The Coaching 101 Podcast

Mastering Football Coaching w/ Zach Baber

Kenny Simpson and Daniel Chamberlain Season 3 Episode 12

In this episode of the Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Kenny Simpson and Daniel Chamberlain are joined by Zach Baber, a football coach at Central Noble in Northeastern Indiana and an attorney by profession. Baber shares his journey from being an attorney to becoming a head football coach, emphasizing the unusual path that led him to coaching. He discusses the challenges of his first year as head coach, including the steep learning curve and the need for preparation for unexpected situations. Baber introduces 'Coaches Help Coaches,' a program/community he created to support aspiring and first-year head coaches in building their program's culture, managing time, picking the right staff, and using social media effectively. The episode also covers the importance of delegation, setting limits, building a supportive team around you, and ensuring organized practices and program management. The hosts and Baber also highlight the importance of being prepared for unpredictable challenges and share insights on how to handle them by knowing your core values and building a network of trusted peers.


  • 00:00 Welcome to the Coaching 101 Podcast!
  • 00:24 Meet Coach Zach Baber: From Attorney to Head Coach
  • 00:49 The Unpredictable Journey to Head Coaching
  • 03:03 Introducing Coaches Help Coaches Program
  • 06:09 Personal Updates and the Power of Community
  • 08:02 Diving Deep into Organization and Preparation for Coaching
  • 17:00 Effective Communication and Setting Expectations
  • 25:49 Navigating Unpredictable Challenges in Coaching
  • 26:46 Navigating the Unpredictable: Coaching Beyond the Playbook
  • 27:37 Prioritizing What Matters: A Coach's Philosophy
  • 28:23 The Hardest Decisions: Ethics and Team Management
  • 30:07 Seeking Guidance: The Importance of Core Values
  • 35:40 Delegation and Team Building: Keys to Effective Coaching
  • 51:01 Closing Thoughts: The Loneliness of Leadership


Social Media

Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

People on this episode