Offensive QC football coach for THE Ohio State University| OSU & Massillon Tiger Alum| Speaker for OSU Alumni Association| President of Beyond The Game
Don’t like my HS Coach, transfer. Don’t like my college coach, transfer. Don’t play enough at my school, transfer. Don’t like my travel team, jump ship. Don’t like my role on my team, quit. What in the world are we teaching these kids? Stop it. Be resilient, plant roots & fight.
Six big influences on who you will become:
1. What you watch.
2. What you read.
3. What you listen to.
4. Who you spend your time with.
5. The things that you say to yourself.
6. The thoughts that you choose to accept.
FYI, Michael Jordan played football, basketball AND baseball in High School. Remember this the next time someone tells you to specialize. The 🐐 didn’t.
Too many kids have been taught that the goal of High School sports is to achieve an ATHLETIC scholarship.
Here is the truth:
The goal is to become a better person, better teammate & enjoy your time being a teenager…something you can’t get back.
The rest takes care of itself.
You CAN’T control:
- Height
- Natural Talent
- Natural Athleticism
You CAN control:
-Work ethic
-Focus
-Passion
-Energy
-Attitude
-Effort
Focus on the things you CAN control!
RECRUITS: Be respectful to all college recruiters.. NAIA, D3 & D2 coaches can become D1 position coaches real quick. Don’t ruin your chances of becoming big time by acting big time. Your attitude can open or close doors.
If you think your coach telling you to start behind the line & not on the line during conditioning drills isn’t important.. IT IS! That simple concept possibly cost an NFL team a chance to go the Super Bowl.
5 ways to know a player ISN’T all in:
1. Shuts down when coached hard
2. Shows up late
3. Only does the required work
4. Pouts when subbed out / on the bench
5. Doesn’t encouarage teammates
RECRUITS: Try not to get too frustrated with the recruiting process if you feel it’s not going your way. You don’t need every school to want you. You just need ONE to give you a chance and make you feel like home.
I’m honored to have the opportunity to go back to THE University that gave so much to me and serve the student-athletes through the game of football.
#GoBucks
RECRUITS: Don’t get discouraged with the recruiting process.. remember you only need ONE college coaching staff to believe in you & give you a chance.. not 50. Don’t give up on your dream.
Something I wish I realized when I was a player:
The amount of time my coaches spent away from their own families just to help me and my teammates succeed.
RECRUITS: Here’s a couple things that college coaches look for during camp season that have NOTHING to do with talent:
1. Are you coachable?
2. Do you hustle?
3. Do you compete?
4. Do you finish?
5. Do you encourage others?
5 ways to know a player ISN’T all in:
1. Shuts down when coached hard
2. Shows up late
3. Only does the required work
4. Pouts when subbed out / on the bench
5. Doesn’t encouarage teammates
RECRUITS: There’s plenty of DII, DIII, JUCO and NAIA schools that provide once in a lifetime experiences, memories, friendships, championships and degrees.
I hope you young athletes are watching this Alabama game. Hurts gets pulled in last years championship game, could’ve transferred. Didn’t. Waited his turn. Now leading his team from behind in the biggest game of the year. Sticking it out still DOES work.
RECRUITS: Your talent isn’t the only way to get college coaches to recruit you. Your character, grades, coach-ability, being a leader & a great teammate all matter.
ATHLETES: You don’t have to be a captain, senior or even a starter to be a leader. Being a leader is defined by what you do, not by a title that asks you to be one. Don’t let your role on the field stop you from having a major impact on the team through leadership.
RECRUITS: As you enter camp season remember you might be at a D1 camp, but there could be other DII, DIII or NAIA coaches there too. Don’t shut them out...There’s scholarships and great opportunities at these schools as well.
ATHLETES: No matter how much talent you have, if you are not hungry, humble & coachable... you can forget about being the best. You won’t even become YOUR best.
10 things that require ZERO talent:
- Being on time
- Work ethic
- Effort
- Body language
- Energy
- Attitude
- Passion
- Being coachable
- Doing Extra
- Being prepared
ATHELTES: Sometimes practice is hard and the grind gets tiring, but if you love playing your sport try to enjoy every second that you can. Because when it’s over, it’s over.
RECRUITS: Just 5 years ago this coach was a DIII coordinator, today he’s an NFL Head coach. Make sure you are respectful to all coaches who contact you, because you never know what position they will have in the future.
Something I wish I realized when I was a player:
The amount of time my coaches spent away from their own families just to help me and my teammates succeed.
ATHLETES: Imagine how good you could be next season if you really focused, sacrificed & got serious. You WILL be a completely different player & leader.
ATHLETES: You only get so many opportunities to put on that jersey & do what you love. Don’t take it for granted. Compete & enjoy every play, practice & game.
They all matter. Because when it’s gone, it’s gone.
RECRUITS: Having the goal to play college sports comes with a great sacrifice. All of your friends and family won’t understand your time commitment.
Stay focused and encouraged.
Why athletes with average talent succeed:
- Work hard.
- Coachable.
- Practice hard.
- Do all the little things well.
- Value & embrace their role.
Why talented athletes fail:
- Don’t work hard.
- Not coachable.
- Listen to & have the wrong people in their circle.
- Selfish.
H.S. ATHLETES: You can’t control what colleges recruit you. But you can control whether or not you give them any reason not to. Your grades and character matters!
H.S. RECRUITS: Take care of your grades & test scores. Don’t let college opportunities pass you by because you didn’t take of business in the classroom.
10 things that require 0 talent.
- Being on time
- Work ethic
- Body Language
- Energy
- Attitude
- Passion
- Being coachable
- Energy
- Doing extra
- Preperation
You CAN’T control:
- Height
- Natural Talent
- Natural Athleticism
You CAN control:
-Work ethic
-Focus
-Passion
-Energy
-Attitude
-Effort
Focus on the things you CAN control!
10 things that will help you be successful that require ZERO talent:
1. Being on time
2. Work ethic
3. Effort
4. Body language
5. Energy
6. Attitude
7. Passion
8. Doing extra
9. Being coachable
10. Being prepared
ITEMS THAT DO NOT TAKE TALENT:
- Concentration/ Focus
- Punctuality
- Mental toughness
- Enthusiasm
- Communication
- Great effort
- No missed assignments
- Awareness
- Video study/ Knowlege of opponent
- Weight room responsibilities
- Attitude
- Rest & diet
- Unselfishness
RECRUITS: Realize that sometimes the difference between getting an athletic scholarship or not isn’t your athleticism, it’s your academics.
#GetYourGrades
Reasons to hire an athlete:
-They are used to working under pressure
-They understand that doing work outside of their work hours is where they’ll find the advantage
-They’ve endured both success & defeat..They handle adversity
-They sacrifice personal accolades for team success
Why athletes with average talent succeed:
- Work hard
- Coachable
- Practice hard
- Do all the little things well
- Value and embrace their role
Why talent athletes don’t succeed:
- Don’t work hard
- Not coachable
- Listen to and have the wrong people in their circle
- Selfish
ATHLETES: Imagine how good you could be next season if you really focused, sacrificed & got serious. You WILL be a completely different player & leader.
ATHELTES: Sometimes practice is hard and the grind gets tiring, but if you love playing your sport try to enjoy every second that you can. Because when it’s over, it’s over.
STUDENT-ATHLETES:
Academic success begins with small details:
1. Go to class.
2. Be on time.
3. Do the work you are supposed to do.
4. Ask for help if you’re struggling.
RECRUITS: As you enter camp season remember you might be at a D1 camp, but there could be other DII, DIII or NAIA coaches there too. Don’t shut them out...There’s scholarships and great opportunities at these schools as well.
FOOTBALL RECRUITS: Things that college coaches are looking for during camp season..
1. Are you coachable?
2. Do you hustle?
3. Do you compete?
4. Do you finish?
Football season will be here REAL soon. How hard you train and prepare in May, June & July will determine how you perform in September, October & November.
ATHLETES: No matter how much talent you have, if you are not hungry, humble & coachable.. you can forget about becoming the best. You won’t even become YOUR best.
ATHLETES:
If you want playing time...
- Go to class
- Be on time
- Pay attention in meetings/practice
- Be coachable
- Do what is asked of you
What even better, if you master these qualities.. it will help you in life after sports.
ATHELTES: Sometimes practice is hard and the grind gets tiring, but if you love playing your sport try to enjoy every second that you can. Because when it’s over, it’s over.
ATHLETES:
If you want playing time...
- Go to class
- Be on time
- Pay attention in meetings/practice
- Be coachable
- Do what is asked of you
What even better, if you master these qualities.. it will help you in life after sports.
5 things that show how committed an athlete truly is:
1. The questions they ask.
2. The time they arrive at practice.
3. Their ability to listen and carry out directions.
4. The effort and attitude they bring daily.
5. Their lifestyle and habits outside of practice time.
9 things to quit:
1 Trying to please everyone
2 Fearing change
3 Living in the past
4 Overthinking
5 Being afraid to be different
6 Beating yourself up over mistakes
7 Always sacrificing your happiness for others
8 Thinking you’re not good enough
9 Thinking you have no purpose