Coaches Insider

Arguing Is a Waste of Time; Discussions Are Useful with Lane Kiffin – Louisiana State Univ.

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:41:33 +0000

Watch as Coach Lane Kiffin explains the importance of emphasizing being team players to both players and coaches. He states that ego can be a problem and understanding how it can have a negative impact is important. Ego can come into play when communicating with players and coaches and the goal should always be to work for the best answer and not arguing to defend an opinion. Coach recommends discussing ego with your staff and players so that all communications are not based on arguing but with productive discussions.

Lane Kiffin was previously a coach at Univ. of Mississippi.

Dress-Up Play Action Using Motion & Exotic Bluffs with Chad Johnson – Mission Viejo High School (CA)

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:49 +0000

Watch as Coach Chad Johnson explains that motion and bluffs stress defenses, forcing them to communicate their adjustments, which can lead to confusion and missed assignments. Motion and bluffs create pressure for defenses, which can enhance offensive effectiveness.

Players Over Plays with Kirby Smart – Univ. of Georgia

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:05:42 +0000

Watch as Coach Kirby Smart explains that offenses have done an elite job of evolving their strategy and understanding what a defense is trying to do. He believes that defenses should also evolve and do what their players do best. Coach discusses in detail the strengths and weaknesses of LB and CB play as an example and how that analysis determined their defensive emphasis and strategy.

LB Pass Rush Toe Turn Drills with Glenn Schumann – Univ. of Georgia

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:49:15 +0000

Watch as Coach Glenn Schumann shows practice and game video of these linebacker pass rush toe turn drills. Using bags, the emphasis is on the LB reducing then pointing the toes toward the QB and finishing with mirroring the throw hand or violent rakes at the elbow. The LBs and RBs will work some 1-on-1 pass pro/pass rush, again emphasizing the toe turns. Coach finishes up showing game film clips of LBs blitzing and reducing and pointing the toes toward the QB to get the sack.

Offensive Game Planning: The Process with Stevie Jackson – Milton High School (GA)

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:52:52 +0000

Watch as Coach Stevie Jackson explains in detail his offensive game planning process for every opponent. The process consists of the following:

Opponent's structure and personnel (Identity)
Our team's structure and personnel (Identity)
Opponent's curveballs
Opponent's pressures
Create/Eliminate menu

Illini Drill (Bigs) with Bret Bielema – Univ. of Illinois

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:05:34 +0000

Watch as Coach Bret Bielema explains and shows practice video of the Illini Drill involving the Bigs. This drill involves an offensive and defensive player in a short, tight blocking environment with a ball being run behind. The goal is to have the players strain and fight while not picking sides or running around. The drill also teaches the RB to read the block and set up the defender.

Are You Trustworthy? with Dr. Timothy Baghurst – Florida State Univ.

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:00:21 +0000

Watch as Dr. Timothy Baghurst explains that trust is the #1 factor in building culture. It all starts with you and if the players, assistant coaches, and staff don't trust you, it does not matter what you say. Players may cooperate because they all want to win but that is not creating a culture that you really want.

Dr. Timothy Baghurst is currently a Professor in the College of Education at Florida State University and Director of FSU COACH: Interdisciplinary Center for Athletic Coaching.

Improving Your Players’ Confidence with Zack Etter – Univ. of Massachusetts

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:00:56 +0000

Watch as Zack Etter discusses improving your players' confidence. It is key that the players understand that the conversations they have in their head (self-talk) can be either beneficial or detrimental. The words you use when you speak to your players matter not with the tone but with what you literally say. Studies have shown that our beliefs can be guided and manipulated by the way we are given information. When you provide your players with feedback about their performance or preparing for an opponent, the 'how' and 'what' you say will impact your players' confidence.

Zack Etter, LMHC, LPC, CMPC is a licensed Mental Health Therapist and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with the Association of Applied Sport Psychology at the University of Massachusetts.

LB Pass Blitz: Attacking the RB with Maurice Crum Jr. – Southern Methodist Univ.

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:24:48 +0000

Watch as Coach Maurice Crum Jr. explains and shows practice drills and game clips of LBs blitzing and attacking an RB in pass protection. The focus is on the LB winning the 1-on-1 battles with the RB. Coach Crum will start with the Power (bull rush), as the LB will attack the RB with the hands, pick a side, get the RB on skates, and work leverage. He will also cover in detail the cross-body snatch, quick swim vs. an RB lunge, sidestep, and cut with hands vs. a cut block.

Pass Routes vs. Cover 4 Press Corners with Pat Narduzzi – Univ. of Pittsburgh

Nike Coach of the Year Clinics — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:00:19 +0000

Watch as Coach Pat Narduzzi discusses a statistical breakdown of all the different pass routes that he has faced vs. cover 4 - press corners. This multiyear analysis identifies the top routes by attempts, completions, and completion percentages.