State Champion

Building a Winning Culture After a Downturn: Strategies for Reviving a Struggling Program

Reviving a struggling football program isn’t just about changing plays or drilling fundamentals—it’s about resetting the culture from the ground up. For coaches taking over after a string of losing seasons, success starts with building an environment where players, staff, and the community can buy into a shared vision. Here’s how you can build a…

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How Peter Stuursma Uses Staff Autonomy, Culture Building, and Outside Evaluation to Drive Winning Programs

Peter Stuursma, head coach of Hope College football, has built a successful program. He joined the Coach and Coordinator Podcast and shared three components that are a part of this succes. By developing staff autonomy, a strong team culture, and seeking continuous improvement through outside evaluation, the Dutchmen have experienced success. In seven seasons, Stuursma…

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Getting More Out of Your Scout Teams

Scout teams are often the unsung heroes of a successful football program. They help prepare the first-string players for the real action on game day, simulating the opposition’s tactics and testing your starters. But let’s face it – scout teams are tough to manage. Players on these teams don’t see a lot of playing time,…

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The Shift from Play Caller to Game Manager

With back-to-back state championships, Kyle Schmitt, the head coach at Archbishop Spalding High School in Maryland, has proven that effective game management is as important as the talent on the field. Like all coaches, he valued his role as a player caller, but a shift in perspective as a head coach, he recognized the need…

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Every Season Has a Story: Notes from 7x (Consecutively) State Champion Head Coach Steve Steele

The head coach at Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota opens up about what it takes to win a championship, and then do it again six more years in a row.

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