How to Be a GREAT Press Box Coach

On The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson open with early-season updates, scrimmage takeaways, and how scheduling tougher opponents can better prepare a program for conference play, then share a Nick Saban quote on constant evaluation beyond the scoreboard. They discuss Simpson’s Field House coaching group and then focus on having a coach in the press box: why it’s a critical role (often best for coordinators), what the box coach should watch (coverage, fronts, far-sideline issues, personnel/substitutions, alignment, leverage/space, tendencies), what information helps win games, what not to communicate (obvious statements, uninstalled play ideas, criticizing players, ref complaints), and how to build a simple, organized headset/communication system with clear expectations, roles, and timing for adjustments, including how to handle disagreements between the box and the play caller. 00:00 Podcast Kickoff 00:52 Week One Prep 02:43 Scheduling Up Philosophy 05:32 Quote and Evaluation 07:46 Field House Breakdown 09:52 Sponsor Shoutouts 11:49 Box Coach Basics 15:24 What to Watch Up Top 24:57 Box Intel That Wins 28:46 Better Headset Communication 29:26 Confirm Film On Field 30:05 Find The Wrinkle 30:45 Chart Live Tendencies 31:17 Adjust Before Too Late 31:58 Diagnose Why Plays Fail 33:19 What Not To Report 35:57 Build Box System 44:39 Patterns And Causality 45:56 Headset Roles And Timing 49:04 Disagreements And Ego 53:36 Sponsors And Sign Off Daniel Chamberlain: @CoachChamboOK [email protected] chamberlainfootballconsulting.com Kenny Simpson: @FBCoachSimpson [email protected] FBCoachSimpson.com