Sometimes fans at a school get upset when their coach applies at another school, or even if he doesn't apply, he is contacted by a school and he chooses to meet with that school's administration and consider the job.

 

I think this is fine and a good thing to do, but I know some people don't agree.

 

1- Isn't a football coach like anyone else and has the right to seek a better opportunity and possibly better financial security for his family? Doesn't the coach need to consider that several years down the road he will be able to pay the bills and care for himself, his wife, family, etc. when too old to work?

 

2-Is the school going to be loyal to the head coach if times turn bad/rough? Some do. Some don't.

 

3-Does the head coach "owe" more to his program than just absolutely working his tail off while the head coach of his school? If the coach has worked like a dog, especially over an extended period of time, AND made the program better, maybe significantly better than ever, hasn't he made good on his commitment to his current school?

 

 

I am the son of a high school football coach and obviously continue to be a high school coach. I understand my perspective may be different from many others. That is why I am asking.

 

I would like to hear what others think.

 

And...no...I am not interviewing for a job. If I were, I would not start this thread. :lol2:

 

Thanks!

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

Chiefsmoke, let's say you applied for and/or interviewed for an open position. You either didn't get it or you backed out due to it not being the right job.

 

Would you tell people you applied/interviewed if asked? Or would you deny it?

It's a free employment area. If you are not under contract and it makes sense for you and your family then it should not be an issue to interview with other schools. Both sides should be open and up front about it though

I think a coach is able to better himself, but I think most of the times a coach changes for other reasons, i.e.: better program, better administration, better chance of winning, not for pay. Sure pay can vary, but for the most part the pay is not that much different.

 

I think the reason fans get upset about coaches looking elsewhere is, in high school football there is a feeling of loyalty. People graduate from a school, send their kids to that school, hear the coach talk about "team", "brotherhood", "loyalty" and "togetherness" and people have a feeling of "we are all in this together". When the coach leaves it makes some people feel like someone "turned" on them.

 

Coaching a sport is hard, and to do it right the coach has to sell out as part of the program no matter if they grew up in that program, or if they are from a rival program. It doesn't matter where they came from, it is about being "here" now. When a coach interviews or takes another job, there is an obvious feeling of betrayal by some.

 

I don't necessarily feel that way, but I can see why some do. High school football teams are a close knit group.

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

Chiefsmoke, let's say you applied for and/or interviewed for an open position. You either didn't get it or you backed out due to it not being the right job.

 

Would you tell people you applied/interviewed if asked? Or would you deny it?

 

Fair Question.

 

I wouldn't lie. I would say as little as possible about it. Usually it has always come down to this, in doing what is best for my family, I considered/applied for a position and then chose to stay here because that was best for my family.

 

It doesn't always work out this way, but in the past, I tried to figure out as much about an opportunity BEFORE I applied. And, alot of times, there are informal talks so that technically a coach has not applied, been offered, been interviewed, etc.

 

Usually, both sides want to protect the other. If someone has an interest in me, I don't want to "turn them down". I would rather figure out it is not for me before we got to that point. And, usually, the prospective school wants to do the same for the coach so that he doesn't have to say that I applied but they didn't want me.

 

With the internet, this stuff is alot different and I think coaches are less likely to apply.

 

A long, long time ago, I visited a school on a day I saw no one on campus. No school. Sure enough, it showed up on BGPreps. I think coaches have to have a certain comfort level anymore that if they check something out, people will hear about it.

 

I think the WORST thing a coach can do is lie about it and get caught. It would be better just to say I would rather not discuss this, or any of the details, etc.

 

And.... the details can be very different. A school can contact a coach and say it's your job, will you interview, we want to interview 5 candidates, etc. Not all the calls are the same. And... is the coach interviewing because he wants the job or because the other school has said would you at least listen to what we have to offer and he agrees to do so.

Fair Question.

 

I wouldn't lie. I would say as little as possible about it. Usually it has always come down to this, in doing what is best for my family, I considered/applied for a position and then chose to stay here because that was best for my family.

 

It doesn't always work out this way, but in the past, I tried to figure out as much about an opportunity BEFORE I applied. And, alot of times, there are informal talks so that technically a coach has not applied, been offered, been interviewed, etc.

 

Usually, both sides want to protect the other. If someone has an interest in me, I don't want to "turn them down". I would rather figure out it is not for me before we got to that point. And, usually, the prospective school wants to do the same for the coach so that he doesn't have to say that I applied but they didn't want me.

 

With the internet, this stuff is alot different and I think coaches are less likely to apply.

 

A long, long time ago, I visited a school on a day I saw no one on campus. No school. Sure enough, it showed up on BGPreps. I think coaches have to have a certain comfort level anymore that if they check something out, people will hear about it.

 

I think the WORST thing a coach can do is lie about it and get caught. It would be better just to say I would rather not discuss this, or any of the details, etc.

 

And.... the details can be very different. A school can contact a coach and say it's your job, will you interview, we want to interview 5 candidates, etc. Not all the calls are the same. And... is the coach interviewing because he wants the job or because the other school has said would you at least listen to what we have to offer and he agrees to do so.

 

I agree 100% with all this post. With an incumbent head coach, this is the way you have to handle it in this day and age. And I agree anyone applying should not lie. That is a character indictment IMO. Just say no comment. My policy on any questions about another job would be "I don't comment on other programs and jobs."

I think it is probably best to let your AD/admin know if you are seriously pursuing another job, or if you have been approached with an offer. Just my thoughts... Though every situation is different.

I think it is probably best to let your AD/admin know if you are seriously pursuing another job, or if you have been approached with an offer. Just my thoughts... Though every situation is different.

 

You are right, but some times it can come across like you are saying..."somebody else wants me, you are lucky to have me, what are you going to do to keep me, etc?"

 

I think some times it is good to tell your bosses I won't come to you unless it starts to get serious or you are going to meet with the other administration.

 

And.... some times they might say...."we are glad they want you because we don't anymore!" :lol2:

Sometimes fans at a school get upset when their coach applies at another school, or even if he doesn't apply, he is contacted by a school and he chooses to meet with that school's administration and consider the job.

 

I think this is fine and a good thing to do, but I know some people don't agree.

 

1- Isn't a football coach like anyone else and has the right to seek a better opportunity and possibly better financial security for his family? Doesn't the coach need to consider that several years down the road he will be able to pay the bills and care for himself, his wife, family, etc. when too old to work?

 

2-Is the school going to be loyal to the head coach if times turn bad/rough? Some do. Some don't.

 

3-Does the head coach "owe" more to his program than just absolutely working his tail off while the head coach of his school? If the coach has worked like a dog, especially over an extended period of time, AND made the program better, maybe significantly better than ever, hasn't he made good on his commitment to his current school?

 

 

I am the son of a high school football coach and obviously continue to be a high school coach. I understand my perspective may be different from many others. That is why I am asking.

 

I would like to hear what others think.

 

And...no...I am not interviewing for a job. If I were, I would not start this thread. :lol2:

 

Thanks!

 

This.....all of it.

I think as long as a coach is honest to his employer he is obligated to his family to look into situations that may better their family. At the end of the day everyone is entitled to taking a better job.

 

Every coach has different goals and aspirations and every family has a different criteria for what would better their lives.

 

I also think a departing coach owes at least some explanation to their players. Those are the ones who really suffer when a good HC leaves. If you're chasing your dream, moving closer to home whatever be as honest as professionally possible.

Coach, I also want to say thanks to you for being on here and for sharing. It is great having the perspective of someone who is in the middle of the type of thing that often gets discussed on this site. It is very informative to all of us on this board when you share your thoughts. :notworthy:

Coach, I also want to say thanks to you for being on here and for sharing. It is great having the perspective of someone who is in the middle of the type of thing that often gets discussed on this site. It is very informative to all of us on this board when you share your thoughts. :notworthy:

 

Thank you. I enjoy it and I support BGPreps because Guru works hard to keep it 1st class. It is also good for me to get a different perspective. :thumb:

Fair Question.

 

I wouldn't lie. I would say as little as possible about it. Usually it has always come down to this, in doing what is best for my family, I considered/applied for a position and then chose to stay here because that was best for my family.

 

It doesn't always work out this way, but in the past, I tried to figure out as much about an opportunity BEFORE I applied. And, alot of times, there are informal talks so that technically a coach has not applied, been offered, been interviewed, etc.

 

Usually, both sides want to protect the other. If someone has an interest in me, I don't want to "turn them down". I would rather figure out it is not for me before we got to that point. And, usually, the prospective school wants to do the same for the coach so that he doesn't have to say that I applied but they didn't want me.

 

With the internet, this stuff is alot different and I think coaches are less likely to apply.

 

A long, long time ago, I visited a school on a day I saw no one on campus. No school. Sure enough, it showed up on BGPreps. I think coaches have to have a certain comfort level anymore that if they check something out, people will hear about it.

 

I think the WORST thing a coach can do is lie about it and get caught. It would be better just to say I would rather not discuss this, or any of the details, etc.

 

And.... the details can be very different. A school can contact a coach and say it's your job, will you interview, we want to interview 5 candidates, etc. Not all the calls are the same. And... is the coach interviewing because he wants the job or because the other school has said would you at least listen to what we have to offer and he agrees to do so.

 

Good information there. Thanks for your perspective too.

 

Here is a question geared more towards the schools doing the hiring.

 

Assume you are going to interview from outside the system and take applications, should there be complete anonymity and secrecy provided for applicants or should you be open about who is interviewing, etc.? If it remains private, then what steps should be taken to protect the applicants from backlash?

 

As Chief has alluded to, a lot of the contact can be informal and take place before the official interview. Is this the way to go and if so, who should be doing the contacting from the school? The AD, Principal, someone not in administration?

As to the original post, I think logically, yes, coaches have every right to seek the best job for them. That may be the place where they can make the most money, it may be the place where they think their kids will get the best education, or they can be close to their roots. Whatever they deem as important to them, coaches have the right to seek a better job if they see fit.

 

As Ram stated though, I also think the problem comes because communities have a vested interest in their sports programs. They have given a lot of support, they have given sweat and blood, and their kids have done the same. They feel a sense of ownership, pride, loyalty, etc. and I think when a coach looks elsewhere, all that emotion keeps the fans and school administration from looking at the situation objectively. Especially if it is a coach who has been successful and helped to build the brand. It is almost like the feelings you get when a marriage fails.

 

In other words, I have no problem when somebody else's coach wants to come to my school, but if I find out my coach wants to go to another school, I'm not happy.

Good information there. Thanks for your perspective too.

 

Here is a question geared more towards the schools doing the hiring.

 

Assume you are going to interview from outside the system and take applications, should there be complete anonymity and secrecy provided for applicants or should you be open about who is interviewing, etc.? If it remains private, then what steps should be taken to protect the applicants from backlash?

 

As Chief has alluded to, a lot of the contact can be informal and take place before the official interview. Is this the way to go and if so, who should be doing the contacting from the school? The AD, Principal, someone not in administration?

 

I think all coaches would appreciate anonymity, and it should be the goal. I don't really think it serves anyone to know all the applicants in a search (although I love cruising the comments on coaching searches - I know that is hypocritical).

 

However, experience shows that doesn't seem to be realistic at most schools - especially when a lot of people are involved in the hiring process.