Champions: Coaching Kids, Not Just Football - Insights from Mike Elder, Head Coach, Avon HS (OH)

12/06/24 • 34 min

Today’s episode presented by Signature Championship Rings is one from our archives, where Avon High School Head Coach Mike Elder joined me. Coach Elder and the Avon Eagles won their first state championship last night.

I’ve watched Mike grow his program over the years from a struggling program before he took over to a perennial state powerhouse.

The Eagles have been coming close often, and they finally got over the hump against a very good Anderson team in the Ohio Division 2 state championship. The game came down to the last play and was very well played which is a testament to the excellence in the coaching of Coach Elder and Coach Dreyer and their staffs. Coach Dreyer was a National Coach of the Week in 2024.

In this episode he shares insight on how to build a program, and he’s one of the best in Ohio and the country. This was his first episode with us in 2017, and he’s done several of them since.

He has over 200 wins at Avon in 18 years and 250 overall as a head coach. He’s taken his team to the state semi-finals six times, has been a state runner-up, and now is a state champion.

You will definitely take away some things from what he has to share in this episode. We will surely get Coach Elder back on for our Champions Series presented by Signature Championship Rings in 2025.

Chapters

Marketing Avon Football
Engaging with Parents
Developing Young Players
Coaching Philosophy and Culture
Building Youth Programs

Learn More about Signature Championship Rings:

Signature Championship Rings is a leading designer and supplier of championship rings, serving over 10,000 teams and organizations. With a focus on quality craftsmanship, easy team ordering processes, and affordability, Signature Champions celebrate every champion and their achievements, making their moment last a lifetime. For more information, visit www.signaturechampions.com/podcast.

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I’ve watched Mike grow his program over the years from a struggling program before he took over to a perennial state powerhouse.

In this episode he shares insight on how to build a program, and he’s one of the best in Ohio and the country. This was his first episode with us in 2017, and he’s done several of them since.

He has over 200 wins at Avon in 18 years and 250 overall as a head coach. He’s taken his team to the state semi-finals six times, has been a state runner-up, and now is a state champion.

You will definitely take away some things from what he has to share in this episode. We will surely get Coach Elder back on for our Champions Series presented by Signature Championship Rings in 2025.

Chapters

Marketing Avon Football
Engaging with Parents
Developing Young Players
Coaching Philosophy and Culture
Building Youth Programs

Learn More about Signature Championship Rings:

Support Our Partners + Offers for Our Listeners:

10% Tool Kit

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

CultureGPT - Using AI to Analyze Your Culture and Create Action Plans

In this episode of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, Keith Grabowski introduces the concept of Culture GPT, which merges artificial intelligence with program culture to enhance coaches' understanding of their teams' dynamics. Grabowski shares his journey of discovering AI’s impact on decision-making and discuss how tools like ChatGPT can analyze the cultural aspects of programs. By implementing a structured methodology that combines feedback, data, and core values, Grabowski guides coaches on using AI for conducting SWOT analyses to uncover actionable insights for improving team culture. The episode highlights the importance of a continuous feedback loop and encourages coaches to leverage technology for clear cultural insights, ultimately creating a more accountable team environment.

Chapters

Introduction to Culture GPT
Analyzing Program Culture with AI
Creating Action Plans for Improvement
Conclusion and Future Steps

Link to how-to steps, prompts, survey questions and sample “CultureGPT”:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uFTtMWFL27rCtkfjiFBiKT7sHuLq_0I1IrJ1Ur_Y3yQ/edit?usp=sharing

PDF on coachandcoordinator.com

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10% Tool Kit

Coach and Coordinator pledges to source the latest and greatest products and services available in the coaching marketplace. We call this repository The 10% Toolkit for The 10% Coach. These resources are proven to help coaches win games and achieve all objectives for their programs. Think of it as a buyer's guide for vendors and suppliers we trust with our seal of certification.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Champions - The Truck Stick - Garrett Mueller, Head Coach, Stewartville HS (MN)

Today’s episode is our Champions Series presented by Signature Championship RIngs.If you won a championship in 2024, you will want to give them a call. Every coach we have talked to has been thoroughly satisfied with the quality, price, and service of Signature Championship RIngs.

We continue to spotlight state champions and their ideas that have made a difference in propelling them to a state championship.

I had the opportunity to attend the Track Football Consortium in Chicago this past weekend, and Sprint-Based Football is a movement that you will want to pay attention to. We will take a deep dive into Sprint-Based Football with Tony Holler, creator of Feed the Cats, Track Football Consortium, and Sprint-Based Football, beginning soon with his series on Coach and Coordinator.

I want to share the metrics of Truck Stick via Garrett Mueller, who previously appeared on our Champions Series. I heard him speak about this at the clinic, and this is a metric you want to be a part of your off-season development. It’s such a telling number that Titan Sensors has adopted it as part of the analytics they provide.

This segment is from Coach Mueller’s presentation in 2022. Stewartville has now won back-to-back state championships in Minnesota in 2023 and 2024.

Chapter

Introduction to Truck Stick Metric
Developing Key Qualities for Momentum
Performance Thresholds for Impact Players
Elite Performance Metrics and Standouts
Future Emphasis on Truck Stick Development

Congratulations to Coach Mueller, his staff, and his team on their 2024 state championship. Remember to give Signature Championship RIngs a call to commemorate your own state championship.

Enhanced show notes at coachandcoordinator.com:

Video, related episodes, Truck Stick Calculator

Learn More about Signature Championship Rings:

Support Our Partners + Offers for Our Listeners:

10% Tool Kit

Coach and Coordinator pledges to source the latest and greatest products and services available in the coaching marketplace. We call this repository The 10% Toolkit for The 10% Coach. These resources are proven to help coaches win games and achieve all objectives for their programs. Think of it as a buyer's guide for vendors and suppliers we trust with our seal of certification.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices