USC’s head coach Clay Helton followed in his father Kim’s footsteps when he began his career in coaching football as a Duke University graduate assistant in 1995.

Kim, knowing what lay ahead for his son, gave Clay advice that would shape his daily life and his outlook on coaching.

“Son, if you go into this profession, you don’t have hobbies,” the former NFL coach told Clay.

The elder Helton’s point was that success as a football coach requires absolute dedication. Outside of football and family, there’s not much time for anything else.

Helton spoke on this advice at the American Football Coaches Association convention and his words were transcribed by FootballScoop.

Helton reminisced on how his father had lived out this advice during his coaching tenure.

“My dad took me and my brother (USC quarterbacks coach Tyson Helton) fishing every Friday he was with the Bucs,” Helton said. “When he had free time, he wanted to be with his boys. It wasn’t about the quantity time with him, but the quality of the time we spent together.”

At an early age, Clay was shown a path to follow when it came to balancing coaching and family. He also had some advice for those coaches looking to strike that balance.

“If you want to get in this business and be a great family man, you don’t have hobbies,” Helton exclaimed. “You don’t go improve your golf score or throw one back with your buddies.”  

Helton proved he can run  a successful program after his first full season at USC ended in a Rose Bowl victory.

This balance between family and football is one that may seem strict to some, but Helton seems to believe it is the only way.

With the long hours and the media attention that many coaches endure, maybe focusing on those who mean most to you is the right call.