Inside the Headset with the AFCA

American Football Coaches Association
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Inside the Headset with the AFCA

Inside the Headset with the AFCA takes you in-depth with interviews, career breakdowns, and coaching development with football coaches around the country.

  1. 5D AGO

    Jim Clements, Head Coach - Kutztown

    In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Jim Clements, the Head Coach at Kutztown University. With over a decade of sustained success and a recent honor as the 2024 AFCA Division II Regional Coach of the Year, Coach Clements shares: His journey into coaching and professional growth Strategies for building strong programs and coaching staffs The value of staying connected within the coaching community Entering his 11th season, Coach Clements has led Kutztown to an incredible 10 consecutive winning seasons, including an 11-1 record in 2024. Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with coaching wisdom, leadership advice, and practical takeaways for coaches at every level. 📖 Episode Highlights: 1:25 Introduction 3:15 Starting as a student assistant at Widener 8:54 Coaching high school and returning to alma mater 14:16 Including family in career decisions 28:49 Benefits of JV programs 42:02 Building a winning culture at Kutztown 55:40 Honored as 2024 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year 🎧 Follow the Show: Catch new episodes weekly and explore exclusive coaching insights. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review—it helps others find us! 💬 Connect with Coach Clements and KU Football: Twitter: @KUHC_Clements KU Football: @KUBearsFootball Subscribe now and never miss an episode of Inside the Headset!

    59 min

  2. MAY 1

    Todd Knight, Head Coach - Ouachita

    On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we’re joined by Todd Knight, Head Coach at Ouachita Baptist University. With 25 years at the helm, Coach Knight shares his journey from discovering his passion for the game to becoming one of OBU’s all-time winningest coaches. We discuss: His early career at Delta State and UTEP Lessons from becoming a head coach at just 28 Building longevity and success at Ouachita Baptist Leading the Tigers to a 10-2 season and a Division 2 playoff berth in 2024 His induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and recognition as the 2024 AFCA Division 2 Region 4 Regional Coach of the Year Whether you’re a coach, a player, or a fan of the game, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, resilience, and building a winning program. 🎧 Follow Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to leave a review—it helps others discover the show. New episodes drop every week! Show Notes: 1:20 Introduction 3:07 High school vs. college coaching 15:00 Becoming HC at Delta State 24:50 Returning to Ouachita Baptist 38:17 AFCA involvement and career growth

    44 min

  3. APR 24

    Lance Taylor, Head Coach - Western Michigan

    In this week’s episode of Inside the Headset, Presented by CoachComm, we’re joined by Western Michigan Head Coach Lance Taylor. From his beginnings as a walk-on at Alabama to leading the Broncos to the 2024 Salute to Veterans Bowl, Coach Taylor shares his journey through the coaching profession, his commitment to building meaningful relationships, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 🎙 In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: How a walk-on experience at Alabama shaped Coach Taylor’s approach to life and coaching. Key lessons from working with legendary coach Nick Saban. Transitioning from college football to the NFL and back. Developing strong player-coach relationships in both collegiate and professional settings. Navigating career opportunities and overcoming hardships as a young coach. 🎖 Coach Taylor was recently named to the AFCA’s Board of Trustees, and his passion for growth and leadership shines throughout this conversation. 📌 Episode Timestamps: 1:15 – When Coach Taylor realized he wanted to coach. 2:54 – Walk-on experience at Alabama. 8:18 – Learning from Nick Saban. 17:27 – Coaching with the New York Jets. 26:12 – First role with the Carolina Panthers. 28:16 – Coaching RBs at Stanford. 32:22 – Experience in the interview process. 35:08 – Sharpening your tools as an offensive coach at Stanford. 37:13 – Returning to the Panthers as the WR coach. 40:01 – Leaving a good impression on the people you work for. 41:58 – Returning to the college game as the RB coach at Notre Dame. 44:27 – Learning lessons from each head coach you work for. 47:31 – First opportunity as an Offensive Coordinator at Louisville. 51:45 – Involvement in the offense as a HC. 53:41 – Differences in interviews for Coordinator jobs. 55:04 – Hiring a staff as a first-time HC. 59:49 – Joining the AFCA’s Board of Trustees.   📢 Connect With Coach Taylor & WMU: Follow Lance Taylor: @CoachLT39 Follow WMU Football: @WMU_Football 💡 New Episodes Weekly! Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more listeners. Your support means the world to us.

    1h 6m

  4. APR 17

    Jim Nagy, General Manager - Oklahoma

    This week on Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we’re joined by Jim Nagy, the General Manager of Oklahoma Football. With 18 years of NFL scouting experience and a tenure as Executive Director of the Senior Bowl (2018–2024), Nagy brings a unique background to the Sooners. In this episode, Nagy shares his journey from discovering his passion for football to becoming a leader in the sport. Learn how he broke into the competitive world of NFL scouting, key traits he looked for in players, and how he’s adapting his pro-level experience to college football as Oklahoma’s GM. 💡 Key Topics Covered: When he knew football was his career path. Breaking into the NFL and thriving as a scout. Key characteristics of successful players. Leading the Senior Bowl and navigating leadership transitions. Vision and goals for Oklahoma Football. ⏱️ Episode Highlights: 1:16 – Introduction 1:40 – Discovering a football career path 3:10 – Getting started in NFL scouting 7:44 – Early days as a scout 15:59 – Leading the Senior Bowl 22:19 – Becoming Oklahoma Football GM 26:00 – Adapting NFL experience to college football 📢 Follow Us for More: Subscribe to Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform for weekly episodes featuring top names in coaching, scouting, and football leadership. 💬 Connect with Coach Nagy: Jim Nagy: @JimNagy_Sooners Oklahoma Football: @OU_Football 📥 Don’t Forget: If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with your network—it helps more listeners discover our show!

    30 min

  5. APR 10

    Tim Polasek, Head Coach - North Dakota State

    This week on Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we’re joined by Tim Polasek, Head Coach of North Dakota State University Football. From his early days in coaching to leading the Bison to a 2024 National Championship, Coach Polasek shares his journey, lessons learned, and insights into building a championship culture. 🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How Coach Polasek started his coaching career The challenges and rewards of coaching at different levels The importance of balancing tradition with innovation Key leadership lessons for aspiring coaches and players 🏆 About Coach Tim Polasek: Coach Polasek’s leadership earned him the 2024 AFCA FCS Region 4 Regional Coach of the Year honor after an incredible season at NDSU. His career is a masterclass in perseverance, adaptability, and creating a culture of success. 📌 Episode Highlights: 3:27: Why Coach Polasek chose coaching as his career 15:37: Building a championship culture at NDSU 29:37: Balancing tradition with progress 42:24: Navigating challenges as a first-time head coach 1:06: Reflecting on national success and personal growth 🔗 Follow Coach Polasek and NDSU Football Twitter: @CoachTimNDSU Twitter: @NDSUfootball 💬 Join the Conversation: What’s your biggest takeaway from Coach Polasek’s journey? Share your thoughts and tag us on social media! 🔥 Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Follow Inside the Headset on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Drop a review or rating—it helps others discover the show.

    1h 10m

  6. APR 3

    Kalani Sitake, Head Coach - BYU

    In this episode of Inside the Headset, BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake joins us to share his journey in college football coaching, overcoming career challenges, and how he finds joy and purpose in his work. As he enters his 10th season at BYU, Sitake reflects on an impressive 2024 season (11-2 record, Alamo Bowl win) and his appointment to the AFCA Board of Trustees. 1:17 – Introduction 1:36 – Being named to the AFCA Board of Trustees 3:24 – When did Sitake know he wanted to coach? 7:12 – Learning from legendary coaches & mentorship 10:43 – Breaking into college coaching & landing his first job 15:44 – The importance of learning what you don’t know 18:45 – How Sitake’s Polynesian heritage shaped his coaching style 26:04 – Academics & its role in his playing career 29:14 – Asking for help & continuous growth in coaching 34:16 – Overcoming challenges & hardships in the profession 37:40 – Coaching at a religious institution & its unique impact 44:04 – Gratitude & finding joy in coaching 47:18 – Conclusion 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music 📌 Subscribe for weekly interviews with top coaches & football minds 📌 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star review & help others find the show! 🔹 Follow Kalani Sitake & BYU Football: 📲 Twitter/X: @kalanifsitake | @BYUfootball 🔹 Stay Connected with Inside the Headset: 📺 Watch exclusive coaching content on YouTube

    50 min

  7. MAR 27

    Bob Nielson, Director of Divisional Football - AFCA

    On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sit down with Bob Nielson, the Director of Divisional Football at the AFCA. In this conversation, Coach Nielson shares insights on his new role at the AFCA, his journey through the coaching ranks, and the importance of building strong relationships in the profession. Coach Nielson joins the AFCA after spending 32 seasons as a Head Coach at Division 1, 2, and 3 levels, most recently as the head coach at FCS South Dakota.   For coaches looking to contact Coach Nielson with any questions, please reach out to him at bnielson@afca.com.  Follow Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a like and leave a review—it really helps others discover the show. We drop new episodes every week, so hit that follow button and never miss a moment.  1:16 New role as the Director of Divisional Football at the AFCA and plans for this role.   3:35 Passion for serving and fighting for the coaching profession by being active in governance.   6:06 When did you know you wanted to be a part of the coaching profession?   7:50 Separating yourself as a coach as an undergraduate assistant with former teammates.   9:27 Getting acclimated to the job duties of a coach and realities of the profession.   10:59 Getting promoted to full-time and finding avenues to learn and develop as a young coach.   13:14 Getting promoted from Offensive Line coach to Defensive Coordinator.   14:55 Using resources to help develop a philosophy and learn to coach.   16:13 Early learning curves as a first-time coordinator.   18:27 Becoming the Head Coach at 29 at Ripon.   20:44 Where did you go to learn as a first-time Head Coach?  23:15 Returning to your alma mater as the Head Coach and Athletic Director.   24:52 Value of establishing relationships with leadership and administration at the school.   26:22 Impact of early experiences and lessons on the success at Wartburg.   27:49 Transition to UW-Eau Claire as the HC.   29:56 Juggling the responsibilities of serving as the Head Coach and Athletic Director.   31:54 Evaluating the potential for success at a program.   34:58 Establishing a culture of success at each program within the first three years.   36:07 Stepping away from coaching to serve as the full time AD at Minnesota-Duluth.   38:53 Utilizing coaching experience to help make decisions as an AD.   41:01 Returning to the sidelines as the Head Coach at Minnesota-Duluth.   43:02 Proving that you are confident in your ability to be successful.   44:45 Feelings that come with winning National Championships and finding success.   46:18 Hiring a staff that is able to support you as the Head Coach.   48:24 Transition to Western Illinois and Division 1 level.   50:18 Transition to South Dakota to finish out your career.   53:26 Conclusion.

    57 min

  8. MAR 20

    Tim Plough, Head Coach - UC Davis

    On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sit down with UC Davis Head Coach, Tim Plough. In this conversation, Coach Plough discusses his early start as an OC, the importance of surrounding yourself with good people, and how he made the most out of difficult situations. Coach Plough was recognized as the 2024 AFCA FCS Region 5 Coach of the Year after leading the Aggies to an 11-3 record and an FCS Playoff berth in 2024.   Follow Coach Plough and UC Davis Football on social media here:   @VintagePlough & @UCDfootball  1:30 Finding your voice as a young coach, becoming an OC early on, and transition to Northern Arizona.   15:18 Second stint at UC Davis, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, and navigating difficult situations as a coach.   28:24 Opportunity to coach at Cal, returning to UC Davis as the HC, and being recognized as the 2024 AFCA FCS Region 5 Coach of the Year.

    44 min
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4.8
out of 5
220 Ratings

About

Inside the Headset with the AFCA takes you in-depth with interviews, career breakdowns, and coaching development with football coaches around the country.

Information

  • Creator
    American Football Coaches Association
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    424
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Inside the Headset with the AFCA

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