This year I've had some turnover, which is expected.  For me, it's GA/Paid Intern turnover.  Generally, they are pretty young and new to coaching.  The ones I've had are usually between 23-27.  As old coaches we all relate to what I'm about to say.

In breaking in my new assistants I've run into the phrase, "I believe in my program" or "I'm sold on my program."  I laugh inside and sometimes on the outside when I hear this.

(This next part is going to sound harsh to young coaches)  Like any good coach, I have my philosophy and I want things done a certain way.  I do give them quite a bit (too much, sometimes) of leeway with what they program, but as long as I see what I want, I let them go.  How else are they going to learn?

As a staff, we've had some talks just to get on the same page.  When I question the new assistants they seem to think they're going to change my mind and philosophy.  Obviously, as a 23-27 year old GA/Paid Intern they have already figured everything out.  Their way is not only the right way, but it's the only way.  And, at 43 years old, with 26 years of training and coaching under my belt they STILL know more than I do.

Another thing I keep hearing when I tell them how they're going to implement their program to fit into my philosophy is, "Well, there are a lot of ways to do thing."  It's the millennial way of disregarding what I said and saying they know better.  The reality is, there aren't a lot of ways to do things.  There are a few ways (effective ways) to do things.  There really aren't a lot of choices.  And, when you WORK FOR someone, there's ONLY ONE WAY to do things.  In this case, it's my way.

The advice I give them is standard.

  1. Experience:  When they tell me how much they know (have read from a book - it's not REAL experience) and how, "... in my experience..." I usually give them a rundown of what I have done.  I always follow that (like the asshole that I am) with, "I've been doing this since before you were born.  So, when I say, '... in my experience...' imagine how deeply I believe in my philosophy?"
  2. Open-mindedness (or lack thereof):  I posed a question to my staff yesterday.  "Do you believe in your program because you are open-minded and have learned and experienced many different ways to train or do you believe in your program because you're stubborn, closed-minded and not willing to learn that there are other ways to do things?"
  3. Do your job (to steal from Bill Belichick):  When you have your own program and you're the boss, then you can do whatever you want.  While you WORK FOR someone else, shut your mouth, open your eyes and ears and do what you're told.  In the process you'll learn another way.  Whether you agree with it or not, you've added more tools to your tool box.  If you walk away with one thing (it's doubtful that you'd only learn one thing unless your head is so far up your ass that you think you're perfect) you'll learn what you don't want to do when you run a program.  If you do shut up, watch and listen you may learn that your way is flawed and/or incomplete and now you have some new tools to perfect your philosophy.

The reality is, if you're in your 20's with less than a decade of experience, you really don't know anything.  You don't really have a philosophy of your own, you have stolen someone else's.  And, this is fine.  To me, this is how it starts.  You latch onto something that you believe and then you dive into it.  I also think it's incredibly important to learn about things you completely disagree with.  After all, how can you disagree if you don't truly understand it?  A logical person will realize that they can't.

You have to have confidence to be a coach.  Confidence is knowing and believing in what you know and still realizing that you have a lot to learn (knowing your weaknesses).  Arrogance is thinking you know everything and have absolutely no clue how much you don't know.

Words of wisdom I got second hand from Jeff Dillman (Head S&C for South Carolina), "If there's one person in this room who can have an ego, it's me (pointing to himself).  I've earned the title of head coach.  So drop your egos and be willing to learn."