
Advertise on podcast: Coach and Coordinator Podcast
Rating
4.7from
This podcast has
1254 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Keith GrabowskiExplicit
No
Date created
2017/03/16
Latest episode
2026/02/03
Average duration
37 min.
Release period
2 days
Description
Keith Grabowski interviews the most knowledgeable head coaches, coordinators, and position coaches from professional, college, and high school football. Keith and his guests discuss the philosophy, concepts, schemes, and strategies that they have learned throughout their careers. Each show includes a specific idea that can be applied to help coaches at every level find the winning edge.
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Check latest episodes from Coach and Coordinator Podcast podcast
Champions - Wes Schroeder, HC, Olentangy Orange HS (OH)
2026/02/03
On this episode of Champions, presented by Signature Championship Rings, Keith Grabowski sits down with Wes Schroeder, head coach of Olentangy Orange HS (OH), to break down the principles behind a perfect 15–0 season and a state championship run.
Coach Schroeder outlines the foundational pillars of his program: physicality, accountability, and emotional regulation. He explains how these standards are reflected in daily practices, preparation, and player relationships. He also discusses how efficient practice planning prevents burnout, the importance of pairing toughness with genuine care for players, and how emotional control under pressure distinguishes championship teams.
The discussion covers innovative offseason training, staff alignment, and creating a culture where players celebrate each other's success. Coach Schroeder provides practical advice for new coaches on leadership, managing expectations, and building programs, emphasizing authenticity and consistency in everything you do.
This episode offers insight into building championship programs from within, highlighting the importance of culture, communication, and intentional training before results appear on the scoreboard.
Chapters
Introduction to a Champion Coach
Building a Winning Culture
The Balance of Physicality and Efficiency
Emotional Regulation in Competitive Practices
Preparing for the Future: Transitioning Teams
Innovative Approaches to Off-Season Training
Staff Dynamics and Team Cohesion
Advice for New Coaches
Conclusion and Future Aspirations
Connect on X:
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Wes Schroeder: @wes_schroeder
Learn More About Our Partner: Signature Championship Rings
Signature Championship Rings is a leading designer and supplier of championship rings, serving over 10,000 teams and organizations. With a focus on quality craftsmanship, easy team ordering processes, and affordability, Signature Champions celebrate every champion and their achievements, making their moment last a lifetime. For more information, visit https://signaturechampions.com/podcast/
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Slot-T Mafia: Wing-T to Slot-T Transition – Thad Wheeler & Nick Kepa, Lafayette HS (VA)
2026/02/02
On this episode of Slot-T Mafia, Coaches Thad Wheeler and Nick Kepa break down their journey transitioning Lafayette High School from the Wing-T to the Slot-T offense, sharing lessons from changing systems, language, and expectations. They explain how they built player buy-in, why coaching alignment mattered as much as scheme, and how professional development visits accelerated their advancement and certainty in the system.
The conversation covers the practical issues of transition: adjusting terminology, rethinking practice tempo, maximizing skill players, and staying patient when early results do not show up on Friday nights. Wheeler and Kepa also discuss how performance standards, self-evaluation, and community coaching resources refined their approach.
This episode shows that moving to the Slot-T is not only about installing plays. It is about developing a coaching philosophy, creating staff cohesion, and building an offense that fits your players. A must-listen for coaches considering a system change or aiming to sharpen how they teach, adapt, and grow within the Slot-T world.
Chapters
Introduction to the Lafayette Slot T Transition
From Wing T to Slot T Philosophy
Aligning the Coaching Staff
Building Player Buy-In
Learning Through Professional Development
Adjusting Language and Practice Structure
Maximizing Skill Players
Speed, Tempo, and Practice Efficiency
Overcoming Challenges During the Transition
Game-Day Adjustments and Evaluation
Using Metrics and Film for Growth
The Future of the Slot T at Lafayette
Connect on X:
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Thad Wheeler: @coachtwheeler
Nick Kepa: @Coach_Kepa
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Vision Before Results: Why Great Teams See It Before They Win
2026/01/31
On this episode of Coach and Coordinator Network, Keith Grabowski breaks down why visualization is one of the most misunderstood and powerful tools in coaching. Using a real-world example from Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald, Keith explains how intentional visualization can shape team identity, sharpen decision-making, and prepare athletes to operate under pressure before the moment arrives.
The conversation dives into the science behind visualization, exploring how the brain filters information, builds self-image, and influences behavior during high-stress situations. Keith outlines what effective visualization looks like: specific, emotional, and repeated. He explains why generic or passive approaches do not work to create long-term impact.
Coaches will walk away with useful techniques for implementing visualization in their programs, from reinforcing positive identity to helping players replace negative experiences with clear, confident mental imagery. This episode provides a well-defined framework for using visualization not as motivation but as a teaching tool that directly supports performance, leadership, and athlete development.
Chapters
The Power of Visualization in Coaching
Understanding the Science Behind Visualization
Shaping Identity Through Visualization
Practical Steps for Effective Visualization
Connect on X:
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
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Inside a State Champion Defense: How Folsom's DC Preps, Adjusts, and Stays One Step Ahead
2026/01/29
Jordan Irsik (Defensive Coordinator, Folsom High School) breaks down his full process for building a defensive call sheet, from Saturday corrections through Sunday game-planning and late-week refinements. He explains how Folsom uses tagged film, opponent data entry, and real-time in-game analytics to stay organized, adjust faster, and call defense with clarity using a simple "Set–Stress–Break" progression.
Our Guest: Jordan Irsik — Defensive Coordinator at Folsom High School, 2025 CIF Division 1-AA State Champions. Former offensive coordinator who applies offensive structure and sequencing to defensive game management and call sheet design.
Topics Covered
The Weekly Workflow That Makes the Call Sheet Work
Breaking Down Opponents Faster (and Smarter)
The Sunday Game Plan Meeting Checklist
Practice Scripting With Intent
How the Call Sheet is Organized
Set–Stress–Break: The Core Calling Framework
Using In-Game Analytics Without Overthinking It
Handling Explosives and Busts
Communication on Game Day
Why Tech Fails When the Operation Isn’t Trained
Links and Resources
Get Jordan Irsik’s Call Sheet: modernfootball.com/callsheet
Modern Football Technology: modernfootball.com
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The Godfather of the Slot-T: Bruce Bush and the Roots of the System
2026/01/28
On this episode of Slot T Mafia, Coach Kilby sits down with legendary Texas coach Bruce Bush, to trace the roots, evolution, and longevity of the Slot T offense. From its early foundations to modern adaptations, Coach Bush explains why the Slot T continues to thrive—especially for programs that value discipline, patience, and execution over flash.
Coach Bush shares how the offense expanded beyond Texas as access to film and shared knowledge grew, why understanding player strengths is critical to making the system work, and how rhythm and timing influence effective play-calling. The conversation also adds a rare personal layer, exploring the father-son coaching dynamic between Coach Bush and his son Travis, now a successful college coach.
This episode blends history with practical coaching insight, reinforcing why the Slot T remains relevant, adaptable, and effective in today’s game—from small schools to the college level.
Chapters
Introduction to Coach Bush and the Slot T Offense
The Historical Roots of the Slot T Offense
Evolution of the Slot T Offense in Texas
The Modern Adaptation and Popularity of the Slot T
Strategic Insights and Coaching Philosophy
Innovations and Variations in the Slot T Offense
Legacy and Influence of Coach Bush and the Slot T
Innovating the Playbook
The Importance of Patience in Coaching
Building a Winning Culture
Father-Son Coaching Dynamics
The Slot T Legacy
Connect on X:
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Bruce Bush: @bush_nhsraiders
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Clarity Creates Explosives - Mark Carney, Head Coach, Kent State
2026/01/26
On this episode of Coach and Coordinator, featuring Mark Carney, Head Coach at Kent State. Coach Carney shares his principles that shape both his offensive system and leadership approach.
Carney explains why clarity is the foundation of effective offense, from quarterback development to system installation. He breaks down how shifts and motions are not creativity for its own sake, but purposeful tools designed to create understanding, leverage, and simplicity while still generating explosive plays.
Throughout the conversation, Carney emphasizes starting from scratch with each new group of players, building trust through teaching, and aligning scheme with player skill sets so ideas translate from the meeting room to the field. He also details how a head coach evaluates offensive health and defines the non-negotiables that sustain identity beyond play calling.
This episode is paired with the Clarity Creates Explosives AI Companion, an evaluation tool built directly from Mark Carney’s conversation. It helps coaches assess clarity in offensive teaching, the purpose of shifts and motions, and how system structure supports quarterback confidence and program leadership. Designed for self-scouting rather than scheme creation, the companion is most effective during the offseason or when offenses feel complex, hesitant, or misaligned.
Chapters:
Mark Carney's Journey in Football
Coaching Philosophy and Clarity in Teaching
Building Relationships and Trust with Players
Offensive Strategy and Problem Solving
Utilizing Shifts and Motions Effectively
Adapting Offense to Player Strengths
Creativity in Offensive Play Design
Evaluating Offensive Health as a Head Coach
Core Values and Team Culture
Transitioning from Coordinator to Head Coach
Connect on X:
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Mark Carney: @coachmacarney
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Alignment in Action: When the Work Sustains Itself - Keith Murphy and Tesfa Smith | Central Michigan Football
2026/01/23
In the final episode of Alignment in Action, the focus shifts from vision and identity to sustainability. With systems established and expectations set, this episode examines whether alignment holds when responsibility is fully handed off to position coaches.
Recorded during Central Michigan’s first season under head coach Matt Drinkall, the episode features extended conversations with special teams coordinator Keith Murphy and defensive line coach Tesfa Smith.
Rather than revisiting philosophy, the conversations center on daily execution, accountability, and what alignment looks like once the head coach steps out of the frame.
This Alignment in Action episode is paired with the Alignment in Action AI Companion, a behavior-based evaluation and planning tool built directly from these conversations to help coaches assess alignment, ownership, and decision-making when responsibility moves beyond the head coach. For staffs looking to ensure standards hold under pressure and function without constant oversight, this series provides a clear lens and practical application.
Alignment in Action AI Companion
Episode Focus
Whether alignment survives beyond the head coach’s direct involvement
How standards are maintained through structure rather than supervision
The role of clarity and ownership in sustaining culture
What accountability looks like when trust is already established
Key Themes
Alignment expressed through consistent behavior, not language
Ownership of position rooms without competing authority
Teaching standards that allow players to play fast, not fearful
Systems designed to function without constant oversight
Development as the foundation of accountability
Coaches Featured
Keith Murphy, Special Teams Coordinator
Tesfa Smith, Defensive Line Coach
Connect on X:
Keith Murphy: @CoachMurphy87
Tesfa Smith: @CoachTesfa
This episode closes the series by showing alignment in its most practical form. Not as vision. Not as identity. But as work that continues when leadership steps back and trusts others to carry it forward.
What’s Next
The Alignment in Action series concludes here, but the conversations continue inside the Coach and Coordinator Network, where additional articles, breakdowns, and an AI companion tool are available to help coaches apply these lessons inside their own programs.
Links can be found at https://coachandcoordinator.com/.
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Alignment in Action: Owning Your Area - Jim Chapin, OC, Central Michigan
2026/01/22
In Episode 4 of Alignment in Action, the focus shifts from philosophy to authority in practice.
After establishing vision, trust, and identity in earlier episodes, this conversation examines what happens when real decisions must be made inside a staff—when someone has to own outcomes, manage people, and carry standards forward.
This episode centers on offensive coordinator Jim Chapin and how alignment holds when responsibility is distributed rather than centralized.
This Alignment in Action episode is paired with the Alignment in Action AI Companion, a behavior-based evaluation and planning tool built directly from these conversations to help coaches assess alignment, ownership, and decision-making when responsibility moves beyond the head coach. For staffs looking to ensure standards hold under pressure and function without constant oversight, this series provides a clear lens and practical application.
Alignment in Action AI Companion
Before hearing from Chapin, Head Coach Matt Drinkall explains how authority is structured inside the program:
Why he views himself as an “owner,” not a micromanager
How responsibility is divided across coordinators and departments
Why clarity and information-sharing prevent silos
How alignment accelerates once systems are in place
This structure sets the conditions for coordinators to operate with autonomy and without ego.
Owning the football side: Authority means responsibility, not freedom from accountability
Vertical leadership with trust: Alignment starts with serving the head coach’s vision
Decision-making under pressure: One voice ultimately decides, even after collaboration
Low ego, high output: Authority without insecurity or performative control
Player advocacy: Coaching quarterbacks without fear, blame, or panic
Simplicity over volume: Avoiding bloated systems in favor of executable football
Handling adversity: Calm leadership when results lag or pressure rises
Standards that survive change: Teaching new players “how we do things” repeatedly
Alignment isn’t proven when everyone agrees.
It’s proven when decisions are made, when accountability is real, and when responsibility doesn’t fracture trust.
This episode shows how authority functions inside an aligned staff, not loudly, not centrally, but through clarity, humility, and ownership.
Connect on X:
Jim Chapin: @CoachChapin
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
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Alignment in Action: Identity in Physicality | Hayden Mace, Derek Fulton, Sean Cronin - OL, Co-OC/TE, and DC, Central Michigan
2026/01/21
In Episode 3 of Alignment in Action, the focus shifts from vision to execution—exploring how identity is built through the daily work inside the Central Michigan Football building. The episode examines how physicality, defined by Matt Drinkall as a trained mental skill, is taught, reinforced, and sustained throughout the program.
Through conversations spanning multiple positions and perspectives, the episode shows how standards move from philosophy to practice. Rather than relying on slogans or speeches, physicality is developed through habits, expectations, and shared accountability that appear every day on the field and in meeting rooms. Across offense and defense, a common theme emerges: simplicity, trust, and effort allow players to play fast, disciplined, and violent when it matters most.
The episode highlights how offensive line play sets the tone for the entire team, how tight ends and fullbacks often carry the cultural weight of the offense, and how defensive identity is built on effort, leverage, and collective trust. It also underscores that alignment must withstand fatigue, pressure, and constant evaluation—reinforcing the idea that identity only lasts if it can endure daily scrutiny.
This Alignment in Action episode is paired with the Alignment in Action AI Companion, a behavior-based evaluation and planning tool built directly from these conversations to help coaches assess alignment, ownership, and decision-making when responsibility moves beyond the head coach. For staffs looking to ensure standards hold under pressure and function without constant oversight, this series provides a clear lens and practical application.
Alignment in Action AI Companion
Topics:
Physicality as behavior, not a slogan
Training mental habits that consistently show up on the field
How offensive line standards shape team-wide identity
Simplifying technique to increase speed, violence, and discipline
Why tight ends and fullbacks carry cultural responsibility
Teaching unselfish roles and embracing work beyond statistics
Defensive identity built on effort, leverage, and trust
Building systems that are simple for players and difficult for opponents
Eliminating ego to improve teaching, communication, and collaboration
Alignment tested by fatigue, pressure, and daily work
Connect on X:
Matt Drinkall: @DrinkallCoach
Hayden Mace: @CoachHaydenMace
Derek Fulton: @CoachDFulton
Sean Cronin: @CoachSeanCronin
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Episode 4 continues the series
Follow all we do at https://coachandcoordinator.com/
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Alignment in Action: Trust, Authenticity, and the Work | Christian Dukes & Wes Fleming, CB & Safeties, Central Michigan
2026/01/20
In Episode 2 of The Central Michigan Football Staff: Alignment in Action, the focus shifts from the head coach’s vision to how alignment shows up in the staff’s day-to-day work. Recorded during Central Michigan’s first season under new leadership, the episode features conversations with safeties coach Wes Fleming and corners and nickels coach Christian Dukes.
Fleming brings a shared history with the head coach, offering insight into how trust, standards, and collaboration are built over time. Dukes joins the staff without that prior connection, providing a clear look at how alignment holds when someone new enters the building. Across both conversations, common themes emerge—not through identical language, but through consistent behavior: honesty with players, genuine relationships, clear standards, and doing the right thing without needing oversight.
The episode shows how trust and authenticity move from ideas to action, revealing what alignment looks like when belief turns into behavior and culture is reflected in the daily work.
This Alignment in Action episode is paired with the Alignment in Action AI Companion, a behavior-based evaluation and planning tool built directly from these conversations to help coaches assess alignment, ownership, and decision-making when responsibility moves beyond the head coach. For staffs looking to ensure standards hold under pressure and function without constant oversight, this series provides a clear lens and practical application.
Alignment in Action AI Companion
Topics:
Alignment as behavior, not slogans or titles
Wes Fleming on shared history and why trust is expected
How standards show up in daily work and collaboration
Authentic relationships across position rooms and sides of the ball
Alignment tested when a new coach enters the building
Christian Dukes on evaluating fit and building trust without history
Teaching standards through honesty, effort, and communication
Alignment measured by consistent action, not identical language
Connect on X:
Wes Fleming: @Fleming_Coach
Christian Dukes: @CoachDukes_
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Episode 3 continues the series by examining how alignment holds under increased pressure and expanded responsibility across the staff.
Follow all we do at https://coachandcoordinator.com/
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Alignment in Action- Matt Drinkall, Head Coach, Central Michigan
2026/01/19
We sat down with Central Michigan head coach Matt Drinkall to talk about how a program is actually built — not through scheme or slogans, but through people, systems, and daily standards.
This episode anchors the series.
Before resources scale.
Before facilities matter.
Before wins validate anything.
Matt reflects on lessons from Kansas Wesleyan, Army West Point, and now Central Michigan — specifically how leaders support people when the work is constant, the calendar never stops, and demands continue to rise.
The conversation centers on staff construction, trust, alignment, and what must remain unchanged as roles, titles, and resources evolve.
This episode sets the foundation for every conversation that follows.
This Alignment in Action episode is paired with the Alignment in Action AI Companion, a behavior-based evaluation and planning tool built directly from these conversations to help coaches assess alignment, ownership, and decision-making when responsibility moves beyond the head coach. For staffs looking to ensure standards hold under pressure and function without constant oversight, this series provides a clear lens and practical application.
Alignment in Action AI Companion
Key themes include:
Leading when time, clarity, and environment matter more than money
How staff culture must survive calendar pressure and fatigue
Why authenticity outlasts authority
Building systems that don’t rely on constant supervision
Preventing silos as staffs grow larger and more specialized
What assistant coaches should expect from leadership — and what leadership should expect in return
Why truth, alignment, and consistency matter more than consensus
Matt will continue to appear throughout the series to reinforce key themes — but from here, the perspective shifts.
The episodes ahead move into the position rooms.
Upcoming conversations feature assistant coaches and coordinators — different roles, different pressures — all operating within the framework established here.
Each episode examines how standards actually show up:
In meetings
In corrections
In collaboration
In moments where volume disappears and execution still matters
This episode lays the groundwork.
The rest of the series shows how it holds up.
Connect on X:
Matt Drinkall: @DrinkallCoach
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Coach and Coordinator Network Smart Clinics are built for coaches seeking clarity, alignment, and practical takeaways — not theory.
If this episode sparked ideas you want to apply in your own program, learn more at coachandcoordinator.com.
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"What Happened?" - Series Pilot with Trevor Hudson
2026/01/17
At the AFCA Convention, Coach & Coordinator Network introduces a new series built around one simple—but uncomfortable—question: What happened?
Hosted by Trevor Hudson, What Happened?! strips away coach speak, excuses, and surface-level answers. This pilot episode sets the tone for the series: honest self-evaluation, real accountability, and practical reflection from coaches at every level of the game.
Across a series of short, unscripted conversations, coaches confront wins that weren’t good enough, losses that still sting, and seasons that demanded ownership instead of explanations. The goal isn’t blame—it’s growth.
Why This Series Exists
Too often, coaches explain seasons away with injuries, youth, transfers, or bad breaks. What Happened?! challenges that mindset.
This series is built on three core ideas:
Results matter more than explanations
Growth starts with ownership
You can’t fix what you won’t admit
Whether a team went 12–0 or 6–4, the work begins the same way—by looking in the mirror.
Key Themes from the Pilot Episode
Extreme ownership over outcomes
Accountability before excuses
Simplifying systems instead of adding complexity
Evaluating staff fit, not just schemes
Learning from film, not running from it
Situational football as the difference-maker
Vulnerability as a coaching strength
Featured Conversations Include
Pine Creek High School — Trevor Hudson reflects on leaving a state-title program at American Canyon High School, taking on a new challenge, and owning a season that fell short of expectations.
Mount St. Joseph High School — A linebacker coach breaks down how explosive plays changed a 6–4 season—and how spring film work will shape the response.
Georgetown College — An offensive coordinator explains why over-planning hurt situational success and how simplifying late in the season changed results.
Midland University — A defensive coach details how close losses, execution, and recruiting separate good seasons from playoff runs.
Montreal Alouettes — A CFL assistant coach reflects on losing the Grey Cup and why first-down defense defined the outcome.
Tools & Resources Mentioned
Modern Football — Self-scouting, practice analytics, and honest evaluation beyond game day
Tully — Training smarter to reduce injuries and build durable rosters
Series Vision
This pilot offers a glimpse. Future episodes will feature long-form, deep-dive conversations where coaches go beyond the scoreboard—examining decisions, emotions, preparation, and leadership moments that defined their seasons.
No highlight reels. No spin.Just one question: What happened?
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Measuring Performance Under Pressure with Dr. Timothy Royer (Inner Armor)
2026/01/16
At AFCA, Keith Grabowski talks with Dr. Timothy Royer, founder of Inner Armor, to explore what really drives performance under pressure.
Dr. Royer brings more than 30 years of clinical neuropsychology experience into the sports world, working with elite athletes, coaches, and organizations across the NFL, NBA, golf, and tennis. Rather than focusing solely on mindset or visualization, his work looks upstream—measuring real-time brain activity, nervous system balance, stress, focus, and physiological readiness.
This conversation dives into how coaches and athletes can use objective data to prepare for high-pressure moments, make better decisions, and sustain performance over time—and how this technology is now scalable and accessible for entire programs.
Meeting Inner Armor at AFCA
How a chance booth-side conversation led to a deeper discussion on performance science.
What Inner Armor Actually Measures
Why stress, focus, and readiness must be measured physiologically—not guessed.
Looking “Upstream” in the Brain
Understanding the nervous system, brain activity, and why downstream tools often fall short.
Quarterbacks, Pressure, and Real-Time Data
How elite quarterbacks prepare for high-stress moments using neurological feedback.
Coaches Under Pressure
Why coaching performance matters just as much as player performance.
Scaling Performance Technology to Teams
How Inner Armor moved from concierge services to scalable solutions for entire programs.
Beyond Sports: Decision-Making and Resilience
Why this work applies to leaders, coaches, and organizations outside athletics.
Does This Actually Help You Win?
Connecting neurological readiness to adaptability, creativity, and game-day success.
Final Thoughts on Sustainable Performance
Why optimizing the brain is essential for long-term success in coaching and leadership.
This episode is part of the Coach and Coordinator Network ecosystem, where conversations like this don’t stop at theory.
Explore Smart Clinics—focused, practical learning experiences designed to help coaches apply ideas immediately and perform better when it matters most.
https://coachandcoordinator.com/
Learn more about Inner Armor:
https://www.forgeinnerarmor.com/
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Tackling, the Tush Push, and More, From Rugby Roots to Football Results with Richie Gray
2026/01/15
At AFCA 2026, Keith Grabowski talks with Richie Gray to explore how contact training, tackling methodology, and innovation have reshaped modern football.
Richie shares lessons from his rugby background, his work with USA Football and the NFL, and his belief that better technique and better tools lead to safer, more effective play. The conversation focuses on accuracy, realism, and solving problems through coaching rather than rule changes.
The discussion also touches on the quarterback sneak and tush push. Richie explains how his insight contributed to the play’s early development and why its success comes from timing, personnel, and repetition rather than gimmickry. He emphasizes that defenses must solve the play through coaching detail and structure instead of relying on rule changes.
• How rugby principles influenced modern football tackling
• The evolution of the Five Fights tackling system
• Why simplicity drives better teaching and execution
• Designing tackling equipment that creates realistic contact
• Why many common training tools fail to improve accuracy
• Early influences behind the quarterback sneak and tush push
• Personnel and coaching details that make short-yardage plays work
• How defenses should approach solving new offensive trends
• Improving late-game lateral and pitch situations
• Measuring coaching success by long-term player health
Learn more about Smart Clinics at https://coachandcoordinator.com/
Follow:
@CoachKGrabowski
@RichieGrayGSI
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Champions - The Palm Up Mentality - Matt Walker, HC, UW-River Falls
2026/01/13
On this episode of Champions, presented by Signature Championship Rings, we sit down with Division III national championship coach Matt Walker to explore the journey, mindset, and culture behind building a championship program from the ground up.
Coach Walker reflects on defining moments in his career, including how the COVID era forced deep reflection and bold decision-making. Central to the conversation is the Palm Up mentality, a philosophy rooted in selflessness, trust, and empowering players to serve something bigger than themselves. He explains how this mindset reshaped team culture, strengthened leadership within the locker room, and became a competitive edge on the field.
The discussion also dives into the difference between real and fake toughness, why authenticity matters more than ever with today’s players, and how an intentionally built weight room culture reinforces standards every day. Walker shares how sustaining success brings new challenges, why an aggressive game philosophy must align with belief and preparation, and how clear values help programs continue to grow after winning it all.
This episode offers insight for coaches at every level who are looking to build tough, connected, and authentic teams and a reminder that championship culture is lived daily, not claimed after the fact.
This episode is paired with the Coach and Coordinator AI - Palm Up Program Builder, a custom GPT built entirely from Matt Walker’s interview, designed to help coaches translate Palm Up philosophy into clear standards, language, and systems. For coaches focused on building real toughness, developing player-led leadership, and aligning culture from the weight room to game day, this AI Companion offers a practical blueprint for sustainable program success.
Chapters
Celebrating the Journey to Championship Glory
The Impact of COVID on Coaching Philosophy
Understanding the 'Palm Up' Mentality
Navigating Success and Challenges Ahead
Building a Culture of Selflessness and Toughness
Empowering Players to Lead
Real Toughness vs. Fake Toughness
Creating a Unique Weight Room Culture
The Importance of Authenticity in Coaching
Unapologetically Aggressive Game Philosophy
The Role of Staff in Building a Winning Program
Transforming a Struggling Program
The Power of Team Language and Culture
Crafting a Player Creed
Reflecting on Coaching Evolution
The Future of College Football
Connect on X:
Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski
Matt Walker: @CoachWalkerRF
Learn More About Our Partner: Signature Championship Rings
Signature Championship Rings is a leading designer and supplier of championship rings, serving over 10,000 teams and organizations. With a focus on quality craftsmanship, easy team ordering processes, and affordability, Signature Champions celebrate every champion and their achievements, making their moment last a lifetime. For more information, visit https://signaturechampions.com/podcast/ .
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Podcast reviews
Read Coach and Coordinator Podcast podcast reviews
Jeremy CF 2024/02/22
Helpful for new and old coaches
Great content.
BlueandJosh 2024/07/05
Chat GpT
Overall great talking points with the interviews and knowledgeable coaches. I would suggest laying off the Chat GPT summaries. They take away from the...
Actually understand music 2024/06/06
Used to be great
Started following back in 2020. Had great football pods where you actually learned ball for young coaches who wanted to soak it in. Now, they’re 5 min...
jtpassot 2022/01/22
Great Content
The content the podcast brings is great and probably the best of any football podcast especially in the way that Keith seeks information from coaches ...
Hollywood 74 2021/03/09
What a great resource
If you are looking for good coaching schemes, drills, or technical information it is in these podcasts. All levels great stuff
DJ5223 2021/02/01
Great information
The information received from the interviews are amazing. The only way we can get better as coaches is to learn from each other. Glad I was able to fi...
Arete5 2021/01/11
Great!
Always has great information to help coaches become more effective and successful at positively impacting young men!
wright70one 2020/12/03
Great for coaches
Jam packed full of insights from coaches who really know what they’re doing. Keith doesn’t feel the need to tell you how smart he is, he really facili...
David6116 2020/07/11
Very Informative
It is great to be able to hear directly from coaches on a wide variety of topics ranging from game strategy to developing relationships the athletes t...
MeltonD 2020/04/17
Advancing the Game
No one promotes the sanctity of the game more than Coach Grabowski. He is a cutting edge offensive mind in his own right. We are fortunate to have hi...
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