Today’s guest is St. Edward (Cleveland) head coach Tom Lombardo. Lombardo is the only coach in Ohio history to capture state titles with two different schools. He led Lake Catholic to a Division III state title in 2001 and guided St. Edward to a Division I crown in 2015. Lombardo joins Keith on this episode of the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast, where he discusses the importance of servant leadership, why he lets quarterbacks call their own plays (some of the time) and the value of a coach telling his players when he’s made a mistake.

Show notes

• :58   Start as a football coach
• 4:05   Lessons learned as a young coach and the value of experienced assistants
• 5:58   Coaching philosophy, and the constancy of change
• 9:15   Culture building at St. Edward
• 10:56   Importance of servant leadership
• 15:00   Establishing a coaching identity, and why Lombardo serves as head coach and offensive coordinator
• 17:01   Why less is more with play installation
• 18:40   Encouraging athletes to play other sports
• 21:01   Why Lombardo tells players when he's wrong
• 22:20   Doubling down on your expertise
• 24:17   Mistakes as a young coach
• 26:33   Personnel, playing time...and perspective.
• 29:23   A reminder that practice isn’t game day 
• 32:25   Book recommendation
• 34:05   Why Lombardo lets his quarterbacks call plays
• 37:12   Incorporating new technology
• 39:10   Importance of learning from clinics
• 41:56   Concerns for future of the game
• 44:23   Advice to a young coach
• 46:33   Creating balance
• 49:03   Two-minute drill
• 51:14   The winning edge

Listen to the full show here: