With clinic season ramping up, I wanted to share some thoughts with you to help you grow as a coach and in the profession. Building a network is one of the most important aspects of growing as a coach.
There are two ways to build a network. First, is social media. Social media has made coaches more accessible than ever. You can communicate with coaches and share ideas 24 Horus a day, 365 days a year. Social media can be a powerful tool.
While social media is a powerful networking and learning tool, going to clinics and conventions in person is even more powerful. Virtual learning is very good and technology has opened doors, but there is no substitute for the personal connections you can make at a clinic or convention. So when you go to a clinic or convention, what do you do to get the most out of it?
Professional Growth
Clinics and conventions give you an opportunity to meet coaches and develop professionally. When you attend a clinic or convention, you are going to be able to listen to a variety of speakers who are teaching different aspects of the game. In addition to listening to coaches on your side of the ball and coaches talking about your position, listen to coaches on the other side of the ball. Also, listen to speakers to fill your gaps in knowledge.
If you are an offensive line coach, listen to quarterback and receiver coaches. Learn about the pass game. If you are a quarterback or receiver coach, listen to some offensive line coaches. If you coach defensive line, listen to secondary coaches. If you are an offensive line coach, go listen to defensive line coaches and defensive coordinators. This will help you learn more about what you will be going against each day. If you are an OC, go listen to DC's and secondary coaches. Learn what they are doing to defend what you are doing on offense.
You also want to be flexible as a coach. A good ball coach can change positions to meet the needs of the staff. You also open doors of opportunity if you can change positions to pursue an opportunity.
When I am going to a clinic or convention, I look at the schedule to see who is speaking and what they are speaking on. I make a list of who I want to see. If your staff is going to a clinic, we would map out who was going to see which coaches. We wanted to make sure we had everything covered that our program needed.
One thing to know about clinics and conventions is there is also the clinic within the clinic. This is where coaches get together in a hotel room or in the lobby and talk ball. Make sure you engage in these opportunities when they arise. Half of my first playbook was written on cocktail napkins at a casino in Atlantic City. There are coaches talking ball all over the convention. Find a group talking ball and jump in with them.
Building Your Network
The second aspect of clinics and conventions is networking. You will build a network with the guys you work with, but you want to grow this network. Not only will this help you when you are applying for new opportunities, but it will also provide you with people you can bounce ideas off of. When you go to Glazier clinics or the AFCA or THSCA convention, take time to meet people. Don't only hang out with coaches on your staff. Make connections with people you may not know.
When you are walking through the exhibits with guys you work with, introduce each other to people they may not know. When you see someone you know, introduce them to the guys in your group. Sheke hands and look people in the eye when you are introduced, and repeat their name. "Very nice to meet you, Mike, congratulations on a great season." When you get introduced to someone, don't just stand there. Be engaged in the conversation. Listen to coaches talking, and ask questions.
The network you build will be invaluable. When you are looking for a job, you will want to reach out to your network for openings. When you apply for a job, you will want to be able to talk to someone in your network who can help you get your foot in the door. You might want to learn more about the opportunity. Chances are, someone in your network can give you some insight. Having a network can help you when opportunities arise.
When I was a college OC we were hiring for a restricted earnings position. It paid $5k a year plus a dorm room and meal plan. We had over 500 applicants. About half of them would take this job in a heartbeat. For a full-time position that we had open up, we had over 1,000 applicants. We were going to hire someone we knew, or someone who was highly recommended by someone we knew. Build your network.
Make sure you join your state association and AFCA. This provides additional networking opportunities and provides additional benefits.
Ticketed Events and The Exhibit Hall
At the AFCA convention and THSCA coaching school, attend the ticketed events. You will often sit at a table with a group of coaches you don't know. This gives you an opportunity to meet people and connect with them. When you go to a clinic, they sometimes will have a social, or a sponsored breakfast. Go to these events. This is another opportunity to visit with people you don't know.
The hotel lobby and exhibit halls are a must. This is an opportunity to meet people and grow your network. Again, if you are with a group, introduce each other to people you know. This helps everyone build their network. If you see your buddy who coaches at another school, introduce him to the group you are with.
When you meet someone, ask questions. Don't just talk about you. Ask them about their success. Ask them about their philosophies. After you ask the question, listen to the response. Don't be so fast to tell people what you believe. You don't grow by spouting your own knowledge. You grow by asking questions. This also helps you make connections as you learn about people.
If you see Nick Saban or James Franklin walking around the exhibit hall, it is okay to introduce yourself. Do NOT monopolize their time. Say your name, where you coach, and that you are honored to meet them. If you know someone they know, you might pop that in. Do not try to make small talk or waste their time. Be respectful of their time. If they are recruiting one of your players, you can mention that. Do not hand a power 5 coach a resume in the exhibit hall. I once saw a guy hand Bob Stoops a resume in the bathroom. There is a time and a place, and that ain't it.
Another valuable resource is the exhibitors. Spend time looking at the different products the vendors have and get to know the vendors. Many of them are coaches, and all of them have a network. Building relationships with them is valuable on many fronts. They often know of jobs that open before they open, and they know people who are hiring. They also can help you make sure you have the right equipment for your program. Exhibitors also help keep the cost of attendance down for coaches. I love to make sure I walk through the exhibit hall and talk to the vendors. I thank them for attending the clinics and let them know they are appreciated.
Meet the Speakers
When you watch a speaker, introduce yourself after. Ask a question or multiple questions. Whenever I watch a speaker, I write down any questions I have. When they finish speaking, I introduce myself and ask them my question. I once watched and FBS coordinator speak at a Glazier Clinic. He was speaking at the last session before dinner. We talked for a few minutes, and everyone else had left the room. I was going to dinner and I figured I would invite him. He said no, but you miss every shot you don't take. The next clinic I went to I watched an FBS defensive line coach give a great talk. It was the last talk of the evening. I asked him if I could buy him a cold beverage and he said sure. We went into the hotel lounge and talked ball. His head coach was there along with a couple other staff members. It was a great experience. That defensive line coach is now a DC at an FBS, and has recruited a few of our players.
I will be speaking at the Glazier Clinics in Indianapolis, LA, and Seattle in 2024. Make sure you say hello if you attend any of these clinics.
Recruiting and Relationships
Recruiting is about relationships. If you are a high school coach, you want to build relationships with college coaches to help your guys get recruited. If you are a college coach, you need to build relationships with high school coaches. If you don't have relationships, you won't be as effective on either side of that process.
When you go the convention, build those relationships. As a high school coach, you want to get contact information for college coaches. Sending random prospect lists is not as effective as having a cell phone number for a coach. Meeting coaches at the convention and at clinics will give you more opportunities to help your kids get recruited. If you are a college coach, having the cell number of the high school coach will help you be able to easily reach out for information on prospects.
If you are a high school coach and a college coach gives you his number, don't monopolize their time. You can text them congratulations after a win, or if they post some milestone on social media. But don't text them just to talk.
Pairing Social Media and Clinics and Conventions
Before you go to a clinic or convention, you can tweet that you would like to talk some ball at the event. Also, look for tweets from others who are setting up groups to talk ball. Don't worry if you don't know anyone. You will meet people.
When you listen to a speaker, tweet out that you are there. Every clinic and convention as a hashtag. When you tweet, include a picture and hashtag. If you see that a coach in your social media network tweeted at a clinic you are attending, introduce yourself. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet your social media connections personally.
When you walk through the exhibit hall, tweet about something cool or unique that you see. Last year I saw on twitter where guys were tweeting about a playbook program. It often will get good engagement and help your social media presence.
The Job Board
At conventions like AFCA and THSCA, there will be a job board. Many Glazier clinics will have a job board as well. Coaches will post openings and coaches looking for jobs can post their resume. Take advantage of this room. Every year there are a lot of interviews that take place at AFCA, THSCA, and various clinics.
If someone has an opening posted on the clinic or convention job board, it most likely is a real job that has not been filled. Often college jobs are filled long before they are ever posted. If they take the time to post it at the AFCA job board, it most likely is open and they are looking to hire quickly. If you are looking for jobs when you go to the convention or a clinic, make sure your resume is updated. Have someone proofread it for you.
I want to be clear on this. I don't know how many coaches get called about jobs that post their resume. Out of all the times we were hiring, we rarely pulled a random resume off the job board. But we did interview a coach who sent us his resume based on a job we posted on the board. We had a coach leave right before the convention, and we decided to post the job at the convention to see if we got any traction.
One year we had two openings going into the THSCA convention in San Antonio. We posted both openings on the job board. We did look at the resumes but none of them grabbed our attention. We were standing in line at the hotel for something and a coach who was looking asked us about a job we had open. We ended up visiting with him, interviewing him the next day, and hiring him. He made a connection and everyone won.
Take Advantage
You have total control over your convention experience. You have control over growing your network. You have control over whether you invest in the convention to grow professionally, or whether you just go to the convention. If you only spend time with coaches already in your network, you are missing an opportunity. If you don't go listen to speakers, you are missing an opportunity.
I can't stress this enough. Go to clinics and conventions. Even if your school won't reimburse you or pay for your travel, you are making an investment in yourself and the kids you coach. Glazier offers a deal where you can go to every clinic in the country and get access for all of their online materials for around $135. That is a great deal, and depending where you live, gives you an opportunity to attend a couple of clinics. If you are a head coach or AD, pay for your staff to get this benefit. For $495 you get unlimited access for all of your varsity, JV, frosh, and middle school coaches. This is a great deal! https://www.glazierclinics.com/pricing
If you are a new head coach, Glazier gives you that same deal for $295! https://www.glazierclinics.com/special-offer-new-head-coaches
Glazier also has a scholarship program for youth coaches. They can attend the clinics for free! https://www.glazierclinics.com/youth
I wish you the best as you improve personally and professionally this winter and spring. Follow me on Twitter @coachvint. Also, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I am working on sharing content that can help you grow as a coach. https://m.youtube.com/@JamesVint
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