How Stephen Lee’s honesty reminds us what offensive coaches really do The Best Coaches Are Thieves in Plain Sight Ask around long enough and a pattern emerges. The coaches who grow the most are the ones who admit how much they’ve taken from others. Stephen Lee Offensive Coordinator is one of them. His transparency makes…
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Geno DeMarco didn’t build Geneva College’s football program on trends, schemes, or quick fixes. Instead, he built it on something far more durable — continuity, calling, and a commitment to serving people first. In an era when coaches jump jobs and staffs reshuffle every offseason, Geno’s approach feels almost countercultural. That contrast is exactly why…
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By Keith Grabowski Carthage did not become a fast, confident defense because of a new playbook. They became one because their coordinator, Adam Weber, embraced adaptive defense simplicity and changed his approach when the system he knew best was not delivering what his players needed. The shift was not about the scheme itself. It was…
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By Keith Grabowski Every offseason, coaches face the same reality. The moment the season ends, the offseason coaching development cycle starts and the information fire hose turns on. Clinics, articles, cut-ups, social media threads, private visits, and group chats begin flooding you with new drills, plays, progressions, and “must-have” strategies. If you coach long enough,…
Read MoreSpecial Teams Start at the Top In football, special teams organization plays a crucial role in overall team success. Before Pete Lembo became one of the nation’s most respected special teams coordinators, he was a longtime head coach. That unique perspective shaped how he organized, taught, and emphasized special teams — and it’s why he…
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Coaching with Purpose Before talking football, John Loose always takes a moment to explain the “why.” In particular, when coaching cover 6 defense football, he believes in making the purpose clear upfront. Coach Loose and his wife Marianne are the founders of Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation, created in honor of their daughter, Lauren, who…
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RPOs in Football That Win — Not RPOs That Look Good on Paper When Matt Drinkall teaches RPOs in football, he always begins with one essential reminder for coaches: “The way you execute something is always better than the scheme itself.” Having coached RPOs in football at multiple levels, he deeply understands both the advantages…
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By Keith Grabowski Teams that create explosive plays late in the season usually share one trait: they have built a strong foundation early and know how to layer small additions onto what their players already understand. Delaware Valley football coach Mike Isgro takes this approach each week, adding only what fits the identity of the…
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By Keith Grabowski College football players face unprecedented stress each week—academics, personal responsibilities, and the physical demands of the sport all shape their readiness. Using a weekly player well-being check-in, Hope College head coach Peter Stuursma ensures his staff stays connected to each athlete and identifies concerns before they become problems. This simple system provides…
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By Keith Grabowski The transfer portal has reshaped the expectations young athletes bring to football programs. Many now believe that long-term player development should happen quickly—and when it does not, the instinct is often to look elsewhere. This shift in mindset pressures coaches at all levels, including high school and Division III, even if their…
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