The Key to Being a Great High School Football Coach: Building Relationships and Trust

What defines a successful high school football coach? This question has come into sharp focus recently, especially in light of recent events involving Hoover High School, where two coaches were placed on administrative leave and subsequently resigned. While the specifics of that situation are unique, seasoned high school football coaches across Alabama agree that the heart of effective coaching boils down to one essential element: relationships.

According to Keith Etheredge, head coach at Auburn High School with 25 years of experience, the foundation of great coaching is showing genuine care for the players. "A kid doesn’t care what you know until they know you care," Etheredge shared. He emphasized that successful coaches are not just experts on the field but also excellent teachers in the classroom.

Helena High School coach Richie Busby echoes this sentiment, stating that student-athletes respond best to coaches who have first established a solid relationship with them. "You can coach kids as hard as you want as long as you build a foundation of trust and respect," Busby explained. Both he and Etheredge agree that while today’s athletes might seem more entitled, their core response to good coaching remains unchanged.

The key to effective coaching, Etheredge argues, lies in maintaining professionalism and avoiding actions that could provoke a negative response from the players. "Don’t put your hands on a kid, don’t cuss them out, and don’t demean them," he advises his coaching staff each year. For Etheredge, these principles extend beyond the football field, emphasizing that professionalism is crucial in any career. "We are here to teach these boys how to be young men, and I don’t think that teaches them anything," he said, referring to unprofessional behavior.

Louis LeBlanc of Westminster Christian Academy, who began his coaching career in 1997, stresses the profound influence that coaches have on their players. "Coaching is about more than winning games; it’s about shaping character and integrity," LeBlanc said. He believes that a coach's impact should be lasting, evident in the way former players interact with them years later. "If in 20 years these young men avoid us, we’ve failed as coaches," LeBlanc said. The ultimate goal, he insists, is for former players to greet their coaches with respect and warmth, reflecting the positive influence the coaches had on their lives.

Tim Vakakes, head coach at Spain Park, reflects on his experiences as a player under coaches who were consistent role models. Despite the passage of three decades, Vakakes believes the core principles of coaching remain unchanged. "Be a consistent model, admit your mistakes, and treat the kids like you want your own son to be treated," Vakakes advises.

This sentiment is shared by Etheredge, who notes, "The last kid I grabbed coming off the field was my son, and he’s mine." He emphasizes that he treats every player with the same respect and care as he does his own child. "I’m not going to put my hands on your kid. I’m not going to cuss my kid. I’ve never cussed him. I’m not going to belittle him," Etheredge said, underscoring the importance of positive coaching techniques.

Steve Mask, head coach at Theodore High School and a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, highlights the importance of trust in coaching. "You have to be able to take care of your players," Mask said, adding that building trust is essential to ensuring player safety and success. While Mask acknowledges that coaching can be intense, he believes that players will trust and follow a coach who genuinely cares for their well-being.

Faith Academy coach Erik Speakman believes that understanding each player's unique personality is key to motivating them effectively. "If you have 70 kids on your team, you have 70 different personalities," Speakman noted. He pointed out that different players respond differently to coaching styles, making it crucial for coaches to tailor their approach to each individual.

When it comes to defining bad coaching, Richie Busby offers a straightforward answer: failing to prepare players for success. "Bad coaching is not preparing your kids for success, not doing a good job in the offseason," Busby said. He stresses the importance of offseason preparation, especially in developing younger players into contributors by their junior and senior years.

Ultimately, Mask believes that the success of a coach comes down to a single word: trust. "If the kids know you care about them and you trust them, they will trust you," he said. In the end, it is this mutual trust that keeps players motivated and engaged, even during the grueling days of August practices.