Ben Davis High School (Indianapolis) head coach Mike Kirschner sits down with Keith on this episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast. Kirschner, who guided Ben Davis to a Class 6A state title in 2014, shares the secrets to his successful collaboration with the local youth and middle school programs, why he’s obsessed with getting players to the next level and how one clinic session with Bobby Bowden revolutionized his approach to the game.

Show notes 

• 0:57   Start as a coach
• 2:43   Growing as a coach
• 3:21   Developing a coaching philosophy
• 4:23   Establishing a culture focused on college
• 6:27   Bridging the gap between the youth league and the high school program
• 7:47   How Ben Davis will have 54 seniors on the roster this fall 
• 8:55   Integrating Xs and Os in the local youth program
• 10:31  The role USA Football has played in coach development
• 11:22   Helping players learn the system
• 12:32   How Kirschner leverages technology
• 13:27   Why Kirschner wants to make practice fun
• 15:28   Alignment to assignment: The walk-jog-run of defensive instruction
• 18:10   Real-life defensive problem solving
• 19:31   Why “Share your life story” is the heart of the Ben Davis program
• 26:25   Best coaching advice received
• 27:49   Book recommendations
• 29:10   Tony Dungy coached the scout team: What high school coaches can learn
• 30:02   Why defensive back is the hardest position to coach
• 31:03   Concerns for the game
• 33:09   Advice to a young coach looking to be in football long-term
• 34:12   Why former players shouldn’t assume coaching is easy just because they played
• 35:04   Creating balance
• 36:42  Two-minute Drill
• 38:27   The winning edge

Listen to the full podcast below: