler was an offensive lineman on Sam Houston's team that won a share of the Southland regular-season title, advanced to the FCS semifinals and finished 11-3. He earned two degrees from Sam Houston, receiving his Bachelor's in kinesiology in 2006 and his Master's in sports management in 2010.

• [0:31] Start of interview
• [0:43] Relaunching a football program
• [2:39] Humble beginnings
• [3:59] A calling not a job
• [6:24] Adjusting to coach at your alma mater
• [9:40] Experiencing success at SHSU
• [13:01] Taking over as a special teams coordinator
• [16:23] Important connections
• [22:40] Benefits to the AFCA 35 Under 35 program

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Chris Kappas, Head Coach at Lousiville HS (OH). Coach Kappas recaps his collegiate coaching career and his transition to the high school level. He also discusses his unique experience coaching on all sides of the ball and reflects on his selection as the AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.

Chris Kappas was recently hired as the next head football coach at Louisville High School in Ohio. Coach Kappas transitions to a high school coaching job after a highly successful coaching career with stops at Austin Peay, Bowling Green, and Mount Union. Coach Kappas has held coordinator jobs on all sides of the ball as the ST, DC, and OC at Mount Union at various points during his time on staff and a successful DC at Austin Peay. During his time at Mount Union, Coach Kappas led a consistent top 10 defense as well as at Austin Peay his group led the OVC as the statistical leader in many defensive categories. Due to his efforts this past season, Coach Kappas was named the AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.

0:32 Introduction

1:05 Pedigree of Mount Union football

3:37 Time at Bowling Green

6:50 Takeaways from Bowling Green

9:10 Different coordinator jobs at Mount Union

11:15 Running scout cards with the HC at Bowling Green

16:00 How can coaches get an opportunity to coach on the other side of the ball?

18:25 Transition to Austin Peay

22:10 Transition to Louisville HS

26:30 Experiences from your career that you brought with you to the HS level

30:30 AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year

This week on Inside the Headset, AFCA Insider Managing Editor, Paul Markgraff conducted a panel discussion with six directors of strength and conditioning from colleges across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic. Those strength coaches included:

• Darl Bauer, Director of Strength and Performance, University of Houston
• Dantonio Burnette, Director of Strength & Conditioning, NC State University
• Bryan Fitzpatrick, Director of Strength And Conditioning, U.S. Naval Academy
• Brian Johnson, Director of Strength & Conditioning, University of Arizona
• Justin Lima, Director of Football Performance, Towson University
• John Williams, Director of Strength & Conditioning, East Carolina

The discussion surrounding coronavirus included a variety of important topics including:

• [2:03] Start of interview
• [2:30] First thoughts when student-athletes were sent home because of coronavirus
• [8:28] Shelter-in-place workouts and motivation
• [12:58] Connecting with student-athletes
• [18:13] Modifying the connection with student-athletes
• [25:09] The big challenges from coronavirus
• [32:05] When we come back
• [34:54] What does comeback look like?

This week on Inside the Headset we are featuring the annual AFCA Convention Playbook. The AFCA's Mario Price and Mike Cross break down everything you need to know going into the 2020 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. They highlight the convention schedule, including what sessions they are looking forward to most, as well as different tips and tricks to help maximize your time in Nashville.

• [1:35] Start of interview
• [2:58] Registration logistics & exhibit hall
• [4:32] Skill and Drills presented by FieldTurf
• [7:18] Divisional meetings & High School Coaches Academy
• [10:34] First timers meeting
• [11:29] Kick off speaker, PJ Fleck
• [13:09] Buzz sessions
• [16:06] Divisional general sessions
• [18:34] Graduate assistant/career forum
• [20:02] AFCA honors luncheon presented by Amway
• [21:01] General sessions - Gary Patterson, Blake Anderson, Matt Rhule
• [26:00] AFCA tailgate party presented by FieldTurf and the NFL
• [28:34] General sessions presented by Brand Armor -  Sonny Dykes, Dave Clawson, James Franklin
• [32:34] NCAA rules seminar
• [33:49] Victory Speaker, Kyle Whittingham & American Football Coaches Awards
• [37:07] Outside the lines & breakout sessions
• [42:30] Advice to coaches coming to convention
• [44:44] PDS information & AFCA mobile app
• [47:35] Missed a session? Visit the AFCA educational library

You can follow Coach Price and Coach Cross on Twitter.

Be sure to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the Inside the Headset podcast and follow us on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

The Two Minute Drill is a weekly breakdown of a play, scheme or drill. This week’s episode follows up on last week’s episode, highlighting more ways to create explosion in your offense with wide splits.

For video breakdown, head over to @WeAreAFCA on Twitter.

Hosted by: @CoachMarioPrice

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring William & Mary’s Head Coach, Mike London. In this episode Coach London speaks on the importance of having a healthy work-life balance, highlights the offseason program he implemented to develop his players for beyond the field, and shares the benefit of cultivating relationships with high school coaches in your state.

Mike London’s playing career in the NFL was finished after a knee injury in his first season with the Dallas Cowboys, and he went on to become a police officer and detective. After a near-death experience, he joined the coaching staff at Richmond working with the outside linebackers (1989-1990). Coach London went on to spend time as a defensive line coach at William & Mary (1991-1994) before returning to Richmond as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator (1995-1996). He joined the staff at Virginia as the defensive line coach (2001-2004), went to the Houston Texans for a season (2005), and returned to Virginia for two more years (2006-2007). From there, London got his first head coaching position at Richmond (2008-2009) and led his squad to a I-AA National Championship in his first season. He was the head coach at Virginia (2010-2015) and assistant head coach at Maryland (2016) before being named the head coach at Howard in 2017.

Mike London is now entering his third year as head coach of the William & Mary football program. Under London’s leadership, the Tribe have dramatically improved in a number of offensive statistical categories prior to him being at the helm. London’s first season leading the Tribe provided a glimpse of the program’s bright future, as the squad concluded the 2019 campaign with wins in three of its final four games – including a Capital Cup victory at long-time rival Richmond in the season finale. Coach London has also lead his team to success off of the field as a program-record of 69 players who earned CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll Accolades during the fall semester.

• [1:28] Start of interview
• [2:47] Coaching with his son
• [6:41] Having a healthy work-life balance as a coach
• [10:40] Developing players for the field of life
• [16:19] Advice for coaches who aspire to be a head coach
• [19:50] Cultivating relationships with high school coaches

The 2018 AFCA Convention is here!

AFCA Director of Coaching Education Mario Price, Coordinator of Social Media Mike Cross, and graduate assistants  Jerome Brown Jr. and Alec Finch share Convention must-dos, an update to the PDS Certificate process, the new Skills and Drills field and more!

Check here for a full schedule of events: https://afca.com/afca/Article/2018GuidetoConvention

AFCA Don't Miss Dozen: https://afca.com/afca/Article/AFCA2018Dozen

Charlotte's Got A Lot: https://afca.com/afca/Article/CharlottesGotALot

Stop by the Exhibit Hall on Sunday and Monday to check out in-person interviews on Inside the Headset with the AFCA.

Have any questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send us an email, podcast at afca (dot) com. Check back next Thursday for another episode of Inside the Headset with the AFCA.

The Two Minute Drill is a weekly breakdown of a play, scheme or drill.

This week's breakdown focuses on Howard University's innovation with 20 and 21 personnel packages. The Bison finished 2017 as conference leaders in total offense (447.6 YPG) and rushing offense (217.4 YPG) (13th in FCS) and a 7-5 record.

For video breakdown, head over to @WeAreAFCA on Twitter.

Hosted by: @CoachMarioPrice

In Episode 8 of Friday Night Lights we recap Keller's matchup against Eaton HS (Fort Worth, TX). Head Coach Carl Stralow details how the program navigated a short week and how they handle Fridays after a Thursday night game. We also learn about the Indians' special teams philosophy and how they seek to weaponize their kicking units. We give an updated playoff picture, and Coach Stralow previews Keller's game versus Guyer HS (Denton, TX).

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Carroll High School Head Coach, Alex Washington. Coach Washington highlights his experience transitioning from player to coach, shares lessons he learned while working as a Graduate Assistant, and discusses his methods on how he keeps his players accountable on and off the field.

Alex Washington is entering his fourth season as the Head Coach of Carroll High School in Monroe, Louisiana. This is his fifth season overall coaching at Carroll since beginning as an assistant coach in 2017. Prior to Carroll, Coach Washington spent two seasons at Bastrop High school (LA) as an assistant coach under head coach Brad Bradshaw. Before transitioning to the high school level, Coach Washington spent two seasons at Division II Livingstone College (NC). Washington got his start in the coaching world from AFCA Executive Director, Todd Berry when he hired him onto his coaching staff at the University of Louisiana-Monroe as a Graduate Assistant in 2012.

Coach Washington is no stranger to Carroll High School, having played for the Bulldogs from 2003-2006. Washington had a decorated high school career where he was an All-State Offensive Linemen and a highly touted recruit. He ended up signing with the University of Ole Miss where he played in 38 games and helped lead the Rebels to two Cotton Bowl victories during his time in Oxford.

• [1:03] Start of Interview
• [1:55] Starting in the coaching profession
• [3:52] Maintaining relationships with former coaches
• [5:03] Personal transition from playing to coaching
• [6:33] Lessons learned while as a Graduate Assistant
• [9:13] Networking and looking for jobs
• [13:00] Maintaining a positive public image
• [15:18] Separating yourself from other coaching candidates
• [18:53] Keeping players accountable on and off the field.

On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset we speak with Mike London, head coach at Howard University, and Brennan Marion, offensive coordinator at Howard University. Coach London discusses what he’s learned in his thirty years of coaching football, how he has gotten players to buy-in at Howard, and he shares a truly incredible story about his daughter, Ticynn. Later, Coach Marion discusses what he’s learned from Coach London, how he became the OC for the Bison, and changes he wants to make in his second season running the offense.

In this episode of Friday Night Lights we hear how Greenwood is able to develop players from the youth level on up to Varsity. We also find out if the Bulldogs were able to keep Arkansas' longest winning streak alive.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Super Bowl XXXV champion, and current Lipscomb Academy Head Coach, Trent Dilfer’s session from the 2020 AFCA Convention. Coach Dilfer discusses the importance of developing pros, the concept of thermostat leadership, and the significance of Energy, Effort, Attitude, and Focus.

Trent Dilfer led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl championship in 2000 and was a lead analyst for a variety of ESPN programs. The 14-year NFL veteran joined ESPN in July 2008. Dilfer played for five teams during his career, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994-99), Baltimore Ravens (2000), Seattle Seahawks (2001-04), Cleveland Browns (2005), and San Francisco 49ers (2006-2007). Dilfer led the Ravens to a 34-7 victory over the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. The 1997 Pro Bowl selection finished his career with 20,518 passing yards. Dilfer was the sixth overall pick by the Buccaneers in the 1994 NFL Draft out of Fresno State University.

• [1:38] Start of interview
• [2:45] "Not about winning a game, but winning a life"
• [10:53] The importance of developing pros
• [19:19] The concept of thermostat leadership
• [22:17] The significance of E.E.A.F.
• [23:40] E - Energy
• [30:12] E - Effort
• [35:00] A- Attitude
• [36:37] F - Focus
• [41:27] A winning process

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring University of Utah Head Coach, Kyle Whittingham's Victory Formation session from the 2020 AFCA Convention. Coach Whittingham discusses his tenure at Utah, shares practical ways for coaches to continuously develop, and speaks to the importance of recruiting and maintaining a united culture.

Kyle Whittingham recently completed his 15th season as the head coach for the University of Utah. After leading the Utes to 11 regular-season wins, the Pac-12 South Division title, and an appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl last season, Whittingham earned FBS Region 5 Coach of the Year honors from the AFCA. During his tenure at Utah, Coach Whittingham has led the Utes to 14 bowl game appearances, with a record of 11-3. Coach Whittingham was also honored as the 2008 AFCA FBS National Coach of the Year after guiding the Utes to a 13-0 record, the Mountain West Conference title, and a victory in the Sugar Bowl. Whittingham also had coaching stints at Idaho State (1988-93), College of Eastern Utah (1987), and Brigham Young (1985-86).

• [1:38] Start of interview
• [2:16] Longevity and sustained success at Utah
• [3:35] The transition to the Pac-12
• [5:03] Unique defensive philosophy
• [9:01] Staff continuity and the hiring process
• [11:19] Career path and role models along the way
• [16:56] Practical ways to develop as a coach
• [19:31] Maintaining a united culture
• [23:09] Critical positions and developing toughness throughout
• [28:23] College Football Playoff expansion
• [31:22] Succesful ways to handle adversity
• [32:27] Advice to aspiring coaches

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Alabama A&M’s Offensive Coordinator, Duane Taylor. Coach Taylor discusses how to coach with confidence, highlights the importance of learning from other coaches, and gives his philosophy for coaching the receiver position. Duane Taylor recently completed his third season as the offensive coordinator for the Alabama A&M football program. This past season, Coach Taylor helped lead the Bulldogs to their second ever SWAC National Title where they finished the season with a perfect 5-0 record. Prior to Alabama A&M, Taylor spent two separate stints at Hampton University where he began as the passing game coordinator and eventually became the Offensive Coordinator for the Pirates. In between his two stints at Hampton, Coach Taylor was the Offensive Coordinator at Fayetteville State University. Coach Taylor was a four-year lettermen while playing quarterback at Winston-Salem State University. While playing under center, Taylor led FSU to back-to-back CIAA Championships in 2002 and 2003 in addition to holding over 25 school records. [0:27] Start of Interview [1:00] Personal Coaching Journey [2:45] Coaching with Confidence [4:55] Preparing yourself for a Head Coaching position [6:35] Learning from other coaches [10:28] Past Season Success [14:14] Philosophy for coaching receivers [21:20] Leveraging National HBCU media coverage

The Two Minute Drill is a weekly breakdown of a play, scheme or drill.

This week's breakdown focuses on a drill that will help you identify playmakers and improve open field tackling.

For video breakdown, head over to @WeAreAFCA on Twitter.

Hosted by: @CoachMarioPrice

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Stonehill College’s head football coach Eli Gardner. Coach Gardner discusses the new changes in a coach’s career, the change to Division 1 FCS for Stonehill College, and his experience with the AFCA 35u35.

Coach Gardner is in his seventh year as the head coach at Stonehill. He served in other roles at Stonehill before taking over the head coaching position with experience as the special teams & defensive coordinator and associate head coach. Coach Gardner was a part of the 2018 AFCA 35U35 class at the 2018 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, NC. Coach Gardner is a 2008 graduate of Western New England University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. Gardner completed his Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration from Endicott College in 2014.

1:44 Journey of Climbing the Coaching Ladder

3:16 When did you meet your wife?

4:53 How to prepare family for reality of coaching

7:33 Coaching goals when you first started?

9:54 What changes have you created at Stonehill?

12:11 Any new hires at Stonehill?

16:01 What are some unforeseen responsibilities for you as the HC

19:56 Changes from D2 to D1-FCS

24:32 How prepared were you for the change in divisions

27:16 Prepping players for the jump

29:46 Spring Recruiting - Post D1 Announcement

32:46 Experience with 2018 AFCA 35u35 class

36:13 Social/Conclusion

Twitter Accounts to Follow For More:

@CoachEliGardner

@StonehillFB

• [1:41] Start of general session
• [2:29] Surrounding yourself with great influences
• [4:05] Choosing to win
• [10:25] Establishing mental and physical development
• [13:14] Eliminating confusion
• [14:46] Implementing effective leadership
• [18:03] Setting expectations
• [22:33] Discovering the process
• [31:01] Know, love, and believe in what you are doing

This week on Inside the Headset we speak with Les Miles, Head Coach for the University of Kansas. We discuss how he kept busy during his time away from coaching and the first steps he took when he got to Kansas. 

Coach Miles' career began at Michigan as a graduate assistant in 1980. After two seasons, he joined the Colorado staff as the offensive line coach (1982-1986). Miles then returned to Michigan as the offensive line coach in 1987, where he remained until he accepted the offensive coordinator job at Oklahoma State (1995-1997). From there, he coached the tight ends for the Dallas Cowboys for three seasons (1998-2000) prior to becoming the head coach at Oklahoma State (2001-2004). In 2005, Miles was named head coach at LSU, and he led the Tigers to a national championship victory in the 2007 season, and was named AFCA FBS Coach of the Year in 2011. After being out of coaching in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Coach Miles was named head coach of the Jayhawks' football program in November 2018.

• [0:18] Start of interview
• [0:44] Time spent away from coaching
• [1:52] Innovation in college football
• [3:02] Taking over the Kansas football program
• [4:01] Establishing ownership
• [4:50] Hiring staff
• [6:29] Offensive philosophy
• [7:21] Advice to aspiring coaches

You can follow Les Miles on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the University of Louisiana Monroe's running backs coach Tony Hull. In this episode, Coach Hull talks about coaching in his home state, transitioning from working as an engineer at NASA to coaching, and shares how he puts players in a position to be successful.

Tony Hull, one of the most respected coaches in the state of Louisiana, is entering his second season at The University of Louisiana Monroe and his first season as the team's running backs coach. Hulls first year with the Warhawks he served as the outside receivers coach. Hull returned home to Louisiana after serving for four years as the associate head coach and running backs coach at Kansas (2016-19) and as the co-offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach at Hawai’i in 2020. From New Orleans, Louisiana, Hull coached Pooka Williams Jr., now with the Cincinnati Bengals, to consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2018 and 2019, a feat accomplished only once before in Kansas football history.

Hull joined the collegiate coaching ranks after a distinguished coaching career in the Louisiana high school ranks. In nine seasons as the head coach and offensive coordinator of Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, Hull led the stagnant program into a contender. He arrived at Warren Easton in 2007, the school’s first season playing football following Hurricane Katrina, and guided the Eagles to playoffs in seven of his nine seasons. His resume included a state championship game appearance in 2014 and a state semifinals showing in 2015. Hull developed the Eagles’ players on the field as he mentored 45 players who went on to earn Division I football scholarships. Six of those players earned a nod in ESPN’s Top-300 lists, while one of his athletes was named the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Louisiana Football.

• [1:46] Start of interview
• [2:30] Coaching in your home state
• [3:32] Transitioning from engineer to football coach
• [7:49] Turning a program around
• [10:08] Building relationships with your coaching staff
• [13:01] Coaching at Hawaii
• [19:20] Playing with an underdog mentality
• [23:25] Controlling what you can control
• [26:06] Putting players in positions to be successful

On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset we speak with Joshua Eargle, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for Austin Peay State University. We discuss his diverse coaching background, the importance of establishing a winning program culture, the turnaround at Austin Peay, and how he balances coaching and family.

Coach Eargle began his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Southern Mississippi (2003-2004) before getting his first full-time position at Ouachita Baptist as an offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator (2005). He returned to Southern Mississippi as an assistant offensive line coach (2006) before coaching the offensive line at Nicholls State (2007-2008) and Louisiana State (2009), and he was named the offensive coordinator at Arkansas-Monticello in 2010. Eargle crossed over to the other side of the ball when he accepted a defensive coordinator position at Hallsville HS (TX) in 2011 and served in the same position at Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2012. In 2013, he was named the head coach at East Texas Baptist and helped lead a turnaround that culminated with a conference championship in 2015. Eargle joined the staff at Austin Peay in 2016 as the offensive line coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator during the 2018 season.

• [1:24] Start of interview
• [1:36] Diverse coaching background
• [3:33] Advantages of being on both sides of the ball
• [6:55] Defensive success at Southeastern Oklahoma State
• [8:16] Establishing a winning culture
• [11:45] Confidence to hire Coach Scotty Walden
• [14:13] Snapping Austin Peay’s 29-game losing streak
• [18:31] The turnaround at APSU
• [21:29] Seniors’ roles in changing the culture of APSU
• [27:05] Happy wife, happy life

You can follow Joshua Eargle on Twitter. A GoFundMe page was started in August 2018 to help his family with medical bills for his daughter Landrey, and you can read more about her story on Kristen Eargle’s blog.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Villanova University Strength and Conditioning Coach, Mike Tucker. Coach Tucker shares his personal coaching journey, talks about the significance of transferability, and explains the importance of not "burning the cake" as athletes return to campus.

Mike Tucker enters his second year as Villanova football's strength & conditioning coach.

Tucker arrived at Villanova after spending two years at San Jose State as the assistant athletic performance coach for the Spartan football program. In this role, he assisted in planning, implementing, and coaching all aspects of football athletic performance. He was also the head baseball, women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball athletic performance coach.

Prior to his stint at San Jose State, Tucker served a six-month internship at Clemson University where he helped coach baseball, track & field, and men’s & women’s soccer in the weight room and field training. He also spent a year at Kutztown University where he was both the head athletic performance coach and defensive line coach. In this role, he designed and implemented a year-round strength & conditioning program for the football team. In his two seasons at Kutztown, Tucker coached three defensive linemen to All-Conference honors.

He began his career in strength & conditioning at North Dakota State University as an athletic performance intern coach in August of 2014.

Tucker is a 2014 graduate of Holy Cross University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History and was a four-year letter winner in football, including a three-year starter at outside linebacker.

• [0:30] Start of interview
• [0:48] Getting a start in strength and conditioning
• [2:22] Managing multiple roles
• [4:32] Gaining invaluable learning opportunities
• [7:00] Building a scientifically based S&C program
• [9:48] Reducing the risk of injury by preparing for the demands of the game
• [11:50] Implementing fresh conditioning concepts that transfer to the field
• [14:22] Getting creative with what you have during a pandemic
• [16:27] Don't burn the cake

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring longtime Division I Head Coach, Tyrone Willingham. Coach Willingham shares his thoughts on how representation can be better achieved in the coaching world, details his experience working for the College Football Playoff, and highlights what he valued during his time as the President of the AFCA.

Tyrone Willingham's successful coaching career stretched over 30 years and had stops all across the country. After serving as an assistant coach at schools including Central Michigan, Michigan St., North Carolina St. and Rice, Coach Willingham gained his first head coaching job with the Stanford Cardinal in 1995. During his seven years at Stanford, Coach Willingham brought unprecedented success to a program that struggled in the then Pac-10. Coach Willingham lead the Cardinal to their first outright conference championship in 29 years which resulted in a trip to the Rose Bowl.

In 2002 Coach Willingham was hired as the head coach of the Notre Dame where he spent three seasons leading the Fighting Irish. After his time in South Bend, Coach Willingham was named the head coach of the University of Washington in 2005 where he spent a total of four seasons. In his final year of coaching (2008), Coach Willingham served as the President of the AFCA. Willingham is now retired from coaching and currently serves on the College Football Playoff committee.

• [1:50] Start of Interview
• [1:55] The most valuable thing in the world
• [4:17] Laying the foundation for coaching
• [7:13] Building better men
• [9:20] Representation in the coaching world
• [13:15] Improving your skillset
• [14:53] Working on the CFP committee
• [17:25] Future of the CFP
• [21:10] Using analytics in football
• [23:14] Time spent as the AFCA President
• [24:50] Networking through the AFCA
• [26:13] Valuing what is important

This episode of Inside the Headset was  recorded Monday, January 8 at the 2018 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, NC.

In the first part of today's episode, AFCA Coordinator of Social Media, Mike Cross sat down with Chris Wilkerson, head coach at the University of University of Chicago.

Coach Wilkerson shared his memories from previous conventions, his coaching background, and what makes coaching at the University of Chicago special. To wrap up the interview Mike quizzed Coach Wilkerson on a few Chicago staples.

Follow Coach Wilkerson on Twitter: @FB_Coach_Wilk

In the 2nd half of the episode, Mike chats with Evan Williams of TeamSnap. Listen in as Evan shared why TeamSnap is more effective than traditional team communication methods, how you can utilize it with your program, and much more.

TeamSnap is the No. 1 sports team management app for coaches, managers and organizers with over 15 million users in 196 different countries worldwide.

https://www.teamsnap.com/

Have any questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send us an email, podcast at afca (dot) com. Check back next Thursday for another episode of Inside the Headset with the AFCA.

This week on Inside the Headset we are featuring Virginia Tech Head Coach, Justin Fuente's general session speech from the 2017 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Coach Fuente shares the importance of developing your players on and off the field, the crucial role strong leadership on your team, and what it means to be committed rather than involved.

Coach Fuente was named Virginia Tech’s head coach in November of 2015, after a monumental resurrection of the football program at the University of Memphis (2012-15). In his final two seasons at Memphis, Fuente compiled a 19-6 record, guiding the Tigers to back-to-back bowl berths after inheriting a program that went 5-31 in three years before his arrival. Prior to Memphis, Fuente was the Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach (2009-11) and Running Backs Coach (2007-08) at Texas Christian University. During his final three seasons as play caller, QBs Coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator at TCU, the Horned Frogs produced a 36-3 overall record and went on a 24-game win streak in the Mountain West Conference. Fuente began his coaching career at Illinois State, initially holding the position of Quarterbacks Coach (2001-03) and then getting promoted to Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach in 2004.

• [3:30] Start of General Session
• [4:43] Following a legend in Coach Frank Beamer
• [11:10] 3 ways to improve your team
• [13:41] 4 elements of player development at Virginia Tech
• [20:36] Developing leadership and mentorship
• [25:47] Attitude reflects leadership
• [31:20] Are you involved or committed?
• [35:30] Willingness to take ownership
• [40:15] Nonverbal communication cues
• [42:50] Leaders have the obligation to act

You can follow Coach Fuente on Twitter.

Be sure to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the Inside the Headset podcast and follow us on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring longtime Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator, Bud Foster. Coach Foster shares the life lessons he learned through coaching, speaks on his personal relationship with Hall of Fame Coach Frank Beamer, and highlights how he adapted his defensive schemes to compete with everchanging offenses.

Bud Foster is the former longtime Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator where he spent 33 seasons coaching. The architect of Tech’s famed Lunch Pail Defense, Foster was the the longest continually tenured FBS assistant coach at the same school with those 33 years of service until his retirement in 2019. Coach Foster held the distinction of serving as Tech’s defensive signal caller starting in 1995 before taking over sole possession of defensive coordinator duties in 1996. Coach Foster was a key component in helping the Hokies register the nation’s longest active bowl streak recognized by the NCAA, a 26-year stretch that began in 1993.

Coach Foster was a recipient of the 2006 Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in the country, and was a finalist on three other occasions (1999, 2001, 2005). Coach Foster was named the Division I-A Defensive Coordinator of the Year by the AFCA after helping lead the Hokies to the 1999 national championship game. Under Coach Foster's leadership, his defenses had led the nation in a major defensive statistical category nine times and have placed in the top five 44 different times. Since Coach Foster was promoted to Defensive Coordinator (1996), 45 of his defensive players where drafted into the NFL including 11 players picked in the first/second round.

• [1:05] Start of Interview
• [1:58] Life lessons football teaches
• [6:22] Favorite memories while coaching
• [11:50] Relationship with Frank Beamer
• [19:12] Navigating coaching opportunities
• [24:00] Staying at one school for most of your career
• [28:42] Adapting defensive schemes over the years

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring East Central University Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Coordinator Kris McCullough. Coach McCullough shares his unique coaching journey, discusses the importance of learning virtually, and highlights the significance of developing trusting relationships among your team.

In 2018, Coach McCullough began coaching at East Central University, where he currently serves as the quarterback's coach and offensive coordinator. He has also previously served as the special team's coordinator at ECU.

Prior to joining the Tigers' staff, McCullough spent time as the running backs coach at Fairmont State University. He also took on special teams and video coordinator responsibilities. Before tackling these roles, Coach McCullough spent time as a quality control coach at Old Dominion University and an offensive assistant at Henderson State University.

• [1:01] Start of interview
• [1:20] Personal journey in football
• [2:24] The importance of taking initiative
• [3:54] Building trust as a new coach
• [5:08] Obtaining a position with a small network
• [7:37] Establishing a personal network
• [11:14] The significance of gaining experience and knowledge
• [13:57] Earning a coordinator role
• [15:46] Establishing mutual respect as a young coach
• [18:58] Lessons learned as a young coordinator

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring New Orleans Saints Defensive Assistant, Cory Robinson. Coach Robinson discusses the importance of support staff, shares his mission to mentor young men through Next Level Nation, and offers advice for coaches looking to advance their career.

Cory Robinson is a ten-year coaching veteran, who recently joined the New Orleans Saints for his first full NFL campaign as a defensive assistant. Prior to New Orleans, Robinson spent four seasons in the college ranks working with defensive backs. The Baltimore native served as defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach at the University of Maryland in 2019, where he also served as director of player personnel in 2015. Robinson also took part in a training camp internship with the Saints in 2019.

• [0:28] Start of interview
• [0:38] The player personnel experience
• [3:49] Support staff alignment
• [6:24] Gaining athlete buy-in
• [8:41] Building confidence by being demanding not demeaning
• [10:45] Advice on career advancement
• [13:34] Development through social media platforms
• [15:40] Next Level Nation organization
• [20:25] Mentoring others to grow the game

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring University of Dayton’s Assistant Coach, Jeris Getter. Coach Getter discusses his journey with cerebral palsy, highlights the importance of building lasting relationships with players, and explains his why.

Jeris Getter is entering his second season at the University of Dayton as Assistant Defensive Coach, Scout Special Teams and Scout Offense. He is a 2017 Indiana University East graduate, where he earned his bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and minor is Sports Marketing and Management. Currently he is attending graduate school at Ohio University studying Coaching Education.

Previously Getter was an Assistant Football Coach at Earlham College from May 2017 to November 2018. At Earlham, he had various positions that included coaching defensive line, defensive backs and linebackers.

• [0:25] Start of Interview
• [0:50] Coaching with cerebral palsy
• [2:02] Personal football journey
• [5:36] Building strong relationships with players
• [11:58] Not letting others define you
• [15:31] Advice for people who want to coach but feel as if they don't "fit the mold"

• [0:29] Start of interview
• [2:38] Family lineage tied to football
• [5:32] Setting meaningful goals
• [10:59] Navigating a coaching transition
• [17:15] Encountering new challenges
• [23:06] Developing recruiting responsibilities
• [24:25] Juggling multiple roles with time management
• [29:03] Inserting a personal touch on offense
• [37:53] National Championship: Victorious satisfaction

In this episode of Inside the Headset, we talk to two coaches with a combined 3 years of coaching experience. True, it's not a lot compared to previous guests, but undoubtedly a unique perspective from two coaches at the beginning of their careers.

The first segment features Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey), a first year coach and head coach of St. David’s School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Casey is a former letterwinner at Davidson College and a 2013 member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He discussed what he’s learned in his first year as a coach, how he’s imparted knowledge to his players, and the importance of having a mentor.

Matt Goggans (@CoachMGoggans) is in his 2nd year of coaching and 1st year as Quarterbacks coach at Western New Mexico University. Goggans detailed how he gets the most out of his players despite having a 1-2 yr age difference, how he’s developed a coaching philosophy, and the impact the AFCA Convention has had on his career.

Have an idea, comment, or question about Inside the Headset?

Send us an email: podcast (at) afca.com

In Episode 1 of Friday Night Lights Season 2 we preview Greenwood's opening night opponent Fort Smith Northside. We also take a deep dive into the Bulldogs unique approach to off-season conditioning. It's a program they call Fasdogs, and it's not just for football players. 

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring our Division III Coach of the Year discussion. The coaches discuss some highlights of their program this past season and some key mentors in their life that have helped push them to their success.

The regional coach of the year winners for Division III are:

Region 1: Mike Toerper, Ithaca College

Michael Toerper (Ter-per) was named as the 11th head coach of the Ithaca College football program on February 18, 2022.
In his first season as head coach in 2022, Toerper guided the Bombers to 12-1 and reached the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. IC secured its first undefeated regular season since 1986 and claimed its first outright Liberty League title. Toerper was also named as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Toerper served as the defensive coordinator for the Bombers from 2017-19. He then departed to become the safeties coach at Division I Holy Cross for the past two seasons and contributed to turning that Crusaders defense into one of the top units in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2021.

Region 2: Ryan Larsen, Carnegie Mellon University

Ryan Larsen, a 13-year coaching veteran, comes to Carnegie Mellon from Columbia University, where he served as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Larsen, who has achieved offensive success at every one of his coaching experiences, has also worked at Stevenson University, Rhodes College, Wabash College and Indiana University. He led Carnegie Mellon to an 11-1 record and 8-0 record in conference in the 2022 season.

Region 3: Larry Harmon, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Larry Harmon was promoted to Head Football Coach in January 2022 after spending the previous 20 seasons as the Cru’s defensive coordinator. Harmon guided the Cru to a 12-2 record in his first season at the helm as the Crusaders finished in the NCAA Division III Semifinals for the fifth time in program history. In addition to his defensive coordinator duties, Coach Harmon also worked with UMHB’s kick return and kick coverage teams. He opened his career at UMHB in 1999, spending three years as UMHB’s secondary coach.

Region 4: Jason Couch, Alma College

Jason Couch was a decorated player at Alma and was named the head football coach at Alma College in January 2018. Couch is the 30th head coach in the history of the program, which dates back to 1894. Couch led Alma to an 11-1 record, undefeated in conference play and a playoff berth. Coach Couch helped lead Alma to the second round, which would be a first in program history.

Region 5: Steve Johnson, Bethel University (Minn.)

Steve Johnson completed his 34th year as the head football coach at Bethel University in 2022. Under Johnson’s leadership, Bethel’s football program has risen to national prominence and has become a perennial contender for the MIAC championship. He has amassed 244 career wins and a .693 winning percentage and is the all-time wins leader among active NCAA Division III coaches. He also ranks 35th all-time in win among all divisions and is a six-time MIAC Coach of the Year. He has completed 28 consecutive non-losing seasons and accumulated a 100-36 (.735) overall record since 2010, including 73-23 (.760) in MIAC play.

On this episode of Inside the Headset, we are joined by Scott Sinclair, Director of Strength & Conditioning for football at the University of Georgia, and Milo Austin, Assistant Head Coach/ Wide Receivers/ Co-Special Teams Coordinator at Morehead State University.

Sinclair talked about UGA's run to the National Championship, insight he gained from other Strength & Conditioning coaches, and the importance of the squat movement.

Follow Coach Sinclair on Twitter: @coach_sinclair

In part two of the episode, Milo Austin discussed how he balances multiple roles, building relationships as a young coach, and developing character in players.

Follow Coach Austin on Twitter: @CoachMAustin

Have any questions, comments or suggestions for the show? Email podcast@afca.com

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Tiffin University Head Coach, Cris Reisert. Coach Reisert shares the importance of learning the opposite side of the ball, discusses his personal transition from player to coach, and goes into detail throughout his journey to becoming a head coach.

Cris Reisert is entering his third season as the Head Football Coach at Tiffin University. Tiffin officially claimed the conference championship title in 2020 with a perfect 6-0 mark, playing a spring season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reisert earned his second consecutive Great Midwest Coach of the Year honor with an undefeated run through the league standings to officially make it back-to-back trophies. During the 2019 campaign, Reisert led the Dragons to arguably the best season in program history. Tiffin finished the regular season 9-1 along with a perfect 7-0 mark in GMAC play to claim the conference title. As a result, the Dragons earned their first-ever berth into the NCAA DII playoffs.

Prior to Tiffin, Reisert served for two seasons as Ohio Dominican's offensive coordinator, helping to lead the Panthers to some of the top offensive numbers in Division II. Reisert directed one of the best offenses in the nation in 2017 as ODU led the country in completion percentage, passing efficiency and fewest turnovers committed, ranked second in third-down conversions, third in passing offense and fourth in total offense. Prior to that Reisert spent three seasons as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Elon University. Prior to working at Elon, Reisert spent the 2013 season as the assistant offensive line coach at Ball State University. As a four-year starter at quarterback for Ohio Dominican, Reisert set 10 NAIA passing records and was named the 2007 NAIA Player of the Year.

• [0:27] Start of Interview
• [0:56] Learning the opposite side of the ball
• [3:22] Transition from playing to coaching
• [6:33] Lessons learned coaching the Offensive Line
• [9:50] Coaching Tight Ends
• [13:32] Becoming a Coordinator
• [16:39] Learning from other coaches
• [19:05] Putting together a coaching staff
• [22:30] Personal 35 Under 35 testimony

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the 2021 AFCA D-III Regional Coaches of the year. These coaches include U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Coach Mike Toop, Trinity University Coach Jerheme Urban, Albion College Coach Dustin Beurer, and Central College Coach Jeff McMartin.

Mike Toop recently completed his 17th and final season as the head coach of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy since he announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season. A former graduate of the USMMAC, Coach Toop led his team to six straight winning seasons in his final years including three bowl wins since 2017. During his tenure at the Academy, Toop received the Power of Inspiration Award, Coach of the Year Award and the Captain James Liebertz Memorial Award. Toops 45 year coaching career included stops at Davidson, UCONN, Penn, Colgate, Union, and Albany.

Jerheme Urban was appointed head coach of the Tigers in November 2013 and has chalked up a record of 41-23 over the last six seasons. He stands at 21-7 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), which Trinity joined prior to the 2017 season. The 2021 season saw the Tigers go 9-1 and reach the Division III playoffs. Coach Urban brought a wealth of National Football League experience back to Trinity, when he joined the staff in 2012. During his nine-year NFL career, the talented wide receiver played for the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals (including the 2008 Super Bowl team), and Kansas City Chiefs.

Dustin Beurer was named the head coach of Albion College in 2018 after completing 10 seasons on the Albion coaching staff. Entering his fouth season in the fall of 2022, Beurer currently holds a 20-4 overall record in addition to two MIAA Conference Titles. Coach Beurer served as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in addition to overseeing the offensive linemen for Albion before becoming the head coach. Prior to Albion, Beurer had a brief stint at Morehead State as the teams tight ends and fullbacks coach.

Jeff McMartin who took over for Central College in 2004, has posted a glossy 140-43 record and is among the winningest active NCAA Division III coaches in career winning percentage. He's a five-time conference coach of the year, was named an AFCA Division III regional coach of the year in 2007 and 2021 and the D3football.com regional coach of the year in 2021. McMartin's squads have posted four undefeated regular seasons, with a 28-game regular-season win streak from 2006-08. Under his leadership, the Dutch have finished in the top three in the league 16 times in 17 years. Prior to Central, McMartin has had coaching stops at DePauw University, Beloit College, the University of Rochester among other schools.

• [1:02] Start of Roundtable
• [1:30] Reflecting on the 2021 season
• [6:26] Being appreciative of your job
• [9:46] Past convention experiences

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Maurice Linguist, the head coach at Buffalo! Coach Linguist discusses his rapid rise in the profession, influences in the profession, and involvement in the AFCA.

Maurice Linguist is entering his third season with the University at Buffalo after various stints as a successful assistant and coordinator from FBS football to the NFL. Coach Linguist is heavily involved with the AFCA and was most recently named a Board of Trustees member this past January. 

Follow Coach Linguist and Buffalo Football on Social Media! @CoachMoLinguist & @UBFootball

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring our GA panel from the 2022 AFCA convention. The panelists discuss what they look for in a GA, how to be successful, and maintaining discipline through adversity.

Bret Bielema recently completed his second season as the Head Coach of Illinois. Bielema arrived in Champaign with 24 years of collegiate coaching experience and a 12-year record of 97-58 as head coach at Wisconsin and Arkansas. While at Wisconsin, he led the Badgers to three Big Ten championships and six consecutive bowl games including two Rose Bowls.

Coach Sean Lewis recently completed his fourth season as HC at Kent State and recently took the offensive coordinator job at Colorado. Lewis brings an extensive coaching résumé to Colorado after his time at Kent State and has been one of the fastest-rising coaches in the nation over the last decade.

Ryan Riemedio completed his first season as the Head Coach at Mercyhurst and his 10th year on the Mercyhurst University football staff in 2022. In 2021, he was elevated to Assistant Head Coach and defensive coordinator while coaching the team's linebackers and continued his role as the program’s strength and conditioning coordinator. Riemedio joined the Mercyhurst football coaching staff in 2012 as a graduate assistant working with tight ends, fullbacks and assisting with the offensive line.

Dr. Alvin Parker completed his fifth season at Virginia Union University in 2022, and his 24th overall on the collegiate level. Dr. Alvin Parker got his start in coaching at Virginia Union in 1999 after he finished his playing time there. He served as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at VUU until 2003. In 2004, Coach Parker was hired as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Elizabeth City State University for where he spent 12 seasons.

Julian Griffin currently serves as the running backs coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2021 coached Griffin coached C-USA Player of the Year, Sincere McCormick on the way to the school’s first-ever conference championship title. Griffin was also selected to the 2022 AFCA 35 Under 35 Leadership Institute. Prior to UTSA, Griffin served as the offensive quality control assistant for two seasons at the University of Arkansas.

In Episode 4 of Friday Night Lights we recap Keller's final non-district game against Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX). Coach Stralow fills us in on how he plans to navigate the Indians' bye week, he offers an explanation of the Texas high school football playoffs format, and he tells us the story of Keller's wild regular season finale in 2014.

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset, we speak with Fork Union Military Academy (VA) Head Coach John Shuman and Butler University Linebackers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Derek Day.

Shuman's coaching career began in 1980 as an assistant coach for Fork Union. In 1987 he was named head coach of Fork Union's postgraduate football team, and he is entering his 31st season leading the program. We discuss the prep school model, how he socializes new players in to his program, and teaching young men to be accountable.

0:40 - Start of interview

0:57 - Explanation of the prep school model

2:18 - Going to a prep school versus a junior college

3:04 - Adapting philosophy based on available personnel

5:08 - Creating buy-in during fall camp

6:55 - Daily routine at Fork Union Military Academy

9:29 - How Fork Union has bred success on and off the field

12:10 - Recruiting to a military-style academy & holding student-athletes accountable

17:11 - Restricting social media use, profanity, and cell phones

20:16 - "Body, Mind, and Spirit" motto & addressing poor body language

21:47 - Housing young coaches in the barracks with student-athletes

23:54 - Advice for high school coaches

You can follow Fork Union's postgraduate football team on Twitter.

Derek Day's coaching career began in 2009 as a graduate assistant for Western Kentucky (2009-2011) before becoming a graduate assistant at Iowa State (2012-2014). He eventually joined the staff at the University of Tennessee as an assistant linebackers coach/ defensive quality control. In 2017, Day returned to Butler (his alma mater) as the linebackers coach. We discuss his philosophy for the coaching profession, returning to his alma mater, and advice for coaches.

26:47 -  Start of interview

27:05 - Developing as a coach while working in a support role & philosophy

36:33 - Advice for coaches & improving the scout team

43:10 - Returning to his alma mater as a coach

47:51 - Balancing work and home life as a new father

You can follow Derek Day on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we’re joined by Tim Polasek, Head Coach of North Dakota State University Football. From his early days in coaching to leading the Bison to a 2024 National Championship, Coach Polasek shares his journey, lessons learned, and insights into building a championship culture.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How Coach Polasek started his coaching career

• The challenges and rewards of coaching at different levels

• The importance of balancing tradition with innovation

• Key leadership lessons for aspiring coaches and players

🏆 About Coach Tim Polasek:
Coach Polasek’s leadership earned him the 2024 AFCA FCS Region 4 Regional Coach of the Year honor after an incredible season at NDSU. His career is a masterclass in perseverance, adaptability, and creating a culture of success.

📌 Episode Highlights:

• 3:27: Why Coach Polasek chose coaching as his career

• 15:37: Building a championship culture at NDSU

• 29:37: Balancing tradition with progress

• 42:24: Navigating challenges as a first-time head coach

• 1:06: Reflecting on national success and personal growth

🔗 Follow Coach Polasek and NDSU Football

• Twitter: @CoachTimNDSU

• Twitter: @NDSUfootball

💬 Join the Conversation:
What’s your biggest takeaway from Coach Polasek’s journey? Share your thoughts and tag us on social media!

🔥 Subscribe & Stay Updated:
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This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring College Football Hall of Fame Head Coach, Phillip Fulmer. Coach Fulmer reflects on his legendary career at the University of Tennessee, discusses why it is important to embrace change and shares advice for young coaches attending the AFCA Convention.

Phillip Fulmer is the longtime former Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers (1992-2008). As the 1998 AFCA National Coach of the Year, Phillip Fulmer achieved 137 wins in his first 15 campaigns, tying for the fourth-most in a 15-year span in college football history. Fulmer owned two SEC championships, a piece of seven SEC East Division titles, an impressive 5-0 record when playing the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, an 88-19 home record and nine ten-win seasons. Fulmer’s teams appeared in two BCS games, winning the first national title in the school’s history with a victory over Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl. Nineteen players earned first-team All-America honors under Fulmer, and 70 Volunteers were named first-team All-SEC during his tenure.

Prior to taking over as the head coach of the Volunteers, Fulmer worked as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator with Tennessee from 1980-1992. After Fulmer retired from the game of football in 2008 and he came back to Tennessee in 2017 and served as the Athletic Director for five years. A member of the board of directors for Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc., Fulmer is active with the Boys and Girls Club, Team Focus, and Child and Family Services.

• [3:00] Start of Interview
• [3:50] Career at Tennessee
• [7:27] Embracing change
• [11:03] Communicate to succeed
• [13:32] Time spent as the AFCA President
• [16:54] Advise for young coaches

This week on Inside the Headset we speak with James Franklin, Head Coach for Penn State University. We discuss his passion for developing coaches, the importance of relationships, and his path to becoming Head Coach of the Nittany Lions. 

Coach Franklin began his coaching career at Kutztown University as a wide receivers coach in 1995 before returning to his alma mater East Stroudsburg as the defensive backs coach for the 1996 season. He then spent time on staff at James Madison (1999), Washington State (1998), and Idaho State (1999) before becoming the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for Maryland (2000-2004). Franklin spent the 2005 in the NFL coaching the receivers for the Green Bay Packers. Coach Franklin then returned to the collegiate level as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Kansas State (2006-2007). After a return to Maryland as the Assistant Head Coach and OC (2008-2010), Franklin was named Head Coach for Vanderbilt (2011-2013) and posted back to back 9 win seasons with the Commodores. In January of 2014, Franklin was named Head Coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, and led the program to a 2016 Big Ten Championship.

• [1:41] Start of interview
• [1:51] Developing young coaches
• [3:59] 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute
• [5:14] The importance of connections
• [6:42] Consistency of your message
• [8:35] Diversifying yourself as a young coach
• [11:55] Structure of the Penn State football program
• [13:33] Winning at the highest level while being a great parent

You can follow James Franklin on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset we speak with Tim Horton, Running Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Auburn University, and we discuss producing successful running backs, joining the coaching staff of a former player, and finding balance in life as a collegiate football coach.

Tim Horton's coaching career began immediately after his playing days at the University of Arkansas finished, and he joined the staff at Appalachian State University as an assistant coach in 1990. After nine seasons with the Mountaineers, he joined Fisher DeBerry's staff at the Air Force Academy in 1999 as a wide receivers coach (1999-2004) before switching to running backs in 2005. In 2006, Coach Horton went to Kansas State to work with the running backs, and in 2007 he returned to the University of Arkansas, where he helped produce four different 1,000 yard rushers in six seasons (2007-2012). Coach Horton was named the running backs coach at Auburn University in 2013.

[0:31] Start of interview

[0:52] Coaching inspiration

[2:56] Living in the officials locker room at Appalachian State

[4:09] Puncturing a lung and mental toughness in players

[5:56] Developing as a recruiter and being a picky eater

[8:58] Joining the staff of a former player

[10:27] Weighing job opportunities and regrets in coaching

[12:35] Producing successful running backs

[13:58] Why toughness is an important characteristic

[15:41] Recruiting selfless athletes

[17:06] Finding balance in life as a coach

[18:57] AFCA Skills & Drills

[21:17] "Championships are won by teams that can run the ball and stop the run"

[22:45] Advice for coaches

You can follow Tim Horton on Twitter or send him an email. 

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

This week on Inside the Headset we speak with Tom Allen, Head Coach for Indiana University. We discuss his journey from high school assistant to head coach for the Hoosiers in the Big Ten.

Coach Allen's career began at Temple Heights HS (FL) in 1992 as an assistant, but after one season, he was named their head coach at the age of 23. He spent a total 15 years coaching high school football, which included stints as defensive coordinator for Armwood HS (FL) (1995-1996), Marion HS (IN) (1997), and Ben Davis HS (IN) (1998-2003), and he also served as head coach at Ben Davis HS (2004-2006). In 2007, Allen joined the staff at Wabash College working with the defensive backs and special teams. He went on to be the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Lambuth (2008-2009) and defensive coordinator at Drake (2010) before serving as the assistant head coach for Arkansas State (2011). Allen was the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Ole Miss (2012-2014) and later was the defensive coordinator at South Florida (2015) prior to his arrival at Indiana in 2016 as defensive coordinator. Coach Allen was promoted to head coach in December of 2016, and he is in his third full season leading the Hoosiers.

• [0:23] Start of interview
• [0:33] Coaching high school football
• [2:41] Transition to college football
• [6:43] The versatility of a small college coach
• [8:19] Becoming a head coach at the FBS level
• [11:02] Coaching his son at Indiana

You can follow Tom Allen on Twitter.

Have any questions, comments, or ideas for the show? Send us an email at podcast@afca.com. 

In Episode 7 we hear from Coach Jones on how Greenwood bounced back from their first real test this past Friday.  We also discuss how Greenwood plays in the trenches with offensive line coach Brian Simms and defensive line coach Brandon Elmore. All this and a preview of this weeks homecoming game.

Episode 15 of Inside the Headset with the AFCA features Liberty University linebackers coach, Josh Bookbinder. Bookbinder is in his 7th year on staff at Liberty and shared some keys to longevity at one school, how he started his coaching career and what key skills he and Liberty head coach Turner Gill look for when recruiting linebackers. He also shares his networking advice and his and how he approaches attending Buzz Sessions at the AFCA Convention.

Follow Coach Bookbinder on Twitter: @JoshBookbinder

(19:00 mark) This week’s Staff Spotlight is with the AFCA’s Director of Sponsorship and Development, Bobby Staub. He gives a short rundown of his career leading up to his arrival to the AFCA in January 2017 and what he’s looking forward to in his first AFCA Convention.

Have any questions, comments or ideas for the show? Send us an email, podcast at afca (dot) com. Check back next Thursday for another episode of Inside the Headset with the AFCA.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Marshall High School (TX) Head Coach, Jake Griedl. Coach Griedl discusses the importance of investing time in your athletes, speaks on the challenges of coaching at a historically good programs, and gives advice to young coaches who aspire to advance in the coaching ranks.

Jake Griedl is entering his third season as the Head Coach for Marshall High School. Griedl came to Marshall in the spring of 2017 serving as the Offensive Coordinator. At Marshall, Griedl coordinated an offense that ultimately set program season records for points scored and total yards in 2018, as the Mavs won a second straight district championship and went three rounds deep in the playoffs. In seven years as a high school assistant coach, Griedl has worked with teams that have won six district championships and he has coached in a total of 24 playoff games in those seven seasons. Prior to Marshall, Griedl served as the wide receivers coach at Class 6A powerhouse Lake Travis from 2013-2016. Griedl’s time at Lake Travis culminated in 2016 with the Class 6A state championship.

Prior to Lake Travis, Griedl coached wide receivers at Boerne High School in 2012-2013. His first coaching job came at the collegiate level in 2011-2012, when he served as wide receivers coach/return specialist coach as a graduate assistant at Southern Arkansas University. Griedl received a B.A. in History from Concordia University-Nebraska in 2012, where he was a three-year starter and team captain at slot receiver. In 2021 Coach Griedl was named to the AFCA 35 Under 35 class.

• [0:28] Start of Interview
• [1:01] Lessons learned from other coaches
• [5:47] Exceeding expectations
• [10:03] Investing time in your athletes
• [12:10] Challenges of coaching at a program with a rich history
• [18:30] Advice for young coaches
• [22:48] What the 35 Under 35 program as done for him

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Sterling College’s head football coach, Darren Jackson. Coach Jackson tells us how he got his start in coaching, explains how he balances work and family and walks us through the changes he is making at Sterling. Darren Jackson is the head coach at Sterling College. Coach Jackson was hired in the spring of 2022 and will be relying on his extensive experience and faith-based values to lead Sterling this season. Prior to coaching at Sterling Coach Jackson was the head coach at Trinity Bible College and was also a member of the football staff at Liberty University, his alma mater. In addition to these positions. Coach Jackson has also coached at Evangel University and Colorado Mesa University with both teams boasting a slew of accolades during Coach Jackson’s time at the respective schools. Coach Jackson is also a member of the AFCAs 35Under35 2020 class and the 2016 Coach of the Year (received while coaching at Trinity Bible). [0:55] Start of Interview [1:03] Getting Acclimated to New Position [1:56] Resume [2:20] ‘When did you know you wanted to be a ball coach?” [3:35] Family and Career [6:46] “How have you put your stamp on the Sterling football program?” [10:23] What have you kept and what have you changed at Sterling? [13:04] “P.R.I.D.E” [16:53] Trinity Bible Compared to Sterling College [19:10] What are the standout differences between Trinity Bible and Sterling College? [20:43] What is recruiting like at a faith-based institution? [22:55] How have experiences with the AFCA helped you develop as a coach? [26:33] Social Media and Contact Information Twitter: @CoachJackson623