Quick. Pick a legendary head coach that you most respect from football’s
past or present – it could be Rockne, Bryant, Osborne, Paterno,
Bowden, Gagliardi, Robinson, McKissick – anyone.
Now guess the one thing that you have in common with your choice. Wins? Probably not. Championships? Keep working at it. Longevity? Let’s give it a few more years.
How about this – aside from the passion for the game and profession of football, they were all assistant coaches before they became legendary head coaches.
As with the game itself, coaching is a team sport or in this case – a team ‘profession.’ With today’s demands on head coaches pulling them in every direction except the practice field, it’s more important now than ever for head coaches to employ exceptionally qualified assistants that not only can coach, but also manage the program in their absence.
The benefit of this trend is that assistant coaches are given more responsibilities and experience in managing programs, both qualities that high school and college athletic directors look for when making hiring decisions. And that is the focus of our April issue of American Football Monthly magazine – the many aspects of Assistant Coaches.
Being that many assistant coaches fall into one of two categories – those who want to become head coaches and those who have found professional bliss being assistant coaches, this issue takes an in-depth look at both groups.
Randy Shannon, the University of Miami’s (FL) highly respected defensive coordinator, is a perfect example of an assistant coach who is on the verge of becoming a head coach. Shannon, who is expected to interview for head coaching vacancies following next season, has spent his entire career preparing for an opportunity to lead a collegiate football program by working under and with successful football coaches – coaches like Jimmy Johnson, Butch Davis, Dennis Erickson, Sonny Lubick Tommy Tuberville and current head coach, Larry Coker. Shannon has been able to learn at every level from coaches like these and has become his own coach, poised to take the next step from successful assistant coach to successful head coach.
While some coaches are focusing their careers on becoming head coaches, others are driven by loyalty to a community, family and a purpose to remain as assistant coaches. In our article, Stepping Out of the Shadows, George Lumpkin of Hawaii, Art Kehoe of Miami (FL) and Auburn’s Joe Whitt discuss their commitment to being an assistant coach at the same programs despite the turnover of multiple head coaches.
Our goal with this issue is to provide an exclusive, in-dept look at the many aspects of assistant coaches. So, whether you are directing your career towards becoming a head coach or are focusing your efforts on being a sought-after assistant coach, this issue, and every issue of American Football Monthly, has something for you to better manage your career and respective program.
As always, if there is anything that we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-355-5068. Thanks.
Now guess the one thing that you have in common with your choice. Wins? Probably not. Championships? Keep working at it. Longevity? Let’s give it a few more years.
How about this – aside from the passion for the game and profession of football, they were all assistant coaches before they became legendary head coaches.
As with the game itself, coaching is a team sport or in this case – a team ‘profession.’ With today’s demands on head coaches pulling them in every direction except the practice field, it’s more important now than ever for head coaches to employ exceptionally qualified assistants that not only can coach, but also manage the program in their absence.
The benefit of this trend is that assistant coaches are given more responsibilities and experience in managing programs, both qualities that high school and college athletic directors look for when making hiring decisions. And that is the focus of our April issue of American Football Monthly magazine – the many aspects of Assistant Coaches.
Being that many assistant coaches fall into one of two categories – those who want to become head coaches and those who have found professional bliss being assistant coaches, this issue takes an in-depth look at both groups.
Randy Shannon, the University of Miami’s (FL) highly respected defensive coordinator, is a perfect example of an assistant coach who is on the verge of becoming a head coach. Shannon, who is expected to interview for head coaching vacancies following next season, has spent his entire career preparing for an opportunity to lead a collegiate football program by working under and with successful football coaches – coaches like Jimmy Johnson, Butch Davis, Dennis Erickson, Sonny Lubick Tommy Tuberville and current head coach, Larry Coker. Shannon has been able to learn at every level from coaches like these and has become his own coach, poised to take the next step from successful assistant coach to successful head coach.
While some coaches are focusing their careers on becoming head coaches, others are driven by loyalty to a community, family and a purpose to remain as assistant coaches. In our article, Stepping Out of the Shadows, George Lumpkin of Hawaii, Art Kehoe of Miami (FL) and Auburn’s Joe Whitt discuss their commitment to being an assistant coach at the same programs despite the turnover of multiple head coaches.
Our goal with this issue is to provide an exclusive, in-dept look at the many aspects of assistant coaches. So, whether you are directing your career towards becoming a head coach or are focusing your efforts on being a sought-after assistant coach, this issue, and every issue of American Football Monthly, has something for you to better manage your career and respective program.
As always, if there is anything that we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-355-5068. Thanks.
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Respectfully, Travis H. Davis Publisher American Football Monthly American Basketball Quarterly |
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