The Coveted G.A. Position

Hey, how's it going everyone. Sorry for a lapse in posting, I have been busy adjusting to Graduate School, moving and countless other things.

Today, I decided to talk about a topic that a lot of people do not truly know much information about. Most people want to know: How do I become a college coach? How do I get college coaching experience? Well folks, while there is no set path to becoming a Collegiate Coach, but, having a Graduate Assistantship, will definitely help you on your path.

A Graduate Assistantship provides a Graduate student at most Colleges and Universities with experience in a field that they would wish to get into upon graduation from their respected programs. They help to provide professional experience in a relevant field of employment within the University you attend. Bigger schools provide more funding for these programs and can at times pay for your housing, tuition and provide you with a stipend.

For those that are interested in coaching a college sport, contact the programs that you would wish to involve yourself in for further information. Reach out to any and all programs of interest in order to get that first start.

For Football check: www.footballscoop.com
For Baseball check: www.collegebaseball360.com

These two websites may lead you directly to an assistantship, however, they will let you know sometimes where new coaches are being hired, coaches are leaving or just basic news about your program.

Keep in mind all new coaches need volunteers!! Its just a start, so volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Coach because you love the sport not for the money and work your way "up the ladder".

For all other inquiries dealing with athletics contact your University!

Hopefully this information gave you a little bit of a start, stay tuned for more information to come!

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, a bird sings because it has a song"
-Lou Holtz

JP AKA COACH POINDEXTER

How to develop a football program: Boise State University

Looking at this College Football season and the BCS Rankings, one of my new favorite teams is only one or two slip ups aways from competing for a National Championship. I'm talking about Boise State.  Boise State has developed into one of the top college football programs, in what seems to be overnight. In an article on idahostatesman.com, Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier states "Look at these (commemorative) footballs of teams we were playing in the late '60s and early '70s" including such teams like Linfield, Westminster, Whitworth, Eastern Oregon, Hiram Scott and the College of Idaho. "Fast forward to 2011, and put BYU, TCU, Utah, Air Force on that same football.Boise State, come 2011, will be in the Mountain West Conference and will compete with the teams just mentioned. SO, the question is how do you go from competing against small NAIA schools to the current #4 college football program in America in about 15 years?

My belief is that with any program, as you can see in any information about Boise State, 4things are important to growth:

1. Finding quality talent (Players and Coaches

2. Playing the toughest opponents possible

3. Generating funds

4. Marketing your team, personnel and school.

These may sound like common tools or ideas, but clearly as you look college football, these are not the easiest things to gather. In order to be a successful program you have to find the balance between all 4 tools. Boise State has become successful because they have taken the time to market themselves to their community as well as the entire college football community, find quality coaching and player talent (Boise is 49-4 in the last 5 years), generate funds (football program budget has gone from approx. $3 million to $6 million) and they have played tougher opponents (eliminating their rivalry with Idaho and playing teams such as Virginia Tech this season).

These 4 things will help ANY college or high school football program grow from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the mountain.

Going on with your day, I leave you with the words of Lou Holtz, “Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

JP aka Coach Poindexter