Today’s guest on the USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Tony DeMeo, retired college head coach, most recently at the University of Charleston (West Virginia). His coaching career spanned 37 years and 12 college teams. This included stops at the FBS, FCS and NCAA Division II levels. DeMeo was the head coach at Charleston for six seasons before stepping down in 2010. He held a 43-23 record with the Golden Eagles and had them ranked as high as tenth in NCAA Division II back in 2009.

In his career, DeMeo worked as a head coach at four schools, offensive coordinator at three and assistant coach at five schools. He compiled a 137-108-4 record as a head coach starting at Charleston from 2005-10, Washburn University (Kansas) from 1994-2001, Mercyhurst University (Erie, Pennsylvania) from 1981-87 and his alma mater Iona College (New York) from 1975-78. His other coaching stops include the University of Richmond, Murray State, James Madison University, Temple, the University of Pennsylvania, University of Delaware, University of Massachusetts and Pace University (New York). DeMeo graduated from Iona in 1971 and was a four-year player at running back for the Gaels.

On today’s podcast, DeMeo and host Keith Grabowski talk about DeMeo’s “Disaster Plan,” which applies to coming back from a large deficit, and how his experience prepared him for those situations.

Show Notes

• 1:10     Creating the “Disaster Plan” in football
• 6:23     Making stops on defense and shifting momentum
• 10:58   How to practice coming back when trailing
• 12:43   Reasoning for being close with six minutes to go
• 17:28   Playing with a lead and not losing it
• 22:20   Preparing players in close-game scenarios
• 26:16   Using unconventional strategy to win the game
• 30:31   Best way to give up a safety and take a knee at the end of the game
• 31:58   Having your players ready for the unexpected

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