“Coaching Is Caught, Not Just Taught”
That lesson hits home for many veteran coaches—and it came to life in a recent Coach and Coordinator podcast featuring a University of Missouri staff member. While scheme talk, playbooks, and film sessions all matter, real growth often comes from being in the room—or on the field—with the best.
The takeaway: don’t just study plays. Study the people who teach them.
From his roots in Oklahoma City to his current role at Missouri, this coach built his philosophy around learning by observation. Sideline visits. Clinic conversations. Watching legends coach in real time. Those moments shaped his approach more than any chalk talk ever could.
Learning Happens on the Sidelines, Not Just in the Film Room
Early on, he made a choice: to become a true student of the game. Living just 20 minutes from the University of Oklahoma, he took full advantage. Whenever spring practices rolled around, he’d drive over and take it all in—not from the stands, but from the sidelines, notepad in hand.
“I could hop in my car. Be there in 20 minutes. I’d walk out with my little pad… I would go probably at least five, ten times a year, just watch it. Watch the best coaches in America.” (38:44)
Sometimes he was the only visitor there, quietly studying sessions run by Barry Switzer, Gary Gibbs, and Merv Johnson. What struck him most? How few other coaches were doing the same.
That experience changed everything. Being around elite coaches—hearing their tone, seeing their timing, watching them adjust in real time—gave him ideas no clinic lecture ever could. It didn’t cost a dime. But it delivered priceless returns.
Let me know if you’d like to format this for a blog, newsletter, or script.
The Best Coaching Lessons Happen in the Lobby
While clinic presentations are helpful, he discovered the real magic often happens outside the scheduled sessions.
“If I wasn’t going to a speech, I went to the lobby and tried to sit as close as I could to great coaches and just listen.” (39:19)
Some of the best nuggets didn’t come from keynote speakers—but from casual conversations between elite coaches. He’d eavesdrop respectfully, absorbing the unfiltered truths, practical tips, and war stories being exchanged over coffee.
Coaches looking to elevate their craft should treat clinic lobbies like classrooms. Whether it’s listening, asking a well-timed question, or just being around coaching wisdom, the learning is rich and unstructured.
From Film Study to Field Study: Why You Must Go Watch Coaches
Every level of football requires a different approach, but one truth remains: you can’t coach what you’ve never seen done well. The coach reflects on how much his own game-day decision-making and practice planning changed after watching how top-tier staffs handle it.
“Seeing how they do it… you might not have the staff, you might not have all the people to do it exactly like they do, but you’ll definitely walk away with ideas that will make your program better.” (37:56)
College and NFL staffs often welcome high school and small-college coaches to spring practices. And while many coaches rely solely on film to improve, the ones who take the time to go watch coaches in action often see breakthroughs in how they structure drills, organize meetings, and even call games.
Conclusion: Coaching Wisdom Is Everywhere—If You Go Look for It
Coaching clinics and film study are valuable, but nothing replaces the insights gained by watching coaches coach. From observing SEC practice walk-throughs to eavesdropping on legends in hotel lobbies, this coach’s journey offers a clear message: get out, get curious, and go learn from the best.
So next time you’re tempted to rewind the same game film for the fourth time, consider this instead: hop in your car, drive to a nearby college practice, or start a conversation at the next clinic. Because the smartest coaches aren’t just watching film—they’re watching coaches.