Dante Scarnecchia joins The Mushroom Society series this week to discuss his 34 years of coaching in the NFL, all but two of those years spent with the New England Patriots. Coach Scarnecchia offers perspective on longevity in the profession, working with elite players and coaches in elite organizations, and the consistency required to be a five-time Super Bowl Champion.
Listen On:
“To young coaches that always are looking for the next job, the one you’ve got is pretty good. That grass that you think is greener on the other side really isn’t.”
– Dante Scarnecchia at 11:20
Dante Scarnecchia spent 34 years coaching in the National Football League, 32 of those 34 years with the New England Patriots. He was widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league during that time. In New England, Coach Scarnecchia served under five head coaches, including Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll, and Bill Belichick, winning five Super Bowls with Coach Belichick. Scarnecchia began his coaching journey at his alma mater California Western in 1970. He also spent time learning both sides of the ball at Iowa State, SMU, Pacific, and Northern Arizona before entering the NFL ranks.
“There are no sacred cows. We treat them all with respect. And we owe them two things – the truth, and if the truth is hurtful, then we owe them solutions.”
– Dante Scarnecchia at 19:05
Show Notes:
(3:35) Coaching Origins
>Passion Found at an Early Age
>Teaching Degree
>Experience on Offense and Defense
(10:06) Keys to Longevity
>Make the Most Out of Every Day Wherever You Are
>Worry About the Job You Have
>Maintain Physical Fitness
(17:25) Working with Great Players in Elite Organizations
>Don’t Assume Anything
>Make Every Player Better
>Treat Everyone the Same and with Respect
>Develop the Entire Roster
>There Are No Sacred Cows
>The Approach is Always the Same
(26:11) Advice for Working with Bill Belichick (or Any Great Coach)
>Be a Great Listener
>Do What the Man Wants You to Do and How He Wants You to Do It
>Have Your Sensors Up, Take In Everything
>Be Ready for Everything
>If You Have a Reason for Not Doing Something, You Better Tell Them Why
(31:02) Making In-Game Adjustments
>Speak in Clear, Concise, No Uncertain Terms
>Be Consistent with the Rules of Your System
(34:13) OC-OL Coach Relationship
“Developing your roster, at any level that you’re at, is the key to making your roster stronger and making your team better… Every guy you got, coach ’em all.”
– Dante Scarnecchia at 25:53
Additional Mushroom Society Episodes:
The Art of Great Coaching, Featuring Steve Szabo
A Healthy Player-Coach Partnership, Featuring Joe Thomas
Learning from 50 Years of Coaching, Featuring Al Saunders
Dante Scarnecchia at the COOL Clinic:
Things I’ve Learned Along the Way
