When you’re coaching with a small staff, every second on the field matters.
Unlike major programs with graduate assistants and student helpers around every corner, small-college and high school coaches must make the most of limited personnel. The key isn’t doing more—it’s doing things smarter. Maximizing practice efficiency with a small coaching staff isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity if you want to compete at a high level.
Dean Pauley, defensive backs coach at the College of DuPage, knows this reality well. On an episode of The Art of Practice with Keith Grabowski, he shared the systems and mindsets that allow his team to practice like a bigger operation.
Building a Culture of Shared Responsibility
When you’re short on numbers, every coach—and player—must embrace flexibility.
“You don’t have all the GAs with you… so it really is all hands on deck,” Pauley explained (00:56). “Whether it’s grabbing equipment or helping in other areas of practice… the smoother that practice is going to be.”
At DuPage, every coach has a clearly defined role, but they work together before the season to lay out responsibilities. This clarity ensures that game week runs efficiently and that nobody is wondering who’s in charge of scout teams or breakdowns.
Players, too, take ownership. Pauley empowers his DBs to act as on-field coaches.
“I tell them, there’s one set of eyes—maybe two—but I can only see so much,” Pauley said (15:51). “If you see something, don’t let it go. Make sure you’re pointing that out to the other players.”
This culture of accountability speeds up corrections, enhances player understanding, and increases reps without burning out coaches.
Smart Planning Meets Flexible Execution
Efficiency starts in the meeting room, not on the practice field. Pauley and his staff plan each practice based on what matters most: fundamentals and situational work.
“We want to keep the main thing the main thing,” Pauley said (08:44). “Pursuit, tackling, creating turnovers, and getting aligned—those are fundamental to our defense.”
Rather than running generic drills, Pauley pairs his DBs’ individual periods with the day’s team focus. For example, if they’re seeing red zone work in team, then their man coverage drills reflect that same area of the field. This alignment ensures that practice drills translate directly to what players will see on game day.
Another way DuPage maximizes time? Technology. Pauley uses GoRoute Scout to eliminate delays between reps by sending scout looks directly to players’ devices. This allows them to rep at game speed without huddles or paper cards—doubling reps with minimal added time.
Communication Is the Backbone of Efficient Practice
In smaller programs, communication breakdowns are costly. At DuPage, Pauley trains it deliberately.
He slows things down during individual periods and gives DBs a variety of looks—forcing them to make coverage checks out loud and adjust in real time.
“You see one thing, you gotta yell another,” Pauley said (18:12). “Training the eyes as a DB is just as important as training anything else. You’ve got to be able to trust what you see.”
That level of trust and confidence comes through consistent reps and intentional teaching. By taking time to walk through calls and checks slowly, players develop faster and fewer mistakes make it to Saturdays.
Final Whistle
Maximizing practice efficiency with a small coaching staff demands more than hustle—it takes coordination, communication, and a relentless focus on what matters most. Whether it’s leveraging your players as extra eyes, tying drills to team periods, or using tech to double your reps, these strategies can help any staff punch above its weight.
As Pauley and the DuPage Chaparrals prove, small staff doesn’t mean small results—it just means smart, intentional football.
Related:
Insight into the Preparations and Teachings of a Top Defensive Passing Game Coordinator
The 90-Minute Practice Revolution