Coach and Coordinator Podcast

On this episode of D3 Coach & Coordinator of the Week, host Keith Grabowski highlights three standout Division III football leaders as they discuss performance evaluation, defensive disruption, and program building. This multi-coach showcase features Trinity Offensive Coordinator Wade Lytal, Linfield Defensive Coordinator Jackson Vaughan, and UW-Eau Claire Head Coach Rob Erickson. Coach Wade Lytal opens the episode by introducing Trinity’s Offensive Control Index, a metric tracking controllable factors such as penalties, negative plays, and drops instead of relying on fixed yardage goals. He explains how a fast, disciplined huddle break helps control offensive tempo. Next, the defensive segment explores how holding a top-tier offense to season lows in passing and scoring depends on winning money downs and forcing early turnovers. Finally, Head Coach Rob Erickson breaks down UW-Eau Claire’s marquee victory over UW-La Crosse. He explains how 21 years as an assistant coach shaped his program-building philosophy, why hiring relationship-driven coaches is important, and how a 351-yard rushing performance reinforces the team’s "next play, last play" mindset. Chapters Wade Lytal on Trinity's 646-Yard Rushing Dominance Speed Physicality and the Offensive Control Index Using Huddle Discipline and Clean Breaks as a Tempo Tool Matching Explosive Plays to Field Position and Game Flow Rob Erickson on UW-Eau Claire's 27-10 Victory Over UW-La Crosse Building the Program Pyramid and Lessons from 21 Years as an Assistant Hiring Relationship-Driven Coaches and Empowering Staff Controlling the Clock with 351 Rushing Yards and Staying in Your Lane Connect on X: Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski Logan Hansen: @LogHanRatings Wade Lytal: @CoachLytal Jackson Vaughn: @CoachJVaughan Rob Erickson: @CoachE_Blugolds Presented by Hansen Ratings and the Coach and Coordinator Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of National Coach of the Week presented by Modern Football, host Keith Grabowski sits down with Omaha Westside High School Head Coach Paul Limongi to break down the mindset and culture behind an undefeated regular season and a major win over Millard South. Limongi explains how his staff kept players grounded heading into a highly anticipated matchup, focusing on being fearless, executing with discipline, and winning one play at a time rather than the entire game. The conversation also explores how Westside continues to push for improvement even after convincing wins. Limongi shares how his staff uses focused film review to identify the corrections that are most important, then intentionally closes the book on the previous game and moves immediately to the next challenge. He also details the program’s offseason roadmap, the language and behaviors tied to its standards, and how players help shape the culture each year. From developing a growth mindset to hiring coaches who share the same values, Limongi provides a look at how Westside builds consistency beyond the scoreboard year after year. Chapters Preparing for a Top-Ranked Opponent Without Making the Moment Too Big Win the Play: Building a Fearless, One-Play-at-a-Time Mindset Second-Half Execution: Settling Down and Trusting Technique Growth Mindset: Finding Corrections Even After Big Wins Film Study Efficiency: Showing Players What They Need to Improve Moving On: Westside’s Routine for Closing One Week and Starting the Next Building the Roadmap: Turning Culture Into Behaviors and Standards Player Ownership: Giving Upperclassmen a Voice in the Program Family, Faith, School, Community, and Football Building a Staff Around Character and Relationships Why Winning Is a Byproduct of the Process National Coach of the Week is Presented by Modern Football Modern Football helps coaches chart and tag in real time, delivers sideline reports to keep the booth and sideline aligned, and makes self-scout faster with on-demand reports. Visit ⁠modernfootball.com⁠ for more information Connect on X: Paul Limongi: @Coach_Limongi Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski Modern Football: @modernFB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 378 Yards to 3,044: How Bay High School's QB Mastered the Offense One Play at a Time | Presented by Just Play Sports Solutions What happens when players move beyond memorizing plays and truly understand their offense? In this episode of One Play at a Time, host Keith Grabowski sits down with Bay High School senior quarterback Patrick Cleary to explore the teaching, preparation, and player ownership behind a record-breaking 2026 season. After throwing for just 378 yards in the first three games, Cleary averaged more than 380 passing yards per game over the final seven weeks. He finished the regular season with 3,044 passing yards, ranking fifth in Ohio and 22nd nationally on MaxPreps. Bay finished fourth in Ohio in team passing yards, while Cleary established school records for single-game, single-season, and career passing. The transformation wasn't the result of adding more plays. Instead, Bay simplified its offensive approach, reinforced core concepts, and used Just Play Sports Solutions to create a more effective learning environment. Cleary shares his firsthand experience using video instruction, interactive playbooks, quizzes, and a virtual film room to develop a deeper understanding of the offense. He explains how studying independently helped him recognize coverages, speed up his decision-making, communicate with receivers, and confidently make adjustments on the field. The conversation highlights Grabowski's philosophy of educated freedom, teaching players thoroughly enough that coaches can step back and trust them to execute. Key Takeaways: Simplification drives execution: How returning to core passing concepts helped spark an offensive turnaround. Teaching beyond practice: Using Just Play to make instruction accessible anytime, anywhere. Learning through retrieval and feedback: Why quizzes and mistakes during preparation helped reinforce understanding. Building independent learners: How Cleary took ownership of his preparation and improved his decision-making. Educated freedom: Empowering quarterbacks and receivers to recognize defenses, communicate, and make adjustments. Efficient film study: Replacing lengthy team meetings with focused, position-specific instruction players could revisit at their own pace. Presented by Just Play Sports Solutions Great execution starts with great teaching. Just Play helps coaches organize their playbooks, deliver video instruction, reinforce learning through quizzes, and prepare players with accessible weekly game plans and film study. Give your players more than a playbook. Give them the tools to understand it, master it, and execute with confidence. Learn more about Just Play Sports Solutions: JustPlaySolutions.Com Coming Next: In the next episode, Bay High School head coach Nick Bigrigg joins Keith to share his perspective on the season, the offensive evolution, and the team's approach to player development. One Play at a Time explores practical ways coaches can improve teaching, accelerate learning, and develop smarter, more confident football players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of D3 Coach and Coordinators of the Week , host Keith Grabowski brings together three Division III football coaches to break down offensive resilience, pressure defense, and practice structure. This multi-coach interview features John Carroll Offensive Coordinator Scott Phillips, St. Norbert Defensive Coordinator Rob Huberty, and UW-River Falls Head Coach Jake Wissing. Coach Scott Phillips opens the episode by outlining his “People, Alignment, Concepts” framework. He details how John Carroll adjusted to a three-high safety look to rush for nearly 300 yards and explains why teaching quarterbacks the big-picture concepts, instead of asking them to memorize one play at a time, gives them the tools to find answers when the picture changes on the field. Next, Defensive Coordinator Rob Huberty breaks down his “fun and fluid” defensive philosophy. He explains how giving players freedom to disguise their alignments through what he calls “Jimmy’s backyard,” while prioritizing assignment over alignment, allowed St. Norbert to use pressure to secure a marquee win. Finally, Head Coach Jake Wissing explains how UW-River Falls builds complete-game performance through daily defensive tackling circuits, dedicated three-day special teams technique periods, and offensive scoring periods. Chapters: Scott Phillips on John Carroll's 300-Yard Rushing Execution Teaching Answers and Decision-Making Within Offensive Concepts The People Alignment Concepts Planning Approach Quarterback Collaboration and Offensive Staff Alignment Rob Huberty on Choosing Pressure Over Drop-Eight Coverage Creating a Fun and Fluid Scheme with Jimmy's Backyard Disguise Assignment Over Alignment and Educated Player Autonomy Player Feedback and In-Game Adjustment Workflows Jake Wissing on Complete Game Preparation at UW-River Falls Daily Tackling Circuits and Connecting Drills to Film Structuring Three-Day Special Teams Work and Score Periods Year-One Head Coaching Growth and Staff Alignment Connect on X: Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski Logan Hansen: @LogHanRatings Scott Phillips: @CoachScottFB Rob Huberty: @RobHuberty Jake Wissing: @coach_Wiss Presented by Hansen Ratings and the Coach and Coordinator Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of National Coach of the Week presented by Modern Football, host Keith Grabowski sits down with Milton High School Head Coach Ben Reaves to break down how his staff engineered a dramatic second-half comeback. They overcame a 30-17 halftime deficit to secure a dominant 32-point win. This conversation explores the in-game adjustments coaches must make between series and at halftime to keep players confident, focused, and prepared to execute. Coach Reaves shares his 48-minute battle mindset, explaining how to narrow a play sheet and trust proven concepts instead of introducing untested ideas under pressure. The discussion covers series-by-series self-diagnosis using sideline replay, identifying defensive safety structures to exploit numbers and space, and coordinating a five-minute halftime staff meeting that sends players back onto the field with restored confidence and belief. From making critical postseason adjustments to recognizing the contributions of his offensive, defensive, and special teams coordinators, this interview delivers a practical blueprint for effective in-game management. Chapters The 32-Point Second Half Comeback with Ben Reaves Mental Foundations: Building Belief Around a 48-Minute Battle Play Sheet Mechanics: Narrowing the Game Plan Instead of Reinventing Halftime Efficiency: Quick Staff Alignment and Delivering Clear Unit Plans Scheme Reading: Exploiting Safety Structures for Run-Pass Decisions Technology on the Sideline: Using Replay and Formation Tags Between Series Postseason Pressure: Series-by-Series Self-Diagnosis and Avoiding Wasted Drives Staff Alignment: Unifying Coordinators and Recognizing Game-Changing Special Teams Final Takeaways on In-Game Leadership and Adjustments National Coach of the Week is Presented by Modern Football Modern Football helps coaches chart and tag in real time, delivers sideline reports to keep the booth and sideline aligned, and makes self-scout faster with on-demand reports. Visit modernfootball.com for more information Connect on X: Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski Ben Reaves: @CoachBenReaves Modern Football Technology: @modernFB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices