If you were placed on a committee to interview for a head coach, what questions would you ask the candidates?

In no particular order (preference based on your needs):

1.How long have you been coaching?

2.What are your expectations for the program?

3. How long do you plan on being a member of our program?

4. Tell me about some of your former players? (See if they can give you intimate details about family, college life, etc)

5. What is your previous records?

6. What has been your relationship with administration in the past?

7. What are some of your thoughts on making this program successful?

8. What is your academic and athletic background?

 

Questions like that. I would also dig a bit to find out what type of moral fiber the candidate has, his inspiration level or passion for the game.

How about: Explain in detail, one of your typical practices....?

That question is only relavent if the committee knows what a practice should be structured like, plus, as any coach knows; you have preseason practices, season practices, and post season practices. None of which are the same type of structure. That question might best be answered by a past staff member, prior prinicpal or another reference on the list.

Does the coaches "personal" life come into play?

I would want to know the following:

 

1. How would you relate footabll to the whole school culture?

2. what is your academic goals for your players?

3. Previous experience?

4. What is your main goal as a head coach for this football team?

5. how do you pick your assistants?

6. What do you think about your ability develop kids and what are your strength's and weaknesses in this area?

7. What is your plan for developing your feeder programs?

8. How do you handle discipline of players for instances that happen on the feld, at school, in the community?

9. Give the coach different character related scenerios and have them respond.

10. Then ask about the general football knowledge questions?

11. Ask them about their family if they have any and how they play a role in their accepting a head coaching job.

That question is only relavent if the committee knows what a practice should be structured like, plus, as any coach knows; you have preseason practices, season practices, and post season practices. None of which are the same type of structure. That question might best be answered by a past staff member, prior prinicpal or another reference on the list.

 

If the committee has no clue (or can recognize) at what an organized and focused practice is, then maybe they should hire the first applicant....

That question is only relavent if the committee knows what a practice should be structured like, plus, as any coach knows; you have preseason practices, season practices, and post season practices. None of which are the same type of structure. That question might best be answered by a past staff member, prior prinicpal or another reference on the list.

 

From your response to the question, sounds like all coaches are the same. I beg to differ. By answering this question, the committee will find out how organized the candidate is. Sure, there are many types of practices, thats why the questions was phrased " Explain in detail a typical practice..?" The candidate can discuss the first practice or pregame practice... All of which tells you a lot about the candidate and where he or she is coming from...

 

Another good question is empowerment of assistant coaches in practice and in games. Have the candidate explain his philosophy on this subject.

 

Good Luck

What is your view of the importance of your feeder programs and what suggestions would you make to improve the feeder programs here?

 

Riverside 157 had an excellent one in post #3.

Feeders are key.

"Your running sprints near the end of a summer practice. One of your players, who doesn't give 100% to start with, comes up to you and says he's not feeling well. What do you do?"

"Your running sprints near the end of a summer practice. One of your players, who doesn't give 100% to start with, comes up to you and says he's not feeling well. What do you do?"

 

Where do you hurt?

 

When did it start?

 

Are you taking and medication?

 

Have you drank any water today? How much? What have you eaten today?

 

Is this a consistent problem or first time situation?

 

Observe the player if he is perspiring or not? Rule out heat exhaulstion...

This is done first priority, while asking the above questions...

 

Determine the nature of the situation..... Is the player not wanting to run or is he sick...?

 

If it is determined that the player just does not want to run, then he can make up the sprints before the next practice or his playing time will be affected due to his limited participation in team drills.

I like scenario based questions like that hhsdad. It forces the candidate to think on his feet. None of those formatted answers for cookie cutter questions.

I would like to add that I think its important for committees to eliminate a lot of these questions that are going to reveal NOTHING about the coach. Example:

How long do you plan on being with the program? Ans: Every coach is going to say something along the lines of "I plan on staying for a very long time to show my committment to the development of the players and the program".

I mean really...what candidate is going to honestly say "Im going to stay until something better comes along"

 

What are your plans for the program? Ans: "I would like to develop a program that is a winner among the district and eventually lead us to the state championship and with the right attititude and effort among the staff and players, we should achieve that rather quickly" Again, what coach is going to say otherwise? All coaches want the same thing: A winning program

 

What is your feeling on athletes and academics? Ans: "I think all athletes need to be students first and athletes second. I believe all my players will understand that being a good student is first and foremost and if they dont perform well in the classroom then they will not play.

Fact: This usually applies only to those players who are not going to play much anyway. But it rarely applies to the All-American/All Stater that rushes for 2,000 yards but struggles to get even just a "D" in his classes. BEcuase some coaches will "make exceptions" and will have something in the works that the coach can show he is working with the student with his grades and therefore can still play becuase he is making an effort to do better via study skills, one on one work with a coach etc.

 

In other words, I would suggest committees meet and decide "Lets ask questions that are reflective of the coach's experience and beliefs and see if they mesh with our desires and goals." I prefer committees, as someone said earlier, that ask the not so obvious question to get a not so routine answer that all the other coaches will say. Ask questions that are reflective of the coach as an individual. Typical practice schedule, game plan philosophies, scenarios & situations, etc. Lets face it...every coach is usually going to state the following: I am going to work with the administration, I am going to build a winner, I want to be here for a while, I want to improve and build on the current support from the community and student body, I am going to bring a system that will breathe new life into the program, I am going to be a disciplinarian when it comes to grades and work ethic on and off the field, I want to make these young men prepare for the their futures outside of football, blah blah blah."

If I was on the comittee as a player my first question would be, In what way do you feel that you can help us achieve our goals?