Inside the Headset with the AFCA - Peter Cancro, CEO - Jersey Mike's Subs

Peter Cancro, CEO - Jersey Mike's Subs

03/05/20 • 31 min

2 Listeners

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Jersey Mike's Subs co-founder and CEO, Peter Cancro. Cancro discusses how his youth football coach helped him buy his first sub shop, the similarities between football and business, as well as the importance of giving back and impacting others.

In 1971, Peter Cancro was a high school student in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. He began working at Mike's Subs at the age of 14. When Peter was a senior in high school, he overheard the owner of Mike's Subs discussing selling the business. As an ambitious 17-year-old kid, Peter approached his football coach, who was also a banker, and asked if he could help him buy the shop. His football coach, Rod Smith came through for Peter, and backed his loan. At the tender age of 17 – before he was legally able to slice a sub – Peter Cancro became the owner and proprietor of Mike's Subs.

Shortly after buying Mike's, he opened a couple more local outlets. He expanded upon the phenomenon of Mike's Subs. In the mid-eighties, Peter began to realize people would come in at the end of 'summering' in Jersey and get several giant subs wrapped for travel, to carry back to their homes across the country. This got Peter thinking, and he started researching the possibilities of franchising. In 1987, 29-year-old Peter began franchising, however, he changed the name from Mike's Subs to Jersey Mike's Subs capturing the authenticity of where the sub sandwich was born.

Today, in his 45th year owning the business, Cancro oversees more than 2,000 locations. Despite the title, Peter still jumps behind the counter to demonstrate his passion for the product and the customer.

[1:43] Start of interview
[2:27] Advantages of working at a young age
[3:08] Buying Mike's Submarines
[5:55] Franchising Jersey Mike's
[7:35] Getting through tough seasons
[11:02] Recruiting employees
[14:04] Jersey Mike's unique training program
[17:13] Similarities between football and business
[19:46] The importance of employee input
[22:30] Jersey Mike's Day of Giving
[27:55] Advice to first-year head coaches

[1:43] Start of interview
[2:27] Advantages of working at a young age
[3:08] Buying Mike's Submarines
[5:55] Franchising Jersey Mike's
[7:35] Getting through tough seasons
[11:02] Recruiting employees
[14:04] Jersey Mike's unique training program
[17:13] Similarities between football and business
[19:46] The importance of employee input
[22:30] Jersey Mike's Day of Giving
[27:55] Advice to first-year head coaches

Previous Episode

Winston October, Passing Game Coordinator/WR - Edmonton Eskimos

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the Edmonton Eskimos Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach, Winston October. Coach October discusses his transition from playing to coaching, the challenges of coaching in different leagues, and the importance of networking at the annual AFCA Convention.

Winston October recently joined the Edmonton Eskimos staff as the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator (2020). October began his CFL coaching career last year with the Ottawa RedBlacks as the club’s receivers coach (2018-19). Prior to coaching in the CFL, October spent time in the US Collegiate system as the wide receivers coach at William & Mary College (2014-17), and the assistant defensive backs and wide receivers coach at Virginia Military Institute (2007-13). Coach October is a former receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos (2001-04) and Montreal Alouettes (1999-2000). October appeared in 92 games and was a member of the 2003 Edmonton Eskimos Grey Cup championship team.

[1:31] Start of interview
[1:55] The transition from football player to coach
[6:00] First interview as a young coach
[11:19] Coaching both sides of the ball
[13:58] Getting around people that are smarter than you
[16:06] Challenges of coaching in different leagues
[19:09] Advice to aspiring CFL coaches
[21:12] Returning to the Edmonton Eskimos
[23:48] The importance of networking at the AFCA Convention

Next Episode

Jovan Dewitt, Special Teams Coordinator - North Carolina

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the University of North Carolina Special Teams Coordinator and Outside Linebackers Coach, Jovan Dewitt. Coach Dewitt discusses the importance of seeking different perspectives, his unexpected battle with cancer, and the significance of meaningful relationships.

Jovan Dewitt, a 21-year veteran of collegiate coaching, joined the North Carolina football staff this past January. Dewitt joined Mack Brown’s staff after a two-year stint as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Nebraska (2018-20). Dewitt also coached with Scott Frost at both Central Florida (2016-18) and Northern Iowa (2009-11). In just two seasons, Dewitt helped UCF improve their scoring defense ranking by 65 spots, as they went from allowing 37.7 points per game in 2015 to 25.3 points per game in 2017. Dewitt’s linebackers also played a role in UCF ranking third nationally with 58 combined takeaways in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Before joining Frost’s staff in Orlando, Dewitt was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Army West Point in 2014 and 2015. As special teams coordinator, Dewitt helped the Black Knights combine for seven blocked kicks in his two seasons. Dewitt has been a part of several top defenses in his career, including coordinating a Florida Atlantic unit that ranked 11th nationally in total defense in 2013. Coach Dewitt also has coaching stops as defensive coordinator at St. Norbert (2006-08), defensive coordinator at Northern Michigan (2004-06), special teams coach at Fairmont State (2003-04), assistant coach at Fort Scott Community College (2002-03), and graduate assistant, running backs coach, and defensive line coach at Northern Michigan (1997, 2000-01).

[1:28] Start of interview
[1:40] The most rewarding part of the coaching journey
[3:03] Lessons learned coaching at different institutions
[4:26] Valuing coaching at the divisional levels
[6:16] The shock of getting diagnosed with cancer
[8:00] Endless support from the coaching profession
[10:20] Continuing to coach while receiving chemo
[12:08] Personal three-a-days
[16:08] Advice to coaches in troubling times

You can follow Coach Dewitt on Twitter.

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