College Football Coach Job Description
Rising up the ranks to head coach, many assistants have a very clear picture of the day-to-day activities of a college football head coach by the time the team is theirs. However, for anyone not closely associated with a football team, these responsibilities usually get lost in the shuffle of all the game-day replays and recaps. It may not be as glamorous, but the head coach’s full list of responsibilities is vital to the team.
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Recruiting
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No coach can complete his job if he doesn’t have players to train. Often starting as early as National Signing Day, teams and coaches begin looking at soon-to-be high school seniors in hopes of luring them to their football programs. Coaches will bring their targeted players in for tours of their respective campuses and to educate them on their program’s history. With particularly important players, coaches will often make promises of early playing time to their prospective players.
Coaching
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Whether it is through two-a-days or rounding out the week’s final practice, coaches are brought in to make all of their athletes better, more knowledgeable football players. Teaching blocking stances, disciplining for lack of hustle, and organizing team activities, head coaches will always be determined by the success of their player’s on-the-field play. Coaches who lack the tools to motivate will never have a long tenure with any program.
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Mentoring
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In college football, and any college sport, coaches often develop strong bonds with their players, due to the conditions under which the players and coaches interact. Unlike players and coaches in professional sports, college players don’t have to worry about contract negotiations. Particularly with the early success these young players can find, coaches often act as father figures for their players and help guide them in a responsible and professional direction.
Film Study and Game Planning
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After examining opponent’s tendencies and formations through hours of countless game-day footage, coaches will put together a game plan for victory. For example, coaches who notice a poor tackler on a specific side will run toward that side of the field early and often throughout the game. It’s often these types of mismatches, which are created through simple film study, that are the deciding factors in the game's outcome.
Team Ambassador
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As the long-term focal point of their programs, head coaches tend to become somewhat of local celebrities in their communities. Typically exposed to a great deal of public scrutiny, the public will greet head coaches with cheers during seasons of success. This can help make recruiting easier. Also, many coaches will be invited to, or attend voluntarily, charity events or local fundraisers to place the ideas of community and commitment in their young players and potential boosters.
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