Rex Lardner, the Managing Editor of American Football Monthly, is a good friend of mine. He asked me to share my transition plan on this blog. Holler at me if you have questions. Overall, I have tried to address people issues first and foremost. The people, players and coaches, are what drives a program. And, of course, the program is for the players! Email me questions if you have any at david.buchanan@mercer.kyschools.us.
I would say that one month after accepting the job on 4/2/2015, the transition has gone well but has been pretty intensive. Since taking the job, I have driven to Harrodsburg 12 times to meet with coaches, players, and address items in the transition agenda. It is a round trip of 200 miles and takes close to two hours each way- 4 hours total for each day. I am completing the school year as a teacher at Mason County. I am not getting much sleep right now, and it is a tough balance trying to see my family while my son(John Combs) is in his last few months of HS (we also have a 16-year old daughter, Emma & 11 year old son, Trosper). But, it has to be done. And, no one will sacrifice or work harder than the tone set by the head coach. If the kids, coaches and community don't see a total all out effort and commitment from me, why would they make that type of commitment to our program? The answer is easy, they would not. You always have to lead by example.
Here is the Transition Plan:
Day 1:
- Meet with team: Communicate expectations. Make my contact info available. Have team elect a transition council to provide me with information & input for planning remainder of off-season, pre-season, and season.
- Make contact with current and prospective assistant coach candidates to set up interviews.
- Arrangements made to continue current off-season workouts or set date for workouts to resume/begin.
1. Inspect and inventory helmets, shoulder pads & game uniforms.
2. Begin process of setting up Hudl to share drills and playbook w/ players & staff.
3. Post through social media, HS Scoop and state athletic association available coaching positions and teaching positions.
4. Interview current and prospective assistant coach candidates. Use job descriptions to establish roles and expectations.
5. Plan and distribute schedule for continuing off-season workouts.
6. Inspect weight room, locker room, game field, practice field, coaches’ office, equipment room & training room. Prioritize list of concerns & areas that need attention.
7. Either individually or in small groups, begin meeting with players- starting with seniors, returning starters, and returning lettermen. Gather their contact data and football information.
8. Begin to make a list of kids not currently playing football that should be. Gather that info from transition council and player meetings.
9. Contact the coaches of the other sports. Make efforts to coordinate schedules as well as possible..
10. Address college recruiting needs for current players.
11. Share my contact information and availability with faculty and local media.
12. Analyze financial condition & accounts of the program. Begin making plans for fundraising and spending priorities.
13. Check in daily with immediate supervisor at the HS - athletic director or principal.
14. Make contact with feeder program personnel. Begin process of getting everyone on the same page - Middle School Staff, Little League, YMCA & Flag Leagues.
ASAP
1. Complete hiring of staff.
2. Begin installation process of drills, offense, defense, & special teams with staff & players. Mini camp in June. Set up OTA's.
3. Establish perfection cycles and spring NFL Flag Football for lower grades.
4. Begin breakdown of opponents, priority is game #1. As able, share desired process with staff and delegate games and/or parts of breakdown.
5. Set up/plan pre-season Friday Night Camp for grades K-8.
6. As quickly as possible, move program from the transition period to a normal program schedule/timeline and process.
Here is our Transition Council Agenda. We did this on Saturday morning, April 11th, at 7 am. Some of the guys had track and baseball and that was the only time they could get there. It got my tail out of bed at 4 am that day. But, that is a positive!! It gave me a chance to demonstrate my commitment to them. And, to be fair, being at a 7 am meeting when you are a HS athlete is a pretty big commitment on a Saturday morning.... probably tougher for them than me! You know how us old guys wake up early anyway!
Transition Council Agenda:
1- What are traditions here that are important to you that we keep?
2- What are changes that need to be made?
3- Who are good kids/athletes that need to be playing football?
4- Our locker room, 2015 & beyond: How has it been set up in the past? What is the best way for me to issue equipment & lockers, and keep track of each player’s locker & gear? What about putting the locker room on the top floor?
5- Pr1de gear. Explain how it is earned & kept. Shorts: red or blue? T’s: Red, blue - compression or regular?
6- Helmet: red stripe, white #. Sword & color? Oval M as a decal or sweatband? Titans word on sweatband?
7- Red jersey, UCLA insert. Blue/white/blue or white/blue/white? Titans or Mercer? OR: White #s with sleeve stripes in royal?
8- Pants: Silver. Red-blue-red or blue-red-blue?
9- Socks: White w/ royal or White w/ red?
10- All UA gear for 2015. Will that be a problem?
11- What is the best way to install/do spring practice? Will Fridays & Saturdays work? 5-7 pm? 6:30-8:30?
12- Can we do a June mini-camp? Baseball? Basketball?
13- Where do YOU want to practice?
14- What suggestions, comments for me? If you were the HC, what would you do to make the Titans a winner?
There have been some major bumps in the road and frustrations already. When you go from a set up of 19 years and start all over, it is like learning to ride a bike again.
But, the support is there from the school administration & community. I am crazy about the kids and the coaches. I am fired up about the opportunity to make sure the kids in my hometown get a chance to play in a GREAT football program. We start spring practice next week.... more driving and miles, but well worth it!!
Go Titans!
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