How can coaches better connect with and lead this generation of student-athletes?
It's an overarching question nearly 40 football coaches from all three divisions and the NFL faced last week during the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy in Indianapolis. It's a question these attendees, who also included two current NFL players interested in the profession, left the event's ninth iteration better equipped to address.
"Authenticity is the most important thing when it comes connecting with this generation," Brian Sheehan, offensive coordinator at Hamline, said of one of his biggest takeaways from the academy.
What goes into authenticity, the attendees learned, has many layers. A collaboration between the NCAA and NFL, the academy offered a chance for the coaches to better understand many of those aspects.
"I loved that we talked so much about everything, from coaching Gen Z and what it's like for them. It wasn't just about our relationship to them. It was about their relationship to the world, their relationship with themselves, their psychology, their well-being as whole people, but also, they're kids and need direction and guidance," said Mickey Grace, an assistant coach for the Ivy League champion Dartmouth football team last season and former rugby player at West Chester. "I really appreciated the number of coaches here trying to figure out what that adaptation means for them, how they can authentically relate to Gen Z and the changes that they need to make in their programs.
"It was an invaluable experience."
As a starting place to this process, coaches took a personality profile assessment to better understand themselves and how others perceive them. The exercise set the stage for the rest of the three-day academy, which provides full-time position coaches, coordinators, and assistant or associate head coaches at NCAA member schools an educational opportunity to build connections and develop leadership acumen to pursue their aspirations as head coaches.
Throughout the academy, attendees engaged with industry experts and valuable peers across a wide variety of topics to enhance their capabilities to serve as an effective coach and leader of student-athletes both on and off the field. The topics included recruiting, crucial conversations, sports analytics, personal branding, interviewing, search firms and holistic player development. Session leaders included Baylor head coach Dave Aranda, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich, DePauw Director of Athletics Stevie Baker-Watson and football head coach Brett Dietz, various subject matter experts and student-athletes.
"It was a great experience," said Toryeon Hester, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Shaw. "The biggest thing for me is the student-athlete relationship."
One session gave specific insight into this relationship through a panel discussion with three current and former football players: Purdue safety Sanoussi Kane, former Florida State defensive lineman and current NCAA postgraduate intern Walvenski Aimé, and UIndy running back JaQuan Buchanan. Moderated by former NFL quarterback and Marshall alum Chad Pennington, the discussion highlighted coaching style preferences and how to help players navigate certain areas such as social media and the Transfer Portal.
In another session, Nyaka NiiLampti, a clinical psychologist and vice president of wellness and clinical services for the NFL, examined the role athletes' well-being plays in their chances of success on and off the field. A former track athlete at Temple with more than 15 years of clinical experience, NiiLampti also emphasized the importance of coaches prioritizing their own well-being.
"Dr. NiiLampti could have spoken all day, and we would have listened to all of it. She struck a number of chords from the personal level in terms of taking care of ourselves (as coaches). She struck a number of chords in terms of what our student-athletes are dealing with and going through," Sheehan said. "I'm looking forward to unpacking a lot of the resources she provided."
The academy also stressed the importance of peer connection and networking, intentionally sorting participants into small group discussions facilitated by NFL and NCAA staff members who promoted open and honest conversations.
"There was so much high-quality content, no fluff, just things that immediately help us as coaches," Sheehan said. "We really have a group of people here who are committed to not only self-improvement but self-improvement for the right reasons, for the betterment of other people and the young men we get the chance to coach. Being around those folks is encouraging and inspiring."
