My time at THE University of Nevada

Hall of Fame Coach Chris Ault and Nevada Quarterback Cody Fajardo

 














During the summer of 2010 I knew of my impending travels to The U.S.A. and Mexico. Knowing my travels would be in the mid to late March period my brain started ticking over to the possibility of seeing some spring football. Further research led me to the conclusion that only spring games were open and they all would fall at later dates. However maybe I could attend and be a guest on campus with a college team.

Due to my holiday being through the west coast and Mexico I started looking at camp dates that would align with my stay. One location though stuck out head and shoulder above the rest and would just squeeze into my possible window. The University of Nevada located in Reno. We had just moved to a Pistol Offense locally with The Perth Broncos and had difficulty picking up exact timing and footwork off of film alone. The University program was run by College Hall of Fame Coach Chris Ault which further made it appealing. Lastly this is the birth place of The Pistol alignment/offense decades after Coach Ault had created the "jail break screen" at this very university he had again created history and innovation.

I looked up the number for the University of Nevada Athletic Department and called all the way from Perth. This meant I had to either call at the wee hours of the morning or I had a brief window each day to align with their office hours. They told me the person who would be able to help me the most would be Coach Scott Baumgartner who was the receivers Coach but also in charge of visiting staffs. A few emails later and a brief explanation of my coaching history and what I hoped to gain from the visit and the wheels where in motion.

After enjoying my fantastic holiday in Hollywood, Anaheim and Puerto Vallarta. I then spent a week in Las Vegas before finally heading off to Reno and my time at The University. It had been nothing but warm spring days to date on my journey with the occasional windy outburst in Vegas.   

It looked to be similar on arrival in Reno. I left the hotel early in the morning for a walk to the campus as dawn started to make way. I could see the mist in front of my face with the morning chill on the way to the football department. I was greeted at the building and then introduce to Coach Baumgartner. As I was fairly early i was shown to the Team Meeting room a massive theatre looking room with comfortable chairs raising towards the back of the room on the far left wall was a small desk with a computer. Coach Baumgartner lead me over to this computer we sat down and he explained that all of the teams film for the 3 previous seasons was on here. Broken down by multiple ways (formation/play/down and distance/opponent) for me to work through at my own leisure. Coach left me to it and stated he would be back once he got into his day.

Not long after I was joined in the room and introduced to 3 men all clad in blue and explained they were the only other offensive guests during my visit. So myself and the Houston District High School Champions from Cy Creek continued to pour over film. I was still stationed at the computer due to my now brief knowledge of the library of film and how to navigate it.

A Nevada Coach enters the room and introduces himself as Offensive Line Coach Nordcross. The man in charge of what the Wolfpack refer to as 'The Union' he then follows by asking if we have any questions on what we have viewed so far? We say yes we assume there is a check on a certain play when a defence presents a certain look? Well Coach Nordcross just grabs a whte bord marker from the desk I am at and walks right up and draws directly onto the cinema screen/wall. Turns out the whole wall is some king of whiteboard material but with a matte finish. we then move on and continue to pour through game film.

We decide to take a morning break for a coffee we are escorted by Coach Baumgartner and Defensive Coordinator Andy Buh to the cafeteria as we step outside to my surprise it is snowing. I am dressed in shorts and sneakers with a windbreaker on hardly snow attire but no fuss we move on.
(You can see the snowy practice and the town that evening in the above photos)
As we come back we do a tour of the football building where we see some of last years graduated Seniors working out before the NFL Draft we meet Virgil Green (now a Tightend with The Denver Broncos) and Colin Kaepernick (starting Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers). We then move into a coaches meeting in Coach Ault's office to go over todays practice schedule and what will be covered in install that day.

Each Coach then gets to select a position meeting they would like to sit in on after the full team meeting. I choose the Quarterbacks who will be with Coach Ault. We again move into the team meeting room where players have started to make their entrance. Coach Ault welcomes new students to the program and speaks about expectations set for the times ahead. Players are then all told to move to their positional meetings.

We speak about the days install which will focus on a play that wasn't used as much during Kaepernick's time at the school as he excelled in other areas. A spread variation of a play that Ault used to use a lot in his Wing-T days.
Players are dismissed to get ready for practice as coaches get to make their way to the field. At this point Coach Baumgartner points out it is still snowing heavily outside and yells out "Lets get this crazy Aussie into some warm clothing" we make our way down to the equipment room where the volunteer students who work there allocate me cold weather team apparel
There is an interesting dynamic between these volunteers and the players on the team Rishard Matthews (now a Miami Dolphin) comes in and asks for some extra cold weather gear for practice. At this point the volunteer refuses and chastises him for still having gear from the previous years bowl game. I smirk and think to myself "Haters Gonna Hate"

Out on the practice field the team begins to warm up. Todays practice is unique. To gain an extra day of spring training the practice will be run without footballs. Some assistants run onto the field with towels that are electrical tapped into shape for use by the Quarterbacks and Runningbacks as they do run game install.
Legend has it that in the creating of the Pistol Coach Ault and Coach Jim Mastro (runningbacks Coach at the time) went through proposed footwork in the changerooms using towels as there were no other staff to provide footballs on site.

I move between the Quarterbacks group and the Union on the field. I keep a very keen and close eye on Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Cody Fajardo as back home Reece MacMillan and I used him extensively on the NCAA Playstation Game. I also mention to Coach Baumgartner that I am rooting for Farjado in the new QB competition to replace Kaepernick.

After practice Coaches again meet in Ault's office to breakdown film of session and to breakdown next days install.
We are dismissed for the evening and ready to sleep recharged for day 2.

Day 2 we again go through a similar routine. Footballs today and some O v D work. I see a player flash around the field and wonder who the newcomer is. I also notice an absence of dynamic safety Duke Williams (now with the Buffalo Bills) I ask Coach Buh who points out that the young player and Duke are one in the same and that he had a number change in the off season.

Day 2 again ends with a Coaches film breakdown and then a meeting between Coach Ault, the Cy Creek Head Coach and myself. We go over any questions what we thought of practices to date. At this point I query both foot placement and weight transfer by the Quarterback on a certain run play.The question and the content catch Coach Ault off guard. "Are you telling me you Australians actually know some stuff about football? I didn't know you were at that level' he proceeds in detailed back and forth with me regarding the play and further questions. Mentions I am the furthest travelled coach to ever be part of their program. As he says good bye and I thank him he leaves me with one last statement. "Your lucky I am easy on you for coming this far. If you ever wear Red in this building again there will be trouble" I was in my team gear the red of cross State rival Rebels.

My time with a Hall of Fame Coach and witnessing the workings of what was a top 15 College Football program the year before was invaluable.
Not only for learning about the Pistol from it's creator before it's further spread through the football world.
But for learning how to build and sustain a successful team environment and how to share information with your staff and players to maximise limited time.  

My time with Rich Miano

Rich Miano Pictured above right

In 2007 I had the privilege of meeting and learning from Coach Rich Miano. A former NFL player and current Associate Head Coach and Defensive Backs Coach at the University of Hawai'i.

Before I get into my time and lessons from Coach Miano can I also add that it was also a pleasure to meet his wife Lori and son Kupa'a.

At the time I was in my first Head Coaching appointment being the Western Australian Junior Head Coach (under 18). Luckily through several circumstances I got to spend a great deal of time with Coach Miano. (this could be the fact I had a QB who was a fanatical UH fan an Assistant Coach who spent many years in Hawai'i (his father) a ball boy who was only a few years older than Kupa'a and I had also packed some gaming systems to keep my boys busy and out of trouble)

At the time even though I was a head Coach I considered myself to have more of a leaning towards offense. However a lot of the benefits and knowledge I gained from Coach Miano were on the defensive side of the ball.

This helped me in a future appointment as a Defensive Coordinator and also helped me have a greater knowledge base as a head coach.

Not only that but Coach Miano helped give me tools which I have been able to pass through local W.A. Football.

This all started from my gaining knowledge of the universal numbering system and how it helps simplify coverage rules for the defense. It also helps streamline your approach to opposing offenses as a '21' is still a '21' no matter where the backs align.

I then had the opportunity to learn about Coach Miano's belief in the odd fronts on defense. I previously had only ever really thought of even fronts being a Tampa Bay fan and seeing their 'Tampa 2' with an even front dominate for years. This definately broadened my horizons and also made me think more about tailoring defensive schemes to your peronnel.

I also learnt about the possibilty of tagging blitzes and coverages to formation and field not just to the personnel. I picked this up just gathering it from the terminology used in the UH Zone Dog packages. The amount of extra flexibilty this has inabled me to incorporate into defensive schemes has been amazing.

Learning all these Xs &Os not only helped me defensively but also gave me a greater understanding of attcking zone coverages on offense.

Still something I will never forget was a little bit of side humour that has rung true to me

Drawing up several plays on O and D my Defensive Coordinator joined us and was asked by Rich to draw up a defensive play. As he drew it up Rich stopped him and said "You are not a real defensive coach, No real defensive coach draws a play coming down the page it is upside down"
Most Australians first get their glimpse of plays drawn up on Madden Football. They have their defensive plays coming down the page. As Rich explained it though it made sense if you draw a defensive play going up the page as a D player reads it the play is facing forward as he would be. So if his player is going backwards on the page he is going backwards on the field.

Rich gave me a bunch of knowledge that I could take forward and definately helped make me move forward with greater flexibilty and adaptability. I also got some dynamic stretches that my boys either don't enjoy or enjoy to much I haven't decided yet but they laugh at each other while doing them.

Do you ever feel sorry for people you coached previously?

I have recently been thinking about my growth as a Coach. This also made me think about the people I coached when I was less of a coach.

Luckily I have grown at a similar rate to my challenges as a Coach. When I first dipped my toes into the water it was basically to mentor young individuals who were coming into the sport.

My first official coaching post was as Western Australian Under 18 Coach for our first shot at Junior National Championships in 2007. I know I was nowhere near the coach then that i am now. Luckily we were only playing 7 man football meaning most of my time could be used to Coach Skills and not terminology and execution.

However the fact I have had the opportunity to Coach some of these individuals from this squad again whether at club level, Senior state level or again at Junior state level. Has helped given me great input into exactly how my journey is going.

It is kind of like when somebody sees you every day and they struggle to see you losing weight as it happen slowly and gradually. Where as if you haven't seen them for ages they go Wow you have lost so much weight.

Recent conversations with David Mercovich and Adam Rooney who I coached in 2007 and again in 2009 have helped open my eyes to my own growth and how it amazes them to have the opportunity to play under me now with the leaps I have taken in my knowledge. Meanwhile to see the leadership and hunger for the game and all the knowledge they can attain makes me proud to have the opportunity to coach them again.

I have also had similar experiences with a young man named Luke Munachen. I first coached Luke as a young undersized but highly athletic runningback in 2007. I then had the opportunity to Coach Luke as a Free Safety in 11 man Senior football the following year. We will now both be heading off together in 3 weeks to Represent our Country as a player and Coach.

One more person who I have had great pleasure in growing with is Damien Donaldson. Damien played Outside Linebacker for me in 2007 in 7 man football. I this year Coached Damien at Senior Club level. Damien was a team captain for me and played Cornerback and Strong safety. The realization of our growth together was realized when Damien came away with me this year as my defensive Coordinator for our 9 man football Junior National Championships.

Damien is the most aware of what we have achieved and has explained it too me in conversation. He speaks of how amazed he is that he has transformed form a player who was over awed in 2007 to somebody who can now help teach skills and gameplans to others.

Anyway back to my initial point and the title of this post.

I have thought of all the things I could have done differently then if I knew what I know now. It makes me wonder if this is an experience shared by a great number of coaches. Do we all ask ourselves if only I could have done more then.

It doesn't make me dissapointed in the effort I put in as I know I did the best of my ability and the boys did all they could with what they had.

I do still however wonder if my impact on them could have been more beneficial if I had of known more? I see the great young men who I have had the opportunity to cross paths with again and help them grow and be a positive role model and coach to them.

It just makes me feel bad for those players from 2007 who I haven't had the chance to help move forward from that point

My time with Jeff Reinebold

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Reinebold currently the Receivers Coach at S.M.U. (Southern Methodist University) and a former NFL Coach. At the Gridiron Australia Junior National Championships.

After previously having the opportunity to share time with Rich Miano who is the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Backs Coach from the University of Hawai'i at the same tournament in 2007 and learning a lot from him I was looking forward to having a similar experience with Coach Reinebold.

I found the experiences I had with the 2 Coaches fairly different but now with reflection have realised this could also be the result of me also being in a different place as a coach now than I was 2 years ago.

Whilst Coach Miano shared a lot of knowledge with me which I needed at time as a young coach learning his craft. Coach Reinebold shared thoughts with me and it was more of a 2 way street.

At the time I was struggling to understand exactly what new information I was gaining from my exchanges with Jeff Reinebold though now looking back I understand the gift he has given me.

Coach Reinebold helped me reaffirm all my beliefs in Football, he also helped me realize the truths I believe in both in the sport and in the way I approach things both tactically and in building relationships with my players.

I am now at the point where I can easily use the internet to obtain information on X's & O's and then transfer these into my systems. However understanding why I run certain systems and what the benefits of that are to the people I coach and there growth in the sport as well as the growth of the sport.

We spoke about the importance of "Selling it to the players". It is one thing to tell somebody what to do but to help break it down and get them to buy into why to do it not only helps them learn but also makes these players your biggest fans in passing these beliefs forward to other players.

I had the opportunity to explain how with Gridiron being a minority sport in Australia how it is really important to sell techniques that in some cases are the opposite of the skills they use in other sports. An example of this is the habit Australian athletes have of almost a hugging actions in tackles. Not only does this drop the hitting level of the players and potentially drop their heads it also neutralizes any forward momentum they have in the tackle.

To combat this I have to sell the technique of bringing the arms through. I had a light bulb moment with a kid I was coaching a while ago and this has made this easier to translate this to all others.

I have all new players stand in a line and perform 2 broad jumps.
- The first broad jump is to be executed with no use of the arms at all to generate extra momentum.
- The 2nd broad jump attempt is now allowed to use the swinging of the arms forward to generate extra momentum
Nearly every player after this understands the importance of using your arms to generate extra momentum through the tackle. Sure they may not understand the immediate benefits of this action also raising your eye level and picking up your chest in the tackle, but these things will come with extra practice.

The benefits though of selling this technique and re training them quickly for the reasoning behind why we ask for them to bring their arms through make this 2 minute practice drill priceless.

Jeff told me he hadn't heard of the broad jump analogy for this technique but did think it made sense and translated really well. (Jeff earlier in the day was instructing kids to thrust their arms forward like they were trying to clap their hands behind the opponents head, something I will grab hold of after my broad jump instruction for beginners)

My time with Jeff Reinebold has accelerated my growth as a coach. Although I wasn't fully aware at the time I am forever thankful for the time and conversations we shared. Not only did he help me realize I may be on the right track with my approach. Coach Reinebold also assured me I have the ability to apply my trade at High School level in the U.S. something that may still remain a mid term Goal. I still have much work and learning ahead but at least now I trust in the foundation I have built.