2014 STAFF NOTES

Please read these notes and be prepared to live up to the spirit and the intent of the thoughts contained herein. You will not find much
in the way of original material here, but rather these are ideals and concepts I've always admired in great coaches and successful staffs,
both here at Endicott and at other places.
Our main objective is to make football at Endicott a positive experience for not only the players and coaches, but for the entire college
community.
We are extremely fortunate to have the support of the administration and the resources that are being made available to us. We need
to be thankful and appreciative for what we have and not worry about what we do not have or what others have that we do not.
As we ask the players to put the team first, we need to do the same. We need to work as hard as we can for Endicott College, the
football program and ourselves - in that order.
We must be firm and tough from the beginning. We will let the players know what we expect of them and ACCEPT NO LESS.
We are here to be the players' COACHES not their friends. Of course, you will develop relationships with the players, just make
sure you always conduct yourself in a PROFESSIONAL and APPROPRIATE manner.
Our program will be based on the principles of honesty, hard work and fairness. Demand excellence in all your dealings with
players and especially yourself. The program must be bigger than the individuals within it.
I will never ask you to do more than I am willing to do. If you are willing to do more, be creative, never care who gets the credit
and always be positive, we will be CHAMPIONS.
Assistant coaches do not belong to the head coach. You are here because you have special talents and I am confident that you
can make a difference in our program. I will always treat you with respect and I will earn yours.
We must be loyal to each other and never let anything come between us as coaches or friends. We will never confront or yell
at each other in the presence of our players. If we have differences, we will iron them out after practice. Never leave the
campus mad. If you have something to say, say it, and come to some resolution of the problem.
Negativity breeds negativity. It is a cancer that feeds off itself. We will have staff meetings, not bitch sessions. If you feel your
players are not good enough, coach them better. Complaining will not make them better. Convince the players they are better
than they actually are and they may surprise you and play up to those expectations.
The football program, staff and players, are always "under the microscope" we must continue to "circle the wagons" against
negative influences.
Whatever we say in staff meetings, hear from the players, see at practice, etc., will never leave our campus. We are a family,
and to that end we will defend each other, love each other, and remain loyal to each other throughout our time together.
Don't hesitate to tell players or fellow coaches that you love them and appreciate their efforts. During a long season, we will all
have our moments of depression. Just remember the highs are never as high as we think but the lows are never as low either.
Be a great teacher because coaching is just intense teaching. Yelling is not teaching. Nagging is not teaching. You will at times
have to raise your voice to make a point, but I believe that if you yell all the time, players will shut you out and not hear your
message.
Critique a player's performance, not the player. Correct his technique and see if he gets better. If he cannot perform the
techniques that are required by that position we need to find him a position he can be competitive at.
Treat all players with respect regardless of their level of ability. We will always get more out of practice if everyone feels like he
is being coached and a part of the process of preparation.
Use language appropriate for a classroom. The "F" Bomb should be avoided at all costs - there may be some slip-ups, but the
players will respect us for not having to rely on swearing to get our point across.
Convince the players they are special because they are at Endicott College and the creation of a football tradition here means
something special to many people.
Organize your individual practice plans daily so players know what to expect and keep your teaching style consistent. If you are
organized in your presentation with key words and phrases, you will be readily understood. Players like simplicity, but they like
to think that the system they are in is very complex. We can accomplish both.
We will practice to win and play to win. In preparation for a team, we will emphasize what we are going to do to win the game,
not keep from being embarrassed by the opponent. We will never brag about our ability or success, but we will never enter a
game with the thought that we cannot possibly win.
Going for it on fourth down and other risk-taking decisions are the head coachs prerogative. I'm willing to take all the heat if
they don't work, but my decisions will be based on many factors, including your input. I will always take into consideration the
timing, the momentum, and the consequences of these moves, but I don't expect to be second-guessed by the staff in public.

5 Steps to Maximize Player Potential
1. KNOW THE PLAYER'S NAMES
FACE IT, "HEY, YOU" JUST DOESN'T GET THE JOB DONE WHEN ADDRESSING SOMEONE, MUCH LESS AN IMPRESSIONABLE young man
THAT IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR AFFIRMATION AND INDIVIDUALITY. GET TO KNOW YOUR PLAYERS PERSONALLY AND UNDERSTAND
THAT EACH ATHLETE IS DIFFERENT WITH THEIR OWN PERSONALITY AND THEIR OWN RESPONSE TRIGGERS. DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS
WITH EACH PLAYER. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS VIEW EACH OTHER AS FAMILY.
2. THINK POSITIVE
Negative reinforcement did not work when you were an athlete and it still doesn't. The only things gained from a good tongue-lashing
are strained vocal chords and bruised feelings. Positivism not only inspires winning, it will also create more confident players with a
deeper sense of respect for themselves and for the coaching staff. A light pat on the back is always better than a swift kick in the pants.
Remember, if you act like a winner, talk like a winner and think like a winner - guess what?
3. BUILD CHARACTER
Eddie Robinson once said "i am in the business of building better Americans, not better football players," and all Coach Robinson ever
did was win 408 games. Coincidence? Robinson knew what very few coaches do, CHARACTER builds winners and winners win
championships. Football philosophy has often been compared to real life, but more often than not, real life philosophy could be easily
compared to football.
4. FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS
Losses and setbacks happen its a fact. It's the whole "here-we-go-again" mindset that ultimately dooms floundering teams. The key is
not focusing on winning or losing, but rather on fundamentals and procedures. Concentrating on the task at hand and not the
scoreboard will provide for a much more productive player and outcome.
5. SWEATY PALMS & SWOOSHY STOMACHS
Want to get ready for the big game? Get nervous. That's right, according to sports psychologists there are three kinds of nervousness
and each one of them can make the difference:
A) Good Nerves: adrenaline is the ultimate energy source and your own body produces it.
B) Bad Nerves: you're scared - enough said.
C) Not nervous enough: can you say upset?



MENTAL TOUGHNESS
1. RULES WITHOUT RELATIONSHIPS = REBELLION
Team rules and high standards will not be accepted or adhered to, and coaches will not be able to hold players accountable if a real
player/coach relationship is not developed.
Relationships with players must be based upon things beyond just their athletic performance.
Without the relationship, a player's commitment to you, the team, and rules and standards may be conditional (playing time, extrinsic
rewards, favoritism).
2. HIGH STANDARDS
To expect great things from players, coaches need to also have high standards for themselves and their staff.
The fight against mediocrity and underachievement is a taxing, relentless pursuit. Some coaches are unwilling to make the commitment
(physical, mental, and emotional) to motivate players and hold them accountable because it takes time, energy, confrontation, and
continual monitoring and evaluation.
Praise athletes for things that are praise-worthy. Shallow self-esteem and low standards will result if you praise them for just going
through the motions or simply give them "open" praise.
3. COMPETITIVE TRAINING & INSTRUCTION
Design training to push players to perform at higher levels beyond their comfort zones.
The team can only develop a competitive edge in training via quality training sessions. Players can only do on the game field what is
done in practice.
Training intensity and speed should attempt to mirror that of game-play.
4. TEAM & INDIVIDUAL DYNAMICS
Be aware of the team's dynamics and how these could impact team chemistry and performance.
Be aware of each player's personality, preferences, and motives for playing, their own individual contribution, and how these could
impact team chemistry and performance.
5. RESPECTING THE RESERVES
One of the key components of good team chemistry and effective leadership is the treatment of the reserve players.
What are the altitudes of the reserve players? Are they respected for their contributions?
How do the starting players view and treat reserves?
How do you treat your reserve players compared to how you treat your starters?
How effective a leader you are could depend upon how worthy all players feel about their individual contributions.
6. REINFORCEMENT & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Confront and motivate players to aspire to reach higher standards via productive communication. Every athlete has an ideal way of
receiving information. Being aware of what method works best for which athletes can go a long way.
Players will only overachieve if they are pushed beyond their comfort level. This is not an easy process, so prepare to confront athletes
on a daily basis.
Instruct players about the process, mainly the "why's", "what's", and the "how's." Players want a say, and they want ownership of their
efforts and their team's pursuits. Let them know why they are doing a specific task and how it is supposed to look and feel.

Rookie Meeting
1. HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM YOU CANT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN

2. 27 YEARS AGO I WAS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE NOW I STILL REMEMBER HOW I FELT.

a. EMOTIONS:

NERVOUS
HOMESICK
FEAR OF FAILURE
FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

b. HOW DO YOU COMBAT THESE EMOTIONS:

TRUST
PERSEVERANCE: NEVER GIVE UP!
PATIENCE: BE TOLERANT OF NEW PEOPLE, NEW SITUATIONS, GIVE IT A CHANCE
BE REALISTIC: SET ATTAINABLE GOALS
COMPETE EVERY DAY: BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING
COURAGE: DEAL WITH ADVERSITY BY STANDING FIRM
COMMITMENT: SPECIAL PEOPLE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR
COMMITMENTS
3. WHAT WE ARE ASKING OF YOU:

a. BE THE PERSON THAT WE INVITED TO JOIN THE TEAM - CHARACTER COMES FIRST
b. HAVE FAITH: YOU MADE A GREAT CHOICE DONT DOUBT YOURSELF
c. STRONG COMMITMENT - EVALUATE AT END OF SEASON
d. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES - STICK WITH IT UNTIL IT COMES
e. SHOW RESPECT FOR THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE YOU
f. RESPOND TO COACHING AND LEADERSHIP
g. CARE ABOUT ALL YOUR TEAMMATES

4. OPEN DOOR POLICY
a. CLEAR AND HONEST COMMUNICATION
b. COACH TO PLAYER, PLAYER TO COACH, PLAYER TO PLAYER

5. YOU WILL BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE REGULAR STUDENT BODY

6. BENEFITS OF BEING AN ENDICOTT FOOTBALL PLAYER
a. INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM
b. MEMBERSHIP IN THE BEST FRATERNITY

7. YOU ARE SPECIAL
a. ONE OF A CHOSEN FEW WE INVITED TO BE HERE

8. PARENTS

a. TWO THINGS I DO NOT DISCUSS WITH PARENTS:
PLAYING TIME
ANOTHER PERSONS SON