Coaching demands everything—time, energy, emotion, and focus. The temptation is to pour it all into your players, your staff, and your program. But as Coach Rod Sherman of Orange Lutheran reminds us, “You can’t lead from an empty cup.”
When your cup is empty, frustration takes over, decision-making falters, and relationships—on and off the field—suffer. Great leadership starts with being full enough to pour into others.
Balancing Life and Football
Sherman shared how he and his wife commit to a weekly date night. Sometimes it’s dinner and a movie, other times it’s just grabbing takeout and laughing together at home. The point isn’t the activity; it’s the connection. Protecting family time helps him return to football with perspective and energy.
As he put it, “My relationship with my wife is incredibly important to me, and I can’t let football get in the way of that.”
Staying Spiritually Grounded
Sherman also emphasized his daily commitment to staying in the Word. He finds that starting each morning with Scripture provides the clarity and calm he needs to navigate the chaos of a head coach’s day. That grounding helps him avoid overreacting to minor frustrations and keeps his focus on what really matters.
Leading with Stability
Early in his career, Sherman admits he was inconsistent: “Kids didn’t always know what they were going to get from Rod Sherman.” Now, his goal is to show up with stability every day. For players, consistency equals trust. And trust is the foundation of a strong culture.
Why It Matters
- Players catch what coaches model. If we preach growth and balance but live frazzled and reactive, kids see the contradiction.
- A full cup creates perspective. It enables coaches to navigate adversity without losing sight of the bigger picture.
- Healthy leaders build healthy programs. When coaches lead with stability, they create cultures where players can thrive.
The Winning Edge
Coaches are quick to grind film late into the night or run one more practice rep. But the more complex challenge may be stepping back—choosing rest, family, faith, and balance. As Sherman reminds us, “It’s important for me to make sure my cup is full so that I can lead to the best of my abilities.”
About Coach Rod Sherman – Head Coach, Orange Lutheran High School
Rod Sherman leads Orange Lutheran High School football with a focus on faith, family, and consistent leadership. An Orange Lutheran alumnus, Sherman began coaching in college despite never playing football and quickly found his calling. He built Valor Christian into a national power and later gained valuable perspective at Arapahoe High School in the public school system.
Since returning to Orange Lutheran, Sherman has guided the program in one of the nation’s toughest leagues, emphasizing player growth, team culture, and mission over individual recognition. A husband, father of four, and strong believer in balance, Sherman models the values he strives to instill in his players—character, resilience, and a love for the game.
Coach Sherman was selected as the National Coach of the Week for Orange Lutheran’s win over Northwestern High School. The victory highlighted not only his team’s ability to compete on a national stage but also his steady leadership and commitment to building a program rooted in faith, family, and culture. His approach reflects why he was honored—coaching that goes beyond the scoreboard to impact the lives of his players.
This feature is presented by Modern Football Technology, a leader in real-time analytics that helps coaches identify tendencies, streamline decision-making, and gain a competitive edge on game day.
About Modern Football
Modern Football Technology presents the Coach and Coordinator Network National High School Coach of the Week. Modern Football Technology helps coaches turn data into actionable insights on game day. Trusted by programs across the country, MFT provides real-time analytics that simplify decision-making, uncover tendencies, and give coaches a competitive edge. From tracking play efficiency to breaking opponent patterns, Modern Football makes advanced analysis accessible at the high school level and beyond—so coaches can spend less time buried in data and more time leading their teams.
Still not using real-time data on game night? It’s not too late. Book a demo now and Modern Football Technology will have your team set up and ready before kickoff Friday.
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Video: Coach Sherman and Orange Lutheran use Modern Football to be more multiple and understand their tendencies.