It seems as though coaches have taken a beating in the media lately.
Although you never want to see anyone’s laundry aired out
in public, some of the scrutiny has not been without warrant.
Coaches behaving badly are not the norm, but out of the thousands and thousands of coaches out there, there are sure to be a few bad apples in the bunch. But for the most part I believe the coaching profession, especially football coaches, to be among the best people in the world.
Even longtime coach and AFM contributing writer, Thom Park, felt the need to share a few coaching commandments to live by, which can be found on page 40 in this issue’s Staff Report.
With all this talk about doing the right thing, it reminds me of a lesson learned by Craig D. Coleman. Coleman has been a football coach since graduating from Adrian College in 1987. Coach Coleman attended the United States Sports Academy in 1988 and earned his master’s degree in sports sciences and coaching: among those graduating with Coach Coleman was his roommate and current Texas Tech head coach, Mike Leach. Most recently, Coach Coleman, who’s defensive clinic article on combo coverage appears in this issue on page 34, was the defensive coordinator at Morris Brown College before the entire athletic program was dissolved due to the school’s loss of accreditation.
Although Coach Coleman could be upset with the predicament he now finds himself, the 16-year coaching veteran is ever vigilant of brighter days ahead. However, Coach Coleman is not a stranger to a few growing pains along the way.
“Coach Ron Labadie gave me my first coaching job at Adrian College,” said Coleman. “It didn’t pay much, basically just room and board, but it was at my alma mater so it was special.”
Coach Coleman, who was living in the dormitory and was just a year removed from being a student himself, decided to attend spring break with a group of undergraduates.
“When word got back to Coach Labadie that I was partying it up at spring break, he was furious,” said Coleman. “I was about to find out real quick what it took to be a football coach and a man.”
Coach Labadie had Coach Coleman write an in-depth manual on every nuance of football, including the plays, the schemes, the positions and the rules. It took Coach Coleman a month to complete, but after he finished he had a new perspective on his chosen profession and the decisions he had made.
“You know, I hated writing that manual,” said Coleman. “But it taught me that coaching was serious business and that it was time to grow up and become a professional. I still have that manual to this day and I look at it often to remind me of why I got into this business. I love football and, although football has not always loved me back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve seen colleagues lose focus or stray outside the boundaries of what we, as professionals, must adhere. We must all remember that as coaches we have an opportunity to touch peoples’ lives and enrich our own. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
No, Coach Coleman, it certainly doesn’t.
Coaches behaving badly are not the norm, but out of the thousands and thousands of coaches out there, there are sure to be a few bad apples in the bunch. But for the most part I believe the coaching profession, especially football coaches, to be among the best people in the world.
Even longtime coach and AFM contributing writer, Thom Park, felt the need to share a few coaching commandments to live by, which can be found on page 40 in this issue’s Staff Report.
With all this talk about doing the right thing, it reminds me of a lesson learned by Craig D. Coleman. Coleman has been a football coach since graduating from Adrian College in 1987. Coach Coleman attended the United States Sports Academy in 1988 and earned his master’s degree in sports sciences and coaching: among those graduating with Coach Coleman was his roommate and current Texas Tech head coach, Mike Leach. Most recently, Coach Coleman, who’s defensive clinic article on combo coverage appears in this issue on page 34, was the defensive coordinator at Morris Brown College before the entire athletic program was dissolved due to the school’s loss of accreditation.
Although Coach Coleman could be upset with the predicament he now finds himself, the 16-year coaching veteran is ever vigilant of brighter days ahead. However, Coach Coleman is not a stranger to a few growing pains along the way.
“Coach Ron Labadie gave me my first coaching job at Adrian College,” said Coleman. “It didn’t pay much, basically just room and board, but it was at my alma mater so it was special.”
Coach Coleman, who was living in the dormitory and was just a year removed from being a student himself, decided to attend spring break with a group of undergraduates.
“When word got back to Coach Labadie that I was partying it up at spring break, he was furious,” said Coleman. “I was about to find out real quick what it took to be a football coach and a man.”
Coach Labadie had Coach Coleman write an in-depth manual on every nuance of football, including the plays, the schemes, the positions and the rules. It took Coach Coleman a month to complete, but after he finished he had a new perspective on his chosen profession and the decisions he had made.
“You know, I hated writing that manual,” said Coleman. “But it taught me that coaching was serious business and that it was time to grow up and become a professional. I still have that manual to this day and I look at it often to remind me of why I got into this business. I love football and, although football has not always loved me back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve seen colleagues lose focus or stray outside the boundaries of what we, as professionals, must adhere. We must all remember that as coaches we have an opportunity to touch peoples’ lives and enrich our own. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
No, Coach Coleman, it certainly doesn’t.
 |
Respectfully, Aaron S. Lee Managing Editor American Football Monthly aslee@lcclark.com |
Every Issue. Every Article. Free.
American Football Quarterly is now free for every coach — no subscription, no login. Browse all the issues, or get each new edition by email.
