1) Water your grass, as the saying goes. Where you’re coaching IS the big time. Stuff happens every offseason, but you can’t think about that and rarely can you control a bit of
It. Take care of your program first and the right things will happen.

2) The attitudes and the overall disposition of your players at your practices are a reflection of YOU. Cut down on all that crap going on on the sidelines during practices. Yes it’s on you to hold them accountable.

3) Speaking of which: give your assistant coaches a voice in meetings and during film sessions. Coaches should meet by position and should watch film with their players. Give your assistants agency and they will be more invested.

4) Delegate. You believe you got to where you are because you outworked them all. You can do everything, right? Wrong. Welcome to Burnout High School. It’s ok to ask for help from coaches and parents and volunteers. You can not do it all by yourself. Period.

5) Leadership is lonely, but you don’t have to take it to the extreme. You’re still a ball coach, like your assistants. So get in on the retreats, and the bracket pools, and the time away from the work. Be a person, and if possible, a friend. You’re all in this together.

6) Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Your assistants are certainly not doing this for the money, and it would be illegal to pay them what you’re paying them by the hour. So why not love them and thank them a little more? Assistants want to feel appreciated. Yes it needs to be said out loud.

Be intentional every day about the plan, script, itinerary, and/or call sheet.
7) Always have a plan, especially for practices. There’s no “winging it.” Kids don’t know as much as you, but they’re not dumb. And they know phonies. Every period should be intentional and planned to the minute.

Filter your thoughts and contribute when you have something that’s actually worth saying.
9. Ask questions. It’s ok to not know. Players and coaches will trust you if you’re honest and earnest.
10. See #1. Don’t leave early. Make sure everything the head coach needs is done before you leave.

It’s like once a year. Master your craft and know there is always something new to learn.
8. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat around the big table and just listened to utter nonsense in coaches meetings.

6. Be their mentor, not their friend. They shouldn’t be calling you by just your last name and they FOR SURE should never call you by your first name. You’re not “boys.” I have former players in their 30’s that still call me coach.
7. Be a student. Don’t tell me
You don’t have time for that clinic.

5. Be active at practices. Coaching is more than just the games! This isn’t NCAA on PS5. Coaching is more than 4 quarters on Friday night. If anything, you need to bring more energy to practices than games.

3. Be on time and be reliable. I know this is common sense but you would be amazed.
4. Get off your phone; get off your butt. There will always be time to sit and participate in a bull session. And your phone isn’t going anywhere. Get engaged with practice. This leads me to #5