Nothing in terms of strategy today. I just want to talk about how I got to where I am right now, in a sort of therapeutic manner. This post may be more valuable for me, than for anyone else.
Right now I am sitting in a dorm room at my new job. I’m going to be coaching linebackers for a JuCo up here, after months of searching to pursue my new dream of being a college football coach. Well I was given the opportunity here in Iowa, which is roughly 1,000 miles from my current teaching/coaching job in Virginia. Its going to be a big change, for sure. I’m up here on Spring Break, just flew in to Moline, IL today and drove the rest of the way.
The process has been incredible. You have no idea how competitive this job market is, until you start trying to get into it. I had very few college contacts, none of which turned anything up. I thought that because I had been a Coordinator for a couple of years, and had 7 years of coaching under my belt, I would be able to find something. I’m good with computers, do a lot of the video work. I’m the strength coach. And I played college ball (though not particularly successfully). And after all, hey, I just wanted a D-III job and was willing to move. I knew D-1 would be tough… but man, was I in for a shock. And I wanted a GA job, because I know I’ll be needing a masters.
The Job Board FootballScoop.com became my home page. I started applying for jobs back in December. Resume, references, cover letters. It really became like an assembly line. Some days there were as many as 5 or 6 jobs that I felt I was reasonably qualified for, and applied for. Sometimes I applied for jobs I knew I wasn’t qualified for, and let them delete the e-mail. The day we came back from Winter Break, I resigned my high school teaching position, effective at the end of the school year. Weeks went by, then months. Mostly I was getting ignored, though occasionally I would get a nice rejection letter, either by e-mail or through the mail. I even got to the “we might want you to interview” point with one school, but never heard anything back. There was concern that I would not get a college position.
During a snow day in March (of all times for snow!), I applied for a position at a Community College in Iowa. I thought nothing of it, until I got a phone call later that day. Finally, someone was showing real interest. We talked about the position, and about what I could do. The Head Coach would call me a few days later. Before he called, I was invited to interview for a D-III Intern position in Massachusetts. I was offered the position in Iowa, and given time to interview in Massachusetts.
After a flight to Boston, a rental car, and what I thought was a pretty good interview, I didn’t get the position. I was prepared to head to Iowa. We had stayed in contact throughout the whole process, so I was shocked when I called and was told, “We filled that position.” Ugh! I was panicked.
But, a week later, the position was re-offered (I didn’t ask for details about what happened). And this past Thursday, it was made official. I would be heading to Iowa to be coach Linebackers with a successful program.
So here I am, a few days later, after a flight to Moline, and a 3 hour drive in another rental car. Tomorrow will be my first Spring Practice. I couldn’t be more excited to meet the players, the other coaches, and start my new career. It hasn’t been cheap, and it hasn’t been easy. If you’re considering making a move like this, just know that it is not a smooth process!
But how rewarding, at the end, to know that I’m going to get the chance to do what I want to do. No idea what will happen, but I’m sure you’ll be getting updates.
