Brian Kelly- New Age Leadership

(February 2009 from OHSFCA Clinic)

7 Steps of Leadership:
1. Character
• You better walk the walk when you are a coach
• Coaches need high character because: players need someone to follow when things get tough
• A person of high character models the right decisions and eliminates uncertainty
• Demand good character from the youngest to the older in your program

2. Create Collaborative Cohesion

• Everyone on staff has input and give your players the opportunity to express input on the program
• Coaches must have a plan to create a buy-in of the vision by players and coaches
• During teaching moments (practice, film meetings, position group meetings, staff meetings, etc.),
Seek to stimulate, create, and excite those individuals
• When every player and coach understands and more importantly takes pride their role in the
program, success will follow
• No talk in front of players on who’s starting next season
• Head Coaches must remember that everyone is seeking self validation for their work.

3. Morale
• Ask yourself, what are you selling (body language, verbal and non verbal communication)?
• Unexpected and appreciated changes can boost morale (short practice, t-shirts, food, cards, phone
calls/text messages saying good job today
• Understand and promote that you must be able to delegate to others to get things done

4. Know What You’re Good At

• All leaders have similar goals but may reach them based on their own personal strengths
• Know what your staff’s strengths are and then delegate to them (i.e. Assistant Coach Smith is
very technology smart and you trust him to handle video responsibilities for the team)

5. Have A Change-Ready Mentality

• Good football teams have the ability to adapt to sudden change
• Good head coaches are willing to change the way things are done (no more “but that’s how we
always did it”)

6. The Head Coach

• Leaders are no longer commanders, but maestros and visionaries
• Head coaches are the person who puts all the pieces together to create a team
• Coach up your staffs (in private) to improve the overall coaching ability of your staff

7. Creative Thinker
• A head coach must be willing to challenge the status quo
• Whether you are a head coach or coordinator, you should not be afraid of being innovative
• Creativity separates great coaches from good coaches
Bearcat Team Commandments:
1. Treat women with respect
2. Don’t steal
3. Don’t lie
4. Don’t cheat

Mission Statement: We will develop our players in the 5 most important areas of football but more
importantly life:
1. Intellectual Development: school is high priority, hold players to a higher standard than the
average college student
2. Spiritual Development: Offer Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meetings or Bible Study
as optional services to the student athletes
3. Social Development: number one priority is to develop accountability to the team and your
friends on the team.
4. Skill Development: What is your plan to succeed? Coach should review histories of each play
and assess them as accurate as possible
5. Physical Development: Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle

Bearcat Creed:
The pride and tradition of Bearcat football will not be left to the (mentally) weak, timid, or non
committed. Both coaches and players must be willing to step out of their comfort zone

Final Thought:
Make sure that there is a clear message for the team on a day to day basis