Podcast
The Coaching 101 Podcast
Hosted by Kenny Simpson and Daniel Chamberlain · EN
Welcome to The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosted by Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson, where football coaching takes center stage! Whether you're a seasoned football coach, a rookie on the sidelines, or just a die-hard fan eager to learn more about the game, this podcast is your playbook for success.
Join Daniel and Kenny as they break down game strategies, share insights on player development, explore leadership on and off the field, and tackle the challenges of coaching at every level. Featuring interviews with top coaches, athletes, and experts, every episode is packed with tips, stories, and strategies to help you build winning teams and inspire greatness.
Step onto the field and into the minds of coaching pros—because greatness starts with the right game plan!
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Hard Coaching vs. Bad Coaching: Standards, Trust, and Relationships
2d ago00:54:04Tap to summarizeDaniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss youth sports becoming a business and share stats on costs and participation drop-off, then move into the episode’s main topic: the difference between hard coaching and bad coaching. Using examples like Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, and Nick Saban, they argue coaches can win with different personalities but must coach authentically, with clear intent, and avoid yelling as a default. They emphasize demanding without demeaning, not treating athletes like military recruits, and building trust so tough coaching is received properly. Simpson explains why coaches struggle balancing toughness and relationships, recommending focusing on a few key non-negotiables, recognizing “fair isn’t equal,” and choosing battles wisely. Both stress that coaches must be experts who explain the “why,” support players off the field, correct without embarrassing, and prioritize discipline over harassment.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:55 Youth Sports Burnout01:51 The Business of Youth Sports03:30 Baseball Parenting Lessons06:20 Quote of the Week08:40 Sponsor Shoutouts10:18 Hard vs Bad Coaching17:54 Demanding vs Demeaning21:08 Trust and Toughness23:30 Balancing Relational Coaching25:20 Respect Before Likeability26:34 Discipline With Relationship28:05 Coaching in the Gray29:33 Pick the Right Battles31:57 Coaching Culture Shift35:10 Social Media and Winning37:42 Standards With Support38:49 Show Up Off Field39:50 Explain the Why40:43 Expertise Builds Buy In42:33 Discipline Not Harassment44:10 Be Know Do Leadership47:59 No Yelling Just Coaching49:20 Sponsors and Sign OffDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Organizing Practice for Maximum Reps and Minimum Standing Around
2w ago00:58:50Tap to summarizeOn The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Coach Kenny Simpson discuss why practice scheduling and efficiency matter, especially during spring ball and installs. They share a John Wayne quote on courage and relate it to fear of failure through Daniel’s story about his son facing a pressure at-bat. The episode promotes Simpson’s Field House coaching community and briefly thanks sponsors Ace Sports, Winning Edge Performance Analytics, and Blended Threads. The main content defines what an efficient practice looks like based on a program’s reality (staff size, roster size, two-way players), emphasizing clear daily priorities (1–3 goals), scheme-matched drills, Tony Holler’s “wave theory” of high/low intensity, small-group coaching over “busy work,” and situational team periods. They argue shorter, organized practices beat long ones, stress scripting reps (including backups and young players), building a drill book, training players to run drills, using timekeeping, and having contingency plans when practice is disrupted.00:00 Welcome and Spring Ball00:25 Efficiency Mindset01:26 Quote of the Week Courage02:38 Beckett Baseball Story04:29 Fear of Failure Lessons04:47 Field House Coaching Community07:19 Sponsors and Partner Shoutouts10:52 What Efficient Practice Means14:14 Five Keys to Practice Efficiency20:26 Busy vs Productive Reps24:06 Game Like Drills Not Gadgets25:11 Balancing Install and Fundamentals26:28 Why Shorter Wins28:04 Shrink Time With Smarter Drills29:12 Drills Must Match Scheme31:21 Racehorse Training Mindset32:50 Focus Effort And Culture39:39 Scripting Reps For Everyone41:13 Drill Books And Player Led Execution43:01 Wave Theory And Rep Recovery49:09 Assistants Timers And Backup Plans53:15 Sponsors And Final SignoffDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →How to Teach Defensive Run Fits without Overloading Your Players
3w ago00:54:55Tap to summarizeOn The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss spring football challenges and introduce Tom Landry’s quote, “Being aggressive doesn’t mean being undisciplined,” tying it to intelligent defensive play. Simpson explains the Fieldhouse membership at fbcoachsimpson.com, including a free meeting offer tied to purchasing his first fiction book, Iron Valley, releasing May 15. The main topic is installing defensive run fits without overloading players by using simple, consistent rules (inside hip vs outside hip), emphasizing two-on-one tackling, and creating language that solves many situations (option, RPOs, boot, formations) without constant “if/then” checks. They argue defensive breakdowns often come from complexity and hesitation, recommend teaching structure first (spill/force/alley concepts), using pods and drills to rep fits, and keeping fits stable across fronts, blitzes, and formations.00:00 Podcast Intro00:36 Mothers Day Banter03:22 Spring Ball Grind05:37 Quote of the Week06:59 Fieldhouse Membership11:45 Sponsors Shoutouts14:16 Defensive Run Fits15:22 Hip Leverage Rules17:21 Two on One Tackling22:51 Avoiding Oklahoma Drill26:12 Backers Play Fast27:00 Simple Key Reads28:28 Language That Sticks29:25 Why Defenses Bust31:18 Cues And Kill Calls35:59 Take Your Shots41:14 Install Without Overload42:05 Pods And Fit Drills46:55 Structure First Umbrella49:39 Wrap Up And PlugsDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Core Run Plays: Choosing Families, Simplifying Teaching, and Maximizing Execution
4w ago00:55:25Tap to summarizeDaniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss spring football scheduling, summer team camps, and a quote on maintaining standards through adversity, then focus on selecting and teaching core run plays. They emphasize first deciding team identity (run-heavy, balanced, or pass-heavy), then choosing a small number of run concepts that attack the perimeter, interior, and a change-of-direction element (counter/reverse), while majoring in either gap or zone and pairing runs with RPO/play-action. They argue coaches should prioritize schemes they can problem-solve, use tags and window dressing (formations, motions) to expand without overloading linemen, and build clear, rule-based teaching that answers defensive looks. They also introduce Simpson’s “Field House” community with courses, recorded Zoom calls, and Q&A, including an upcoming session on attacking man-zero.00:00 Podcast Intro00:36 Spring Ball Check In02:10 Summer Camp Schedule04:04 Quote Of The Week05:59 Adversity In Youth Sports07:05 Sponsor Shoutouts09:56 Core Run Plays Overview12:04 Building Your Run Identity15:04 Gap Vs Zone Decisions21:43 How Many Runs To Carry24:19 Tags Families And Playbook Size27:01 Run Concept Families27:46 Major In Core Plays28:32 Play Count Reality Check30:24 Tags Over New Schemes30:54 Minimize Upfront Learning32:17 Three Play Run Menu33:09 Maximize Game Night Execution33:36 Trojan Rules For Everyone35:37 Rule Based Blocking Counts38:28 Window Dressing And Motion39:38 Quarterback Run Cheat Code40:57 RPO And Play Action Answers42:25 Move Numbers Not Rules46:12 Field House Community Launch46:31 How Field House Works49:12 Upcoming Topics And Man Zero51:31 Sponsors And Sign OffDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Rebuilding and Sustaining Culture: "Restore the Rock" w/ Eric Knickerbocker
Apr 3000:56:16Tap to summarizeOn The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson interview Connecticut head coach and author Eric Knickerbocker about rebuilding and sustaining football culture at Rockville High School after 15 straight losing seasons. Knickerbocker shares his 22-year coaching journey, how studying leadership and culture books led him to write Restore the Rock, and how reflective writing helped him evaluate what worked and what didn’t. He explains that early turnaround efforts focused on digging into program history to create identity and a clear vision (“Restore the Rock,” later shifting to “Raise the Rock”), while buy-in required involving players, aligning stakeholders, and gaining administrative support. The group discusses leadership responses, maintaining success amid rising expectations, and hard truths of head coaching, including self-doubt, losing people, talent and scheme fit, and the loneliness and complexity of leadership.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:36 Coach Background02:21 Culture Is Fragile03:29 Quote Of The Week05:32 Sponsor Shoutouts08:22 Why Write The Book12:07 Reflecting To Improve13:27 Restore The Rock Identity15:46 Fear And Teaching20:35 Buy In From Adults21:45 Player Led Culture24:40 Shared Values Simple Rules26:23 Three Rules of Dumbness26:56 Craft Before Culture28:38 Emotional Bank Deposits29:37 Programs That Fit30:50 Big Picture Coaching33:31 Vision That Drives Buy In35:37 Pivoting After Success39:45 Untold Head Coach Truths41:44 Talent Scheme Loneliness46:43 Blueprints Rank Reality49:10 Book Sponsors FarewellDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →What a Head Coach Actually Does in the Offseason
Apr 2300:59:34Tap to summarizeOn The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss what head football coaches do in the offseason, emphasizing that coaches “fall to the level of their systems” and should plan for worst-case scenarios. Simpson shares updates on moving toward spring football, a Sunday online workshop on installing the gun tee, and finishing staff hires. They outline offseason priorities: running an effective weight program, building relationships, developing and evaluating coaches, addressing friction points, making measured scheme tweaks to fit personnel, teaching leadership and football IQ within rules, promoting competition and camaraderie, coordinating multi-sport expectations, and giving athletes an offseason to avoid burnout. They also detail behind-the-scenes head coach duties like managing grades, budgets and fundraising, equipment inventory, admin relations, scheduling and logistics, social media promotion and recruiting, coordinating with other sports, and aligning booster clubs. Sponsors and contact info are provided.00:00 Offseason Catch Up00:14 Spring Clinics Update01:45 Head Coach Reality03:29 Quote Systems Win05:30 Worst Case Planning06:56 Sponsor Shoutouts09:55 Offseason Head Coach Jobs12:08 Weight Room Priority14:00 Relationships And Staff Growth16:30 Scheme Tweaks And Rest19:25 Coach Evaluations And Friction25:17 Player Development Beyond Lifting27:48 Patience With Maturity29:03 Small Leadership Roles30:25 Competition And Team Unity33:28 Building Football IQ35:03 Evaluate Leadership Growth35:45 Relationships Beyond Football38:09 Multi Sport Coordination39:21 Hidden Head Coach Chaos39:48 Grades Budget And Gear42:47 Admin And Multi Sport Balance46:50 Social Media Recruiting49:21 Calendars Logistics Boosters53:57 Sponsors And Final MessageDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Q&A: Accountability, Building Culture, and Starting (or Rebuilding) a Program
Apr 1601:04:12Tap to summarizeOn the Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss being worn down late in the season, Kenny’s Coaches Cap (coachescap.com) and the importance of skin care after Daniel has minor surgery, then pivot to a Q&A episode. Daniel shares he was let go from a new head coaching job after making too many small mistakes, losing the AD’s trust, and pushing culture changes too quickly, emphasizing extreme ownership; Kenny advises interviewing administration for support. They share a quote of the week from Tom Landry—“You can’t improve what you don’t define”—and Kenny promotes his upcoming fiction book Iron Valley (May 15) and a Field House spring-install session (April 26). Key coaching topics include balancing being a player’s coach with accountability, avoiding harassment, rebuilding struggling programs through alignment, easy wins, realistic goals, and culture, spring football priorities, staff-building mistakes, parent trust through communication and involvement events, and first steps to start a program from scratch, plus sponsor mentions.00:00 Welcome To Coaching 10100:41 Season Grind And Travel01:22 Coaches Cap And Skin Care03:46 Let Go From Head Job05:32 Quote Of The Week Intent07:22 Iron Valley Book Launch10:11 Sponsors And Shoutouts12:51 Q And A Player Coach Balance20:55 Dream Matchup OU Vs Miami23:27 Young Coach Beliefs Changed28:18 Build Your Perfect Scheme29:25 Dream Scheme Picks29:46 Defensive Coordinator Choice30:19 Arkansas Spread Innovators31:13 Wishbone With Switzer31:54 Fixing Struggling Programs32:51 Culture And Easy Wins36:21 Spring Ball Priorities42:09 Staff Building Mistakes47:48 Finding Great Assistants50:43 Winning Parent Trust56:06 Starting From Scratch57:21 Field House And Sponsors01:00:12 Final Thanks And SignoffDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Simple Defensive Answers vs Modern Spread & Tempo Offenses
Apr 900:54:00Tap to summarizeOn an Easter Sunday episode of The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss simple defensive answers to modern spread offenses, focusing on defending space and tempo with rules-based systems. They emphasize having a defensive “home” with adaptable rules, simplifying scouting reports to key players and a few core calls, empowering select defenders to make limited checks, and using defensive timeouts when alignments are dangerous. To reduce mental busts, they stress practicing tempo looks, drilling situations like third down and red zone, using concise film cutups, and establishing clear non-negotiables (e.g., don’t get beat deep or lose the edge). They also advocate teaching concepts through layering, ensuring players know their help, and leveraging personnel packages to highlight player strengths.00:00 Podcast Kickoff00:38 Easter Choir Stories02:46 Road Trip to Oklahoma04:17 Clinics and Zoom Install05:51 New Fiction Book07:42 Sponsor Shoutouts10:06 Quote on Leadership12:52 Defending Spread Offense16:43 Rules Based Defense21:54 Alignment Tempo and Timeouts26:32 Expecting Mental Busts26:43 Practice Under Pressure28:57 Situational Defense Days29:57 Let Them Fail30:29 Film Cutups That Stick32:10 Non Negotiables Rules34:03 Rules Based Coverage Fixes37:44 Match Coverage Over Spot Drop40:19 Simple Keys Base Rules42:41 Teach Concepts Layering45:05 Help Rules Personnel Packages48:00 Sponsors Season Eight Wrap49:59 Socials Final MessageDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Building an Offensive Identity: How to Decide What Your Team Does Best w/ Jason Parker
Apr 601:03:41Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Coaching 101 Podcast, Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson are joined by Caddo/“Cola” coach Jason Parker to discuss building an offensive identity and deciding what a team should do best. They cover evaluating personnel relative to opponents, starting with what coaches can teach, and adapting within a system rather than changing offenses yearly. Kenny explains using strengths/weaknesses, planning for worst-case scenarios, and trimming the play menu with a “rule of three,” while Parker shares his program’s evolution from unbalanced single wing to adding spread and screens, plus lessons from temporarily abandoning what his kids knew best. They also address preventing outside pressure from forcing scheme changes, using player confidence as a factor in key calls, and briefly debate Memphis’ decision to ban practice music, plus sponsor and clinic updates.00:00 Podcast Kickoff00:46 Offseason Travel Updates03:14 Spring Ball Rules Explained04:26 Quote of the Week Intensity07:03 Sponsors and Shoutouts09:19 Building Offensive Identity14:56 Parker’s Personnel-Based Evolution22:23 Staying Systematic Not Chasing30:23 Avoiding Scheme Creep on Staff31:26 Single Wing Identity34:41 Stop Scheme Chasing37:51 Rule of Three Offense42:32 Kids Know the Call49:41 Roster Audit Process53:20 Music at Practice Debate57:13 Sponsors and Sign OffDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →Coaching Mistakes to Leave Behind: Efficiency, Process Over Wins, and Honest Self-Reflection
Mar 2600:51:54Tap to summarizeOn The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson close out season seven by reflecting on coaching mistakes they’ve outgrown and how self-reflection improves teams and personal life. After a Lou Holtz quote about character in the final stretch, they discuss key lessons: time in the office doesn’t equal wins (an 0–10 season revealed inefficiency), winning at all costs isn’t the only goal (focus on development and process), chasing trends to look “cool” without purpose hurts execution, and too many rules create enforcement problems—simpler standards and individualized accountability work better than “equal” treatment. Daniel adds mistakes like believing X’s and O’s solve everything, assuming you have all the answers, and thinking leaders can’t ask for help. They explain why coaches miss their own flaws (confidence, loneliness, excuses, and critiquing others) and suggest improvement through mentors, self-care, continuous learning, structured feedback, and accepting hard truths.00:00 Podcast Cold Open00:26 Walkup Music Idea01:38 Season Finale Setup01:59 Mistakes Theme Intro03:01 Quote and Book Plugs05:45 Sponsors Shoutouts08:16 Kenny Mistake Time Equals Wins12:14 Beyond Winning At All Costs14:36 Stop Chasing Trends16:28 Simpler Rules Better Culture20:25 Daniel Xs and Os Limits22:39 Leaders Ask for Help22:59 Asking for Help23:34 Staffing Beyond Friends24:19 Why Leaders Miss Flaws27:25 Finding Reality Checks28:30 Excuses and Blame Traps31:29 Confidence Versus Humility35:49 Healthy Self Improvement41:32 Feedback Culture and AARs44:08 Hard Truths and Growth45:15 Sponsors and Wrap UpDaniel Chamberlain:@CoachChamboOKChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.comchamberlainfootballconsulting.comKenny Simpson:@FBCoachSimpsonfbcoachsimpson@gmail.comFBCoachSimpson.com
Transcribe →