Fred Guidici, special teams analyst at San Jose State with more than 30 years in college and pro football, tells Doug Brady on the Football IQ podcast how he tests a recruit’s football IQ before he signs, builds it through drills and situational reps, and why the best special teams players buy in completely.
Everyone at the college and pro level is fast and strong. That’s the baseline, not the edge. The edge is whoever processes the game quicker, anticipates the defense, reads the route, or sees the stunt before it lands. That’s football IQ, and it’s the whole subject of Doug Brady’s conversation with Fred Guidici on the Football IQ podcast.
Guidici has spent more than 30 years coaching special teams in college and the NFL. He’s on his third stint at San Jose State, with stops at Stanford, Menlo College, where he served three seasons as head coach, the Oakland Raiders, and the San Jose SaberCats along the way. He’s worked under Bill Walsh and Frank Reich at Stanford and alongside Ken Niumatalolo at San Jose State. That experience has given him decades of perspective on how players learn, retain information, and develop football IQ.
How Do Coaches Evaluate a Recruit’s Football IQ?
Guidici’s approach starts before a player ever steps on campus, often during an official visit. For skill position players, especially quarterbacks, he wants to see the player draw up his favorite pass play and explain it. What does he do against Cover 2? What about man coverage or zero? Who is the hot read? Can he explain his drop and his checks in his own words?
Then Guidici asks the player to say it back. Retention is the real test. In individual camp workouts, he watches how a player absorbs a correction. Is he stepping with the wrong foot? Turning the wrong way? Guidici remembers an offensive lineman out of Marin Catholic who went through this kind of individual workout and retained everything the coaching staff threw at him. That player became a four-year starter at San Jose State and later got a shot with the Rams and in the UFL.
Guidici is also wary of leaning too hard on highlight film. He’d rather watch a full game and see how a player carries himself away from the ball, then get to know him in person. Football IQ, in his view, is tied to who the player is as a person: does he have a real passion for the game, is he coachable, does he understand what a coach is asking for instead of just nodding along.
How Should Coaches Build Drills That Develop Football IQ?
Guidici’s drill philosophy starts with a simple structure: stance and start, transition, and finish. For a punt gunner, that means the release, the transition and phase against a jammer, and the finish on the returner. Each phase gets its own drill, and those drills eventually tie together into team periods. Guidici follows an individual, group, then team progression to build the skill up.
He’s also deliberate about showing players why a drill matters, not just running it because it’s on the practice schedule. He pulls game clips, an NFL clip, a clip of the team’s own players, and shows how the technique in the drill shows up in a real game. Today’s players want to know how and why, not just that the coach said so.
That matters even more in special teams, where reps are limited compared to offense or defense. A punt team might only get one holdup drill period all week, with the rest of the teaching happening in team periods. Because the reps are scarce, Guidici keeps his drills simple and clearly defined, and he expects players to learn by watching other reps closely, not just their own.
What Separates Players With the Highest Football IQ?
Guidici has coached his share of high football IQ players, and the pattern is consistent: the best ones do extra work nobody assigns them. They watch extra film, ask extra questions, take detailed notes in meetings, and go back over them. Some watch other games on television just to keep learning.
Guidici points first to Matthew Slater, who he described as having an 18-year career built almost entirely around special teams, with only a single career reception. Closer to home, Guidici points to Galen Perry from his Menlo College days, a player who refused to come off the field. Perry played defense, returned kicks, covered kicks, and worked as a gunner on punt team, all in the same game, because he fully accepted his role and performed at a high level in all of it.
How Do Coaches Build Situational Football IQ?
Guidici’s clearest explanation of situational football is a fire alarm analogy. A team that has rehearsed the two-minute drill and situational football all week doesn’t panic when the real situation arrives late in a half or a game. They know exactly where the exit is and walk to it calmly instead of running into a wall trying to find it. The rehearsal is what makes the actual moment manageable.
That kind of situational mastery, in Guidici’s view, comes from coaches who are organized and clear in how they teach, and from building a team identity where players don’t want to let each other down. He ties it directly to accountability: missing an assignment, failing academically, or getting in trouble off the field isn’t just a personal issue, it’s letting teammates down. Players with real football IQ understand that connection and play accordingly.
How Can Players Improve Football IQ Away From Practice?
The extra work Guidici describes doesn’t have to happen only during the season or in the film room. Learning terminology, recognizing coverage structures, and testing recall are mental reps a player can put in on his own time, the same way he’d get extra swings in a batting cage or extra shots in a gym.
That’s the gap American Football IQ was built to fill. Its flashcard system breaks defensive coverages and football terminology into visual study reps, so a player can drill recognition away from the field the same way he drills footwork on it. The idea lines up directly with what Guidici describes as separating the best players: reinforcing concepts repeatedly until recognition becomes instinct instead of something a player has to think through mid-play.
Learn more at AmericanFootballIQ.com
What Did Fred Guidici Learn From His Coaching Mentors?
Guidici traces his own coaching philosophy back to a handful of mentors. His high school coach, Al Matthews, commanded respect through toughness and professionalism. At Santa Clara, Terry Malley modeled professionalism, and defensive coordinator Ron DeMotter taught him a lesson he still carries: DeMotter wouldn’t let Guidici coach a call on the field until he could explain it back clearly first. Bill Walsh at Stanford told him to be the master of one position rather than spreading himself thin, which is part of why Guidici built his career around special teams, the one role that touches every position group on the roster.
The bigger lesson underneath all of it is authenticity. Guidici is direct about this with young coaches: don’t try to be someone else. Players see through a coach who’s performing a version of another coach they admired, and once players sense that, trust breaks down. Guidici’s advice is simple. Coach like yourself, and coach players the way you’d want your own son or daughter coached.
Football IQ: Quick Answers for Coaches
How do coaches evaluate a recruit’s football IQ? Coaches ask a player, especially a quarterback, to draw up a favorite play and explain his answers against different coverages, then say it back to test retention. Watching full game tape instead of just highlight reels, and getting to know the player in person, rounds out the evaluation.
What makes a special teams player valuable beyond athleticism? The highest football IQ special teams players fully accept their role and do extra work nobody assigns them: additional film study, detailed notes, and watching other games to keep learning. Players who buy into their role completely, rather than treating it as a lesser job, tend to have the longest and most productive careers.
How should coaches structure drills to build football IQ? Effective drills follow a clear progression, stance and start, transition, and finish, built up through individual, group, and then team periods. Showing players game clips that connect the drill to a real situation helps them understand why the technique matters instead of just running it because it’s scheduled.
What is situational football IQ and how is it built? Situational football IQ is a team’s ability to handle high-pressure moments, like the end of a half, calmly and correctly because they’ve rehearsed the situation in practice. Teams that drill situational football regularly react instinctively in the moment instead of panicking when it actually happens.
Why does authenticity matter in coaching? Players can tell when a coach is imitating someone else instead of coaching in their own voice, and that erodes trust. Coaches who are consistent with who they actually are, and who coach players the way they’d want to be coached themselves, build the kind of trust that gets players to buy in fully.
How can players improve football IQ away from practice? Players can build football IQ on their own time by studying terminology, learning coverage structures, and repeatedly testing what they know until recognition becomes automatic. American Football IQ’s flashcard system was built around exactly this kind of mental rep, breaking coverages and concepts into visual study material players can work through away from the field.
Related
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Connect on X:
Podcast Host – Doug Brady: @CoachDougBrady
Fred Guidici: @Fredguidici1
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Doug Brady (01:05)
Welcome to Football IQ on the Coach and Coordinator Network. Football IQ isn’t just plays, it’s anticipating defenses on offense, reading routes as a defender, spotting stunts or blitzes before they land. When everyone’s fast and strong, the sharpest mind on either side of the ball wins. That’s what we’re exploring today with the True Master. Joining us is Fred Giudice, Special Teams Analyst at San Jose State University and a longtime Spartans legend. A 1989 San Jose State graduate,
Coach G has over 30 years of experience across college and pro football. He’s returned to San Jose State for a third time, previously serving as special teams coordinator and analyst. He’s also coached at Stanford Menlo College where I actually met coach, including three seasons as head coach. The Oakland Raiders, the San Jose Sabercats, to name a few. Fred, thanks for coming on. It’s always great to talk with someone who has so much passion for the game.
Fred Guidici (02:03)
Well thanks Doug, I really appreciate it and it was a pleasure coaching you back in the Menlo days and I always thought that you’d become a ball coach and a great line for football so this is awesome.
Doug Brady (02:15)
I appreciate it coach. remember just how you brought the energy every day. It didn’t matter what we were doing. You always brought just a professionalism. You brought energy. You always coached everybody with great detail. And you’re the best nickname giver I’ve ever been around. I’m sure you got nicknames for every single person in the building. So I think that’s
Fred Guidici (02:39)
I do.
Doug Brady (02:39)
something to be remembered for.
Fred Guidici (02:44)
That’s a good one, that is so true. That might be on my tombstone, he had great nicknames.
Doug Brady (02:52)
It’s awesome. mean, you from talking to people on in this series and just hearing from them, relationships are vital, you know, in the sport. I mean, we spend so much time away from our families and our loved ones. We spent all this time on this on this game. So the team essentially becomes our family, becomes a second family. And those relationships are important. So so appreciate how authentic you have always been with that.
So, know, from from being a player to to then transition to a coach, you know, what type of mindset did you have early on as a coach when you transition from being a player?
Fred Guidici (03:29)
What ends up happening is you still have that player mentality and you’re all fired up and you want everybody to be like how you were and you were probably just like them, kids you coached. You know what I’m saying? one thing I had that you had to, and that comes with maturity as you get older in this business. you just said I had to scale back and scale back. I mean,
I’m high octane to begin with, my octane levels have dropped even though it’s still high, but it was maybe too high early on. So you had to reel yourself in, take, sit back, and then you’ve to remember how did you like to be coached? You know, and that’s, think that’s the key thing when you transition from as a player, whatever level you’re at to a, to a coach is how did you like to be coached? And
And when I was at Menlo, we had Guy McIntyre, he came and coached us. I said to Guy, he was doing work in training camp with the 49ers. And I said, Guy, you are an all pro, he’s a hall of fame candidate. And I said, and you just got done coaching in the end. I mean, you just got done finishing helping in camp at San Francisco. I said, pitch her the worst lineman that you had there times 10,000. And that’s going to be the best guy at where we’re at.
So you got to really, you got to really lower it down and you know, he would demonstrate and he would be an inch off the ground and kids were saying, if we could do that, we wouldn’t be here. And so I was kind of helping mentor him into coaching, thinking about myself, not that I was no NFL guy by no means, but my point is that you got to, you got to, you got to
you got to be able to talk to the group and you can’t, and things are never well when I played. No one cares about when you played, if you were an NFL guy, you’re in the hall of fame or you were, you know, Joe Bocci Galo, you know, on the bench. No one cares about that. How do I, they just want to know how can you help me get better? And so I thought that, I think that was the biggest trend. thing transitioning was to emotionally detach yourself.
and be the teacher, learn to be the teacher. And even still all these years later, I’m still learning to be the teacher. And that’s the best part about the business is I don’t know everything. I’ll never know everything. And if the day I think I do know everything is the day that I’m going to be in trouble as a ball coach. So it doesn’t matter if you learn from a high school guy, a college guy or a pro guy or some guy that just comes up with some, an idea to make something better, easier to teach, make it more fundamentally sound.
structurally sound so you’re playing fast. So there’s not paralysis by analysis. So that’s the thing that I think I went from that first question that transitioned all the way through up to today.
Doug Brady (06:26)
I love that. I think that’s wise, right? When you’re able to realize that you’re no longer a player. I’ve seen coaches demonstrate and shoot, I’ve been guilty of it. And then I realized, shoot, I’m one demonstration away from getting injured here. know what I mean? My glory days are over, right? No, that’s a lot of fun. In regards to bringing players on.
You go through a recruiting process and you guys think about the types of players you need to get on your recruiting board and then fill your roster with. From a football IQ standpoint and just knowing what they know, what types of things do you do to perhaps test somebody on their football IQ before they even get on campus?
Fred Guidici (07:11)
You know, I think it starts on either an official visit or if you visit the school. I think the key thing now, remember I’m an ST guy. So it’s, you’re not going to talk. The punter is not going to know how to punt protect. He just knows how to catch the snap and get the ball off.
Doug Brady (07:27)
Sure.
Fred Guidici (07:29)
But, and the kick off, the kicker doesn’t know what you’re doing scheme wise. He’s just trying to get it in the back of the end zone. But I think for position players, okay.
I think the college guys, what I think the best way to me to do that is, is to go, okay, Doug, we’re recruiting you. Okay, draw me up your favorite pass play.
How did, okay, what do you do against cover two? What do you do against man? What about zero? Well, then you might, who’s your hot read? And then you might say, well, this is what we checked you. And then you’re, you’re going to do, this is my, you know, know, three quick or five and sit or whatever your drop is. say if you’re under cell or whatever from the, from the gun. So I think, I think knowing that, especially at the quarterback position, can he draw everybody up and then, and then, you know, giving you a, you know,
You hear the spike, you know, spy whatever F2 spy, but I don’t know. Yeah. Yeah.
Doug Brady (08:25)
Rider 2 Y Banana, yeah.
Fred Guidici (08:28)
John grew and stuff. mean, that’s all West coast stuff, but he, you know, one thing you guys do is, is you say it. Okay, Doug, say that back to me. You know what I’m saying? So I think, you know, retention and all that. think that’s a huge thing. I think when you’re in a camp situation, if you can work with the kid.
And it’s more individual and you show a drill and then say, okay, even if it’s a cone drill, let’s see if he retains what I say. As he stepping with the wrong feet, is he turning the wrong way? Is he not backfilling? We should have been side shuffling. How does he retain information? And we had an offensive lineman that we had back when you could do individual workout camp deals, which was all above board.
uh, in the NCAA many years ago, had a kid out of Marin Catholic and, our line coach. He’s, happens to be the line coach at the Minnesota Vikings now put him through this little workout. And it was all about how, how do we retain, how does he retain? And the kid did it outstanding. was a heck of a, he was a four, three, four year starter here for us. And he ended up having a shot at the Rams and a, a UFL. But my, my point is that how does that kid retain?
I think what happens is in college football, we all, and I’m putting me, I’m in the we category, we all get caught up in highlight films and, and, oh man, he’s got an offer from so and so. I really don’t believe that you got to get a week. Highlight film, I think, get your foot in the door to watch his game tape. Okay. And see what he does away from the ball. How his body language is or if you could see that, that’s hard to see in tape, but it’s scouting that person, kid in person, really getting to know that guy.
You know, as far as football, when you talk about football IQ and I think it carries into what kind of a person is he? Is he looking and now, and unfortunately in our day, the new day of rev share and NIL, is he just looking to make money? Is he looking for this to a step to go on to, you know, you can’t predict that because all of a sudden if Doug Brady hits it big, he’s leaving Menlo and he’s going up to the next level. So I get that. think everybody wants the best for everyone, but.
But how do you take it kid? You gotta be comfortable that he’s gonna fit on what you’re talking about. He understands, he has a passion for it. He has clear eyes when you’re talking to him, right? Well, yeah, we called that guy H, you know what I’m saying? It’s like, him what you call him. We’re not trying to see if you know what I know, but.
That’s a big thing, know, in, in, in, you know, offensive, defensive line, but what technique, what do you like about this? Well, how do you come out of this? Things like that. Um, I think that’s what you got to do, especially, you got to the note, see if the kid has any football IQ and now obviously there’s only so much you can do in high school because you go in both ways and you don’t have meeting time like you do in college. So you got to keep that in consideration, but yeah, I think those are some of the things you got to really consider.
Doug Brady (11:34)
Yeah. So talking about drill mechanics and you know, you’re obviously you’ve spent time with Bill Williams. You know, he’s a guy that I learned a lot from over the years and, really am very thankful for that opportunity. But he always said the drills are the game and
you the drills that you’re doing ought to show up in the game. And so when you’re setting up your different drills on the special team side, you know, what are some protocols you go through? Like how do you build your drills, right? Like for quarterbacks, I like to have a decision element, a pressure element, and a distraction element, you know, for a drill. And that’s kind of like how I build my drills. So how would you build your special teams drills to teach scheme?
Fred Guidici (12:17)
I, everything from a stance and a start to, you know, from the ball to transition to finish. And all those drills, you could say like from a, for example, a punt gunner standpoint. Okay. What’s our stance? What’s our release?
transition and phase with a hold up jammer down the field and how do we finish on the returner. Those are all three different types of drills. There’s different drills to set that up and then you tie that in together and then you can go into team and then you can run it. I believe in individual group and then team as far as teaching progression. So drills that that and in an ST you there’s a lot of there’s carryover for offense and defense.
You could use a rip by as a defensive lineman on an interception or fumble recovery because you can’t block below the waist. And conversely, even now, with the rules of changing, I’m not cutting other offensive players to also use that themselves down the field. So I always try to do things that pertain. And show game clips. This is why we do this. This validates the drill.
Not because I said so. Everybody not, they want to know what, how and why. Okay. Those are the things. What is it? How, how, and why are we doing this? Okay. And those things, they need to be explained to, cause it’s not like the old days of it’s cause the coach said so and I’m going to do it. So bang my
Doug Brady (13:53)
you
Fred Guidici (13:53)
head 10 times on the wall and I’m going to be in tougher. Well, today if people are going to say kids are going to go, well, how, why would you do that?
How’s that gonna make me a better and why? So you show, hey, this is an example of transitioning down the field, fighting the hand fighting with the jammer, stacking them, throwing them by. Look at this, this is how, here’s a clip from the Falcons versus Chiefs. This is us at whatever school I’m coaching. This is you doing it. All right, so then the kids see that,
No, now I know that can help me. This is why that allowed me. that’s how I, my thought process where drills are. And in special teams, mind you, it’s not like O or D where you have EDDs Doug, like this
Doug Brady (14:47)
you
Fred Guidici (14:48)
is we’re doing quarter, but we’re doing S, know, CQ exchanges every day. You may
Doug Brady (14:53)
Yeah, right.
Fred Guidici (14:54)
do one holdup, you know, drill.
I’ve told kids, you know, this is the only, this might be the only, we may be doing this a couple of times and that’s it. The rest of it, may not have to, it might be all team stuff. So that’s why you’ve got to be vicarious and learn by listening and taking the reps in above other people, you know, mentally. And when you get yours, you’ve got to make the best of it. So you’re very limited in that. So that’s why you’ve got to keep things very simple and concise. And you’ve got to be clear in what your.
clearly defined what you want to be done.
Doug Brady (15:30)
Absolutely. You know, I’ve been around you, been around some other special teams coaches that have very efficient with their time because you have to be right. when the, when, know, typically when the practice plan is being drawn up, it’s being drawn up, you know, by people who have the offense and defense in mind, right. And they’re going to give you a little, little slivers of time there and expect you to go execute and go protect against all those hidden yards that we know is vital.
It’s absolutely
Fred Guidici (16:01)
No question.
Doug Brady (16:01)
vital. Special teams is so vital. And you always used to have a, I’m sure you still have the saying, we need you. Where
Fred Guidici (16:08)
Yep.
Doug Brady (16:09)
did that saying come from? And then if you could share any other sayings that you believe in.
Fred Guidici (16:13)
Well,
the old Menlo days was don’t sing it, bring it. That’s what we said
Doug Brady (16:18)
Right.
Fred Guidici (16:18)
in Menlo. But when I first came to San Jose State, as you can see this picture in 2012, I didn’t know one kid on the team. So I was interviewed, hi, Fred Judici, coach of specialties. Hey, we need you. Not great to meet you. Hey, we need you. We’re going to need you on specialties. Well, I didn’t realize I was saying that. Well, then kids would see me again. Hey, we need you. And it just started like that and organically.
just exploded and that just became who I am and it’s going hard and strong today but it’s it’s an all-in it’s all inclusive of hey we need you to be a part of something you know we need each other it’s it’s it’s got multiple meanings and so it kind of all encompassing for everything and every one so that’s where that came from it just I didn’t say this is what I you know it
started here at San Luis State in January of 2012. So it’s been going strong ever since and I’ve carried it with me to Stanford and back at Sabre. Yeah, it was fun. anyway, kids get a kick out.
Doug Brady (17:25)
That’s awesome. I love it. Love that story. Yeah. I remember you, you’re saying when we were at Menlo that’s brings back good memories.
Fred Guidici (17:31)
Don’t say it. Yeah.
Doug Brady (17:33)
Yes, sir. you know, when you think about the IQ of a football team, you know, all three phases, it, the people, people that really understand that you went in between the margins, you know, the little small little margins of victory, you know, and, and that
football IQ that exists on the team. How do you form that? know, it, is it from the go ahead? How do you form that?
Fred Guidici (17:58)
You had more of your ass in
Doug Brady (18:00)
Yeah, like does it does it come from the top? Does it come from the head coaches values and you know different reminders that a head coach brings up? Does it come from real detailed situational planning and then being able to execute you know last second field goal kick? Where does does football IQ come from? You know from a team standpoint.
Fred Guidici (18:22)
Um, well, I’ll say this football IQ is, is, especially out here. We have to, we have to drive it. The coaches, pop Warner high school, college pro. have to drive it ourselves. Um, not everybody’s a Doug Brady or a Tom Brady. You know what I’m saying? And meaning you’re just so locked in and
Some guys love playing football and some guys, it’s their whole life, like yourself, like Bulty Brady guys, you know what I’m saying? And so, but for some kids it’s not, they love playing, but we have to help guide that. And the best kids at the best IQ are guys that do the extra. Okay. They watch extra film. They come in and ask extra questions. They take copious notes in their meetings and they go over them.
And they may watch other games on TV and they may go, hey, you know what? No. You see what I’m saying? So, and then I think, you know, on our end of it, I think situational football is you want to be situational masters at the two minute drill, whether you’re O, D and S, tied in. You don’t want to have a, my God, my God, my God, have the fire alarm going off and I don’t know where to go. You just run right into a wall. You know.
You want it to be in any situational situation that when the alarm goes off, you know exactly where the exit is and you’re walking calmly to that exit as you walk out the door instead of panicking and looking to where the exit is. And that’s kind of, I don’t know if that analogy makes sense because we’ve rehearsed the drill before the actual fire.
And guess what? We may not have that fire. If it happens, we’re ready for it. We’re ready for it. And no one’s going to get hurt. We will all safely get through this as you would be in a situation at the end of a half or end of a game. Does that make sense?
Doug Brady (20:34)
I think that was a perfect,
perfect analogy coach. You I mean, you try to plan for things that might come up. You create contingency plans, being calm when it arises is the biggest thing. So I think your analogy is very fitting. That’s good.
Fred Guidici (20:50)
But I just,
think, I think a lot of things, obviously is if the, if the coaches are well prepared and organized and the presentations are clear for the student athlete or at, or professional athlete to learn. Okay. And digest that then, and as you make it fun and interesting, you know what I mean? Instead of monotonous and boring.
That’s where I think the IQ comes up because they’ve now taken a true interest in loving what they’re doing. And if you build things into, we’re playing for each other. And I did that at Menlo with you, I’ve done that everywhere and I’m doing it today as we speak. Is everything I do is a reflection, is gonna reflect the team.
If I, don’t want to let my brother down by being lazy and then I hold. You see what I’m saying? Or I don’t study and I forget to do what to do on so-and-so play. Or I do something stupid outside of football that can get me in trouble, you know, or I academically screw up and I’m not eligible. I’m letting my teammates down. So all that ties into what makes a great
teammate and I think having an IQ, having an IQ, you know, that really helps because you know what to do and any situation arises, you’re going to be prepared for that and you’re going to uplift your teammate by, you know, maybe caring somebody longer or tutoring and helping him, he or she as, you know, as whatever situation or whatever play arises.
Doug Brady (22:36)
Absolutely. So, you know, I’ve been a fan of the game for a long time. Steve Tasker was a great special teams player. know, Sam Ono was the guy lives here in San Diego, was special teams player of the year in 89. So I’ve, you know, either followed or been around some good special teams players. Who are some of the best, maybe highest football IQ special teams players that you’ve coached throughout your career?
Fred Guidici (22:58)
Are you just named two guys? And I know Sam really well too. He’s one of the all time, my favorites, but how about, I mean, guy that comes to mind, Matthew Slater from the Patriots only, he’s only caught one ball in his career and had an 18 year special teams career. I think the other thing, it’s funny you say that.
In my personal career, there’s many guys, there’s always a couple guys on each team, maybe three or four. And they know that’s their role. And everybody has a role on the team. And I tell those guys, if you’re the starting left guard on P8, you feel, well, you’re a starter on P8, you’re a starter. You are a starter. It’s your
Doug Brady (23:46)
Amen.
Fred Guidici (23:46)
job to hold. You are a starter.
You have a job, you have a role. And some guys, they may struggle to get on an O or D or they’re just a couple of guys better than them, but special teams, live, they love it, they live for it. And they make your day, they make your job and your
Doug Brady (24:07)
Okay.
Fred Guidici (24:07)
day a lot easier. And I don’t know, I just throw a name out, you don’t want to laugh. And from our meddler days, was a member, Galen Perry, I don’t know if you ever played with him, but.
Doug Brady (24:17)
Absolutely. Yep. I
remember, Gael.
Fred Guidici (24:20)
I’ve never, he’s one of the few guys in my career who would not come off the field. I he played defense and he was on all four and he was a return guy. He wouldn’t be a gunner. He was flying out on a kickoff. He was on a KOR. He was the punt. I mean, he would not come, I could die again. I’m give him the, no, I’m fine. And he was performing at eye level because he took it. You know, that was his role.
on top of where he already was a starter and he had a lot
Doug Brady (24:49)
Yeah.
Fred Guidici (24:49)
of passion for it. And you you can’t make those guys, you know, those guys, those guys make you. And so that’s, I’m just using somebody that I’ve had other guys and I’m not, I’d be missed by not saying everybody, but there’s very,
Doug Brady (25:04)
Sure, sure.
Fred Guidici (25:05)
very few guys like that. That’s, that’s the one that I can, that you know, and I know together that we have a relationship with, but.
You know, and he, again, he went through, and he’s coaching now in high school, I think in Las Vegas, and he hits me up for things and I
Doug Brady (25:22)
I’m
Fred Guidici (25:23)
love that kid. So he’ll keep growing man now, but it’s just, yeah, look, I’m excited. He’s
Doug Brady (25:29)
Love it.
Fred Guidici (25:29)
thinking about it.
Doug Brady (25:31)
Love it. Love it. So, you know, thinking back to your mentors, coach, you people that instilled the values and the football IQ into you, you know, who’s somebody that comes to mind, you know, in regards to your coaches that, you felt was really organized.
Fred Guidici (25:45)
I’ve
had a lot of guys, starting to go into Santa, in my old high school, had my old high school coach Al Matthews, who was a guy who just looked up, didn’t respect it, and he was professional, and he was a tough dude. And I just wanted to be that guy. I got to Santa Clara and-
Uh, Terry Mallee was really instrumental and being professional around things, right. You know, calming me down and Ron DeMotter was there. He was a defensive coordinator and he came with me for a bit,
Doug Brady (26:18)
Remember coach? Yeah.
Fred Guidici (26:21)
but Ron was a D I mean, he wouldn’t let me coach on defense. I had to draw everything up and, and, and I had to. Regurgitate back to him. He goes, I’m not going to let you talk to these guys. If you can’t tell me how good, you know, and I went, I thought that was one of the great lessons.
35 years ago, getting started over there. And that I will never forget, you know, and there was, but there’s been, you know, and then you just, as you see guys, just through the, but those early years of those guys and, and just like I said, Terry and the professionalism, Ron in the detail, Al and just how he was, you know, just the, the, the respect he commanded.
You just want to, you just try to, you want to be, you can’t be The thing think for all you young guys that are listening or watching, uh, you got to be you. Okay. I don’t want any, I don’t, I wasn’t trying to be anybody else. You know, you hear about guys that are on so-and-so’s tree and they’re trying to act just like so-and-so. Don’t do that.
Doug Brady be Doug Brady, Fred G be Fred G. Don’t try to be Ron Dumont, Terry Malley or. Then the player, and you played every… People see through that. Everybody goes, look at me, he’s trying. That’s not even who he is. And then once that happens, you don’t have trust factors between player and coach. Because people say, this guy’s just a phony. He puts on a show out there. He’s trying to be so-and-so. And of course I’ve been around Bill Walsh.
I’ve been around now and I’m not dropping names, but I worked for Bill Walsh at Stanford. You know, just last year with Frank Reich at at at the Stanford. Wow. What a, What a human being. And, know, and, And being with Ken Niumatalolo now, same type of guy, just treat people with respect. There’s no, you know, There’s not yelling and screaming at kids, yelling and screaming at coaches.
And I think, when, when when there’s mutual respect, I think you get the most out of players and coaches that way. I think, you know, you know, you know, coach with respect, not fear. Alright. And I think it goes, it goes a lot farther. And you know what? At the end of the day, like I said, how do you want to be coached? You want to, If you didn’t like that, why do you have to do that? So,
you know, coach somebody like you’d want your son to be or your daughter to be coached or how you’d like to be. So that’s sort of been when you talk about, and again, you talk about a bunch of guys and, and, and Bill Walsh was just the master of detail. And he said, he used to say, just coach one thing, be the best running back coach in the country. Be the best court. Oh, I need to coach online to learn this. I need to coach dealer. Then you’re, you’re spread too thin. Of Of course you want to know what’s going
on, but be the master of your position at your specialty. See what I’m saying? So I always,
Doug Brady (29:27)
That’s good. Absolutely.
Fred Guidici (29:29)
that I took from him. I thought was really good. said, okay, I’m going to stay an STI because I love it. Cause you coach the whole team. You know, the DB coach doesn’t know any of the linemen or the linemen don’t know him. Here. I know everybody. And, and that’s, and I
Doug Brady (29:46)
point.
Fred Guidici (29:47)
think that’s just my personality too, Doug. So, um.
And if I coached just defense, I’d be on manic all the time, like I was at Santa Clara. So I think this works out that there’s, you know, fourth downs whenever they come or touchdowns. So there’s time in between. So I get a chance to reload. anyway, that’s sort of, and I may be, I may
Doug Brady (30:08)
Yeah.
Fred Guidici (30:10)
be missing on some, but there’s just been multiple people that have just shown me the level led by example that I’ve really enjoyed.
And then how not to do it. I’ve seen, been around guys and how not to do that. And I’m not naming names, I, you know, we can, we’ve all been around it. I had guys and assistants, like there’s no way I would want to be like that or treat anybody like that. anyway.
Doug Brady (30:40)
Well, that’s good. I think the whole message earlier about being a lifelong learner, and then being willing to learn from people, those are big takeaways for me. I think about my time as a coach and the mistakes that I made, because I was really driven as a player and I felt like I’d…
transfer that over to being a coach. so it’s good to hear some of these reminders from people like yourself that have been at it a long time and have had success for a long time. So coach transitioning, know.
you had a big life event, you’ve had a few big life events, you know, since we were together and are very happy for you and kind of follow from afar and just see the happiness that, you know, that exudes, you know, on your posts. And I know you took a trip with your with your wife recently over to the motherland. Tell me, tell me about that.
Fred Guidici (31:34)
So we went to the
U.S. in 2024. We went back to Sicily and saw my relatives and they loved my wife. That was good because she spent a lot more time back there. So it’s good being in the Mediterranean and seeing my mom and dad’s side. So it’s always good to be back there. I love it there. And then we went on the mainland and did the wrong thing. She had never been there. Everybody has to go to Rome one time.
architecture and whatnot. And of course the food is phenomenal anywhere in that country. In the mainland or the island. But we enjoyed that. then the greatest thing that happened in my life, I had a baby girl on the 4th of July.
Doug Brady (32:19)
Congrats.
Fred Guidici (32:20)
it was things, and it was the changes, know, well, did it change me? I don’t know if it changed me. It just, I know how people feel as parents now.
That’s the difference. I working any harder because I have a baby? No, because I’ve always kept the same work ethic. You my dad used to say to I think you may have heard me say this at Menlo, there’s nothing to do, sweep the floor. I used to hear that my whole life. But having a daughter is outstanding. It’s really cool. And I met my wife at Menlo. She worked in, what do call it, student life back then.
And right when you, I think you had gotten out, she came in at 07 and we started dating at 8 and then we started dating at 10 and got married at 16 and the baby was last year. And God,
Doug Brady (33:12)
guys.
Fred Guidici (33:14)
what a, so everybody’s, you know, and I was at Menlo and I kept thinking, yeah, I’m trying to get out of here. And then I really, and I just early on, way early, I thought it’d be a couple year deal. And I just fell in love with the place and the kids and you you came into the picture and.
You know, all the different coaches and then we met and one thing’s led to another and God, here we are. And she’s been a, a, and if you young guys that aren’t married yet, heed my advice. And you want to do this business, you got to find the right woman that understands this whole thing. If they don’t.
It’s either going to be a short relationship or a short career. It’s your decision. So that’s my suggestion as far as anyone getting, she went, I get, you heard that big gap between when we, now there’s age difference and all that. So I’m dot, dot, dot, cross, cross, cross, cross, more T’s
Doug Brady (34:10)
You
Fred Guidici (34:11)
and I’s than you can, than there are I think in the world. But I got them all done and it all worked out the way it’s supposed to work out. So.
Anyway, my daughter, you know, she had a picture with the Axe last year after we beat Calvin. That’s one of my better days in life.
Doug Brady (34:26)
Okay.
Fred Guidici (34:27)
And, and she’s been to practice at San Jose State. Let me see. Let me see if I can show you guys that you can get the biggest kick out of that. But anyway, so yeah, that’s, that’s what’s been going on with me personally. So it’s all good.
Doug Brady (34:43)
Love it, coach. That’s awesome. Are you going to try to share that?
Fred Guidici (34:48)
I was trying to see if there’s that picture. Hang tight sports fans with me as I’m trying to. I don’t even know how I.
Doug Brady (34:56)
Or
even if you have it on your phone, you could just show it. can just show it right to the, right to the, yeah, that’s a, that’s
Fred Guidici (34:59)
You know what, you do anything, you probably do that. But anyway,
Doug Brady (35:04)
a big deal. I think, you know, for, for me traveling all over the country and, know, really once I got a job at pack my pack, vehicle and whatever it didn’t fit was, was going to be sold or thrown away. And, know, you just make football your whole life and, you know, you lock in on, on that work. And, but, you know, some really good advice.
happy for you that you’ve… Love it. There she is. There she is.
Fred Guidici (35:28)
You see that? That was right.
You know, we’re trying to get through the crowd and she wasn’t
Doug Brady (35:33)
Ha ha ha ha.
Fred Guidici (35:34)
crying till we got to the Axe. But you know, it’s funny, I had
Doug Brady (35:37)
Love it.
Fred Guidici (35:39)
told the players last year in the very first spring, special team spring meeting, I said, and my wife’s pregnant, we’re going to have a baby girl and we’re going to get a pitcher next to the Axe. So I put it out there and
Doug Brady (35:53)
Amen.
Fred Guidici (35:54)
they made it happen.
Doug Brady (35:55)
Let’s go.
Fred Guidici (35:56)
And so anyway,
it was one of the better days. that’s what’s, that’s the thing I love about what I’ve been in my career is I’ve had family and friends. Enjoy everything. And I’ve tried to get people tickets and I, and I, you know, and stuff. And I love that they get a chance to enjoy and be a part of all this at every place I’ve ever been. And so that’s been a really good thing to me. That’s what I get the most out of is.
not just coaching the kids, but the people, the loved ones and friends around me, they get a chance to enjoy and experience what I’m experiencing. And so whether they can get there or not, I always appreciate everyone’s support and love through this journey that’s been a, I wouldn’t call it a laborer, love is no laborer. It’s just the love of love, man. This is really cool. And I appreciate
Doug Brady (36:52)
That’s awesome.
Fred Guidici (36:53)
it and I’m grateful for everything and everybody that’s getting.
these opportunities and meeting guys like yourself. To To me it’s, you never forget the forget the players. Once we think it’s about us and our ego, you’re in the wrong. And there’s too many guys that think that way, that I’m smarter than everybody else. I’m telling you right now, I I had Tyler Ervin as a returner here and
He made me look like I knew what I was doing. I had this guy, Keith Smith, here. He ended up playing in the NFL for like eight years. I mean, those are the guys. It’s all about the players. So yeah, recruiting is a big part of the deal. And
Doug Brady (37:38)
Yeah.
Fred Guidici (37:40)
sure, but you want to put them in the best position as possible. Not saying that any dummy can throw anybody out there, but when those guys buy into what you’re saying, on whatever position you coach,
You know, they’re going to go through the wall for you. Again, that’s trust factors. Getting to know the person, knowing that you have their back, knowing you’re getting on them for a good reason, holding them accountable. Okay. But at the same time, loving them up and knowing, Hey man, I got you on or off the field. And relationships never end because you graduated doesn’t end the tie. It’s just, we’ll see you call me if you need me or I’ll talk to you soon. You know, it’s.
Doug Brady (38:19)
Absolutely. Now
you’ve always been like that for me. mean, I’ll say you got me the job at Stanford. You know, I’ve made a lot of good relationships there in a short period of time, you know, and, you know, any, anytime that I’ve ever called, you’ve always called me back and always messaged me back. So I know when you say that you’re, mean that and
I was there for a short period of time at Menlo and you’ve treated me very well. So I appreciate you coach and thanks so much for coming on and I look forward to staying in touch man and following the Spartans this year and best luck to you.
Fred Guidici (38:50)
Yep, thank you.
Appreciate you and love being on this thing and let’s do it again.
Doug Brady (38:57)
Yes, sir. All right, brother.
Fred Guidici (38:59)
Take care.