Inside the Headset with the AFCA - Cris Reisert, Head Coach - Tiffin University

Cris Reisert, Head Coach - Tiffin University

08/19/21 • 27 min

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Tiffin University Head Coach, Cris Reisert. Coach Reisert shares the importance of learning the opposite side of the ball, discusses his personal transition from player to coach, and goes into detail throughout his journey to becoming a head coach.

Cris Reisert is entering his third season as the Head Football Coach at Tiffin University. Tiffin officially claimed the conference championship title in 2020 with a perfect 6-0 mark, playing a spring season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reisert earned his second consecutive Great Midwest Coach of the Year honor with an undefeated run through the league standings to officially make it back-to-back trophies. During the 2019 campaign, Reisert led the Dragons to arguably the best season in program history. Tiffin finished the regular season 9-1 along with a perfect 7-0 mark in GMAC play to claim the conference title. As a result, the Dragons earned their first-ever berth into the NCAA DII playoffs.

Prior to Tiffin, Reisert served for two seasons as Ohio Dominican's offensive coordinator, helping to lead the Panthers to some of the top offensive numbers in Division II. Reisert directed one of the best offenses in the nation in 2017 as ODU led the country in completion percentage, passing efficiency and fewest turnovers committed, ranked second in third-down conversions, third in passing offense and fourth in total offense. Prior to that Reisert spent three seasons as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Elon University. Prior to working at Elon, Reisert spent the 2013 season as the assistant offensive line coach at Ball State University. As a four-year starter at quarterback for Ohio Dominican, Reisert set 10 NAIA passing records and was named the 2007 NAIA Player of the Year.

[0:27] Start of Interview
[0:56] Learning the opposite side of the ball
[3:22] Transition from playing to coaching
[6:33] Lessons learned coaching the Offensive Line
[9:50] Coaching Tight Ends
[13:32] Becoming a Coordinator
[16:39] Learning from other coaches
[19:05] Putting together a coaching staff
[22:30] Personal 35 Under 35 testimony

[0:27] Start of Interview
[0:56] Learning the opposite side of the ball
[3:22] Transition from playing to coaching
[6:33] Lessons learned coaching the Offensive Line
[9:50] Coaching Tight Ends
[13:32] Becoming a Coordinator
[16:39] Learning from other coaches
[19:05] Putting together a coaching staff
[22:30] Personal 35 Under 35 testimony

Previous Episode

Chip Vaughn, Defensive Assistant - New York Jets

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring New York Jets Defensive Assistant, Chip Vaughn. Coach Vaughn details his personal football journey, explains the motto he lives and coaches by, and discusses embracing challenges and adversity.

Chip Vaughn is entering his second season with the New York Jets as a defensive assistant coach where he works with the secondary. Prior to the Jets, Vaughn spent one season as the defensive backs coach for the Air Force Falcons where he helped the team finish the 2019 season with a pair of wins over Power 5 programs and a top-25 national ranking. Coach Vaughn has also spent time at Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State where he also coached the defensive backs.

Vaughn was selected to the 2020 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. A Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship coach with New Orleans during training camp in 2018, he was also one of 15 coaches selected to participate in the 2018 NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy. Vaughn is a former fourth-round selection by New Orleans in 2009 and was a part of the Saints XLIV Super Bowl team. Vaughn also spent time with other NFL franchises including the Eagles, Colts, and Panthers before retiring in 2011.

[0:25] Start of Interview
[0:54] Personal football journey
[5:45] "Keep Grinding" motto
[9:04] Playing confident, not cocky
[13:42] Lessons learned coaching at the high school level
[18:22] Embracing challenges and adversity
[20:54] Personal 35 Under 35 experience

Next Episode

Reilly Murphy, Head Coach - Lake Erie College

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Lake Erie College Head Coach, Reilly Murphy. Coach Murphy discusses his different experiences coaching at various college levels, provides insight on how to turn a struggling program around, and highlights the culture of accountability he has created within his team.

Reilly Murphy is entering his third season as the Head Football Coach at Lake Erie College. Murphy came to Lake Erie College after serving as the offensive coordinator for fellow Division II member Fayetteville State University. While heading the offensive side of the ball the Broncos ranked among the top offenses in the country with an average of 32.33 points per game while rushing for 216 yards per contest, 26th in Division II. Fayetteville State was also in contention for the NCAA playoffs after being ranked regionally before the defeat in the championship game.

Murphy’s coaching career is diverse as he has coordinated offenses at private, public, and historically black colleges. He previously also served as the offensive coordinator of Dixie State University. Before that he was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Western New Mexico University. Murphy has also coached at Bethel College, Notre Dame College, and Grossmont College. During his collegiate career, Murphy attended Grossmont where he played quarterback and led the Griffins to a national championship in 2005. He was an Academic All-American and was honored with the Joe Roth Memorial Award given annually to a California Junior College football player who best exemplifies characteristics of leadership, humility, and class. He was then granted a scholarship to play at Indiana State where he was a two-year starter and named the Gateway Conference’s Newcomer of the Year in 2006.

[1:04] Start of Interview
[1:17] Coaching at different college levels
[3:11] Being an effective recruiter
[6:1] Turning a program around
[9:13] Building up players in a program
[11:55] Culture of accountability
[19:08] Personal 35 Under 35 experience