Coach ,

As the NFL owners scramble to fill their head coaching openings over this next week or so, the hottest names in coaching will dominate the sports news cycle.  There will be new names you might not be familiar with as well as those who have had head coaching positions before.

One of the names on this list is Dan Quinn.  He led the effort that brought the Cowboys to the top of the NFL in takeaways with 33 as well as third-down defense at just 31.2 percent conversion and was seventh overall in total defense. 

For Coach Quinn it begins with setting the bar high and having every team member hold each other accountable for the standard.

It’s something that he has done for a long time as a head coach, coordinator, and position coach, and how he does it is certainly a template for any coach to use with his group, unit or team.

The standard provides the edge for Coach Quinn and his players.  He feels it is important for a coach to define it in writing and put everyone on the same page. He defines “the standard” for his team in this video (click on image for video):

Video: Set Your Standard

Coach Quinn goes on to explain how “the standard” gives every member of the team a “go-to” as far as how to approach a teammate when something is not being done the right way as they have defined it.  They push each other to be the best they can be. He explains it here (click on image for video):

Video: Everyone-Everything

The common language allows a wide focus to allow every team member to bring it in together.  The standard creates a connection that goes beyond this year’s team.  It unites the coach and players of the past to the team as well, which is extremely important in building a successful program. Coach Quinn explains that effect using a former player and Hall of Famer Jason Taylor as an example (click on image for video):

Video: Jason Taylor’s Impact

Once you establish the standard for your position group, unit, or the entire team, you will see the accountability to each other become a huge factor in helping improve your players' buy-in as well as the bond between players and coaches.

Best of luck to you and your team as you set the bar for a successful 2022.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski