As staffs are built by position needs and geographic recruiting backgrounds, it’s also a good idea to build a staff that has a variety of personality strengths that are relatable and influential to your players. When hiring coaches or staff, it’s better to take your time to make the best hire. Don’t rush the hiring process if you don’t feel like you’ve found a great “fit” for your staff.
Great strengths for coaches to have fall into a few different categories, mix and match your hires to have a balance:
– RELATABLE: Coaches who were once in your player’s shoes. Have a couple coaches on staff who would be a natural mentor or friend to your current players. They are relatable:
– Similar in age (3-5 years older)
– Coaches who played collegiately at similar level
– Went through similar upbringings
– Became a parent at a young age
– Played at that university
– Similar religious beliefs
– From the same regions as your recruiting hotbeds
– HIGH-ENERGY: A burst of human caffeine, coaches who are spirited, energetic and challenging.
– DISCIPLINARIAN – Coaches who players don’t want to let down.
– X’s & O’s: They have a tremendous resume of producing great players and they know how to win!
– Top nationally at teaching their position
– Excellent strategists, students of the game, number crunchers
– Have been part of successful staffs that have won conference or national championships
– Were tremendous college players
– SCOUTS: Excellent at studying and analyzing opponents. Your players trust that they will be prepared and put in great positions to win verses any opponent.
– CHEMISTRY-BUILDERS: Coaches who have a pulse on team chemistry and energy. They keep the team loose- not too tight in stressful situations.
COACHES: Read more from ‘Recruiting Made Simple’
– GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES: The entire college experience is a learning process, and many great lessons can be learned from coaches of another generation. From my experience, some of the strongest bonds were between players and coaches who were decades apart in age.
– GOOD WITH PARENTS: Having “it” with recruiting depends on your ability to connect with parents. Not everyone is able to mesh or relate to parents and all of their questions—be sure to have a few coaches on staff who are excellent with parents.
– HARD WORKERS: Your players need to see that hard work pays off, it’s motivating to have extremely diligent and persistent staffers.
– FAMILY-ORIENTED: Coaches who have genuine respect for their family life. They take pride and an active role in being a spouse and parent.
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