A Letter to High School Football Coaches

I’m jealous of you.

Jealous that soon you’ll be back on that field, doing what we all love. Coaching ball. I’m jealous of the grind, the film, the early mornings, and the Friday night lights. I’m jealous of the bonds you'll build. The early morning laughs, the hard conversations, the breakthroughs in the weight room and on the practice field.

But more than anything, I’m happy for you. You’ve earned this. After months of pouring yourself into your program, of dragging yourself through offseason workouts and sharpening young minds in meeting rooms, now comes the payoff. The next five months are yours. You deserve every bit of it.

“I hope you find something you love as much as I love football”

Right now, I work at a sales company. It pays the bills. During the day I handle marketing projects, campaign deadlines, and client calls. But in the early mornings before work, or late at night after my daughter and wife are asleep, I’m writing articles and breaking down film for the Board Drill. A coworker recently asked why I spend 3 to 4 hours a day on what he called "a second job."

My answer was simple. I told him, “I hope you find something you love as much as I love football.”

He didn’t get it. He’s never coached. He doesn’t understand the game, the bond between coaches, the quiet moments of pride after a hard week of preparation, or that incredible, exhausted feeling that hits you after a well-earned Friday night win.

I like my job. But I love football. And I miss it more than I can explain.

“You’ll miss it less and less with time”

That’s what a mentor of mine told me recently. We were catching up over coffee, just talking ball like old times. He’s a retired coach, a damn good one, and someone I’ve looked up to for years. At one point in the conversation, he said something I’ve heard from other retired coaches before: “You’ll miss it less and less with time.”

I respect the hell out of him, but I’ve got to be honest. I don’t agree.

Maybe it’s because I never got that state title. Maybe it’s because my coaching run was shorter. But for me, that feeling hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s grown stronger. Every night, I look forward to working on the Board Drill. Every morning, after I pour a cup of coffee, it’s the first thing I dive into. And outside of spending time with my girls, the best part of my day is connecting with coaches like you. Whether it’s helping solve an offseason issue, sending over a resource, or just talking ball, it fills a space that nothing else really can.

“I’ve learned more about football in the last 3 years than I did in the decade prior”

The Board Drill has been a blessing in my life. Partly because without some connection to the game, I probably would have lost my mind. But mostly because, after three years of talking ball, interviewing coaches, and helping solve problems, I have grown. I am a better coach because of it. Honestly, I am a better person because of it.

Spending the offseason talking with coaches like you has probably kept me from sliding into something darker. It is tough to feel down when you are deep in a conversation about Buck Sweep or Corner Blitzes.

And while I have learned a ton of football from the conversations we have had, what stands out most is what I have learned about building relationships. That is the part that really matters. My favorite question we ask on the podcast is always the last one. “What is the most unique thing your program does that no one else does?” Almost every time, the answer is not about football. It is about people. It is about connection. And I love that.

“I was blessed to play and work for several tremendous coaches, and I didn’t say thank you enough”

Take the time to thank your head coach. Thank them for the opportunities, for the mentorship, for helping you move forward in your career. Thank them for sending you to clinics out of the slim budget, and for taking the heat when a call or decision did not go your way.

I never said thank you enough to the head coaches who shaped my path. Coaches like Mark Thorson, who gave me my start after coaching me in high school. Or Jarrod Hickman, who brought me in when I moved to Tallahassee and helped me land my first GA job. And my friend Matt Dixon, who hired me after I was let go from a college gig, and is now my partner here at the Board Drill.

Coaches are some of the best people out there. Take a minute, reach out, and let them know what they meant to you.

“Why do we keep coming back”

Most of us don’t get paid much. At least not in the state where I live. But we keep showing up because we believe in the power of football. Not just the scoreboard, but the process. The structure. The discipline. The relationships.

We coach because we remember what this game gave us, and we want to pass that on. That is why we stay in it, even when the hours are long and the job feels thankless. Because deep down, we know this work matters.

“It’s game time”

Fall camp is here, or it will be soon depending on your state. And at some point this season, it is going to get hard. Players will test your patience. Parents definitely will. You work long hours. The wins will be tough to come by, because they always are.

But just remember, there are a lot of us out here who wish we were in your shoes. Inside run will always beat staring at an Excel sheet.

So enjoy the 2025 season. Soak it up. Because before you know it, you will be collecting gear, heading home at 3:30 on a Friday, and telling stories about the ride.

I wish you nothing but the best this year. And remember, in 30 years, the relationships will mean a whole lot more than the rings.