Why did you decide to become a private coach?
I loved the coaching profession while spending some 25+ years as a major college coach and an NFL coach. When I left the coaching profession I always had an empty feeling that I was missing something in life. Joining CoachUp has filled that void for me by allowing me to continue to be involved in coaching athletes and interacting with their families.

What do you enjoy most about coaching?
The list is so long when answering this question. However if the answer needs to be condensed and placed in some order it would be:

    • Interaction with the players

    • The journey of creating a team and individual plan. Teaching it and watching it develop and hopefully have success when tested.

    • Being part of an athletes life. Parents and coaches have the biggest influence on young people.To be part of that was/is most rewarding.

    • The life time friendships that are developed after the athletes career ends. Watching them become adults and going down their own paths of life.

 

 

What can a client expect from private lessons with you?
A client can expect 100% passion and a professional, well thought out plan. I am extremely detailed and have the ability to cater a teaching plan to the clients needs and abilities. I will not sign up a client who does not have the passion or the determination to improve. Lastly, I make a point to go beyond the norm of just coaching a session. I will attend the clients games and write up reports to the parents on the progress being made.

What is your coaching style or philosophy?
My coaching style is simple. Passion and realistic drills. Passion is easy to define–you love what you do or you don’t. The drill part is more complex. For example in football–great coaches can create a learning environment without having to tackle someone or wearing a helmet and shoulder pads. Creating realistic teaching drill is my coaching philosophy in these sessions. Lastly, it is the coach’s fault if an athlete gets bored and stops paying attention or loses their focus. Keep it interesting and challenging.

What is your favorite moment in your athletic career?
Winning 3 Rose Bowls at USC and being part of a Super Bowl with the Raiders

Do you have any success stories from coaching an athlete?
Too many to list..LOL …First Round Draft choices, All Americans, All Pro’s. BUT the one I might be the proudest of and the one I always remember was from college. As a PE major we were required to take a course in atypical PE. This is now what the Special Olympics basically are. The course was divided into 2 parts–6 weeks of classroom work and 6 weeks of practical application working with these disadvantaged students.

Each session would last an hour. The last 10 minutes of each session we would take the 20+ kids and try and teach them a skill in football. It was a great experience that was capped in the last session by them actually executing a football play. We/I taught these kid how to snap the ball, the QB to hand off the ball, the runner to take the ball and run with. You would have thought we won the Super Bowl because we were able to finally put a whole football play together.

In my home office a picture is on the wall next to all the other ‘stuff’ of those kids many years ago in a gym in Bridgeport , Conn.

 

Did you participate in your sport in high school and college (if so, where)?
JP Stevens HS, Edison NJ. University of Bridgeport.

What is your favorite sports related movie?
North Dallas 40

What’s your mantra or favorite saying (in the context of sport and/ or life)?
“It is what it is.”

Do you have any special talents or a surprising thing someone might not know about you?
I spent 8 years with CBS and Fox as a game and studio football analyst. I was with the No.1 team on our national broadcasts.

Who is your favorite coach and why?
My HS football coach, Joe Gutowski. I grew to love football while playing for him. I realized the dedication and focus it took to be a champion. When coaching in the Rose Bowl for the first time while at USC, Coach Gutowski was the first person I called and invited to the game. He had a great time and visited California for the first time in his life.

What team do you root for most enthusiastically? (any sport)
NY Yankees