Five Interviews at Three Universities - Here Are The Lessons I Learned
You read the title right, I had five player development interviews at three universities. This math may get you a low grade in a math class, but it was a learning experience that I must share.
First Interview: Tom Herman, University of Houston
I was a high school coach at Hightower HS and was told Coach Herman was on the way to our campus. As he was coming, I prepared our prospect list and my recruiting spiel for our current players in the program. When Coach Herman arrived, I began talking about our players. When I was done my head coach, Padriac McGinnis, told Coach Herman, he should interview me. Coach Herman responded that is the reason I am here. I was in total disbelief, he interviewed me there in the fieldhouse. Told me what the role was and asked me if I was interested in the role. I said, “Yes Coach, I would love the position because I can grow more in my knowledge of offense and other coaching schemes.” He responded by telling me the role was not a coaching related role and if I wanted to coach, I would have to be the best Director of Player Development I could be. His message stuck with me so much that I fell in love with the player development position and have not looked back.
Lesson Learned: Be the best at the role you are in right now.
Second Interview: Todd Orlando, University of Houston
Coach Herman became the head coach at the University of Texas and our defensive coordinator Coach Orlando was our interim head coach. There was a significant number of coaches who went to Texas with Coach Herman as we were entering recruiting season. I had passed my compliance recruiting test and looked forward to getting on the road and recruiting. Before this happened, Coach Orlando came to my office and asked me what I did in the role. I let him know what I did and how I served the players. He then looked at me and said do not get on the road and recruit, stay here, and make sure the players end the semester well. With all the change happening in the program he felt it was best for our players to have a consistent influence as they ended the semester and prepared for the bowl game.
Lesson Learned: Be able to communicate what you do in the role.
Third Interview: Major Applewhite, University of Houston
Coach Applewhite was named the new head shortly after Coach Herman left. We were transitioning from Coach Orlando as interim to Coach Applewhite as our new head coach. When Coach Applewhite got the job, I called him to congratulate him. He said thank you and then told me he wanted me in recruiting. I let him know I enjoyed player development and he let me know he wanted me in recruiting. I was in limbo at the time as the head coach who hired me was gone, so in the name of job security I accepted this position in recruiting. I worked in recruiting for one year and did not like it at all, well I did not like that I was not around the players as much as I was before. I liked watching film and I had an eye for evaluating, but I missed the players. So, at the end of the season, we had our one-on-one meetings, and I was prepared to go in and ask Coach Applewhite if I could get back into player development. To my surprise that was the first thing that came out of his mouth. I was so glad to be back around the guys and glad he noticed my value there.
Lesson Learned: Coaches can see the value you bring to their program.
Fourth Interview: Les Miles, University of Kansas
Unfortunately, we were let go at the University of Houston after a winning season. There were new expectations placed on the football program and eight wins were unacceptable and would not be tolerated moving forward. Before I was officially let go by the athletic director, I got a call from Lawrence, Kansas. The person on the line said, “Is this Ed Jones? We heard you are the person for the job.” My response was yes, I am the person for the job. After getting let go, I called back, and I had an interview set up with Coach Miles in San Antonio at the AFCA Convention. I walked in the interview and had a WOW moment and then got to business. I handed Coach Miles my pamphlet and he asked me how I got all this done and could I do it for his program. I said absolutely Coach, whatever you need and more. He then told me he would allow me the freedom to make things happen in his program. I was ecstatic about the opportunity and thankful for the growth he allowed me.
Lesson Learned: Creative freedom is possible in the role.
Fifth Interview: Baylor University
After two years in Kansas, I received a call from Baylor which shocked me. They called and talked to me about a player development role. I had multiple conversations with the head coach as he talked to me about his program and such. One of my esteemed coworkers at Kansas reminded me that the head coach was making a hire without a chief of staff in place and the chief of staff normally would do the hiring for this position. I took their advice, but honestly, I was gone when I heard a $40,000 pay raise and an Assistant Athletic Director title. I found out after I was hired the chief of staff was hired right before me. In the role, I had many challenges because as my Kansas colleague told me there was no alignment on my role. I would have meetings with the chief of staff and tell him what the head coach told me the role would be and he would reply he was not informed. I would have a meeting with the head coach about responsibilities given to me by the chief of staff and he at times did not understand why it was given to me. In hindsight I wish I had set up a meeting between the three of us to gain clarity on my role as this was a major reason I was let go there.
Lesson Learned: Alignment and clarity are crucial to the role.
Check out the podcast episode to hear my bonus lesson learned from another interview: https://youtu.be/hypz1Fy4iLc
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