How to Become a Defensive Coordinator

Developing a game plan and calling the plays on the defensive side of the ball, a football team’s defensive coordinator is responsible for figuring out how to stop the opposing team’s offense. The defensive coordinator is often viewed as the manager of the defense, “coordinating” the assistant defensive coaches’ responsibilities as well as the player’s respective assignments. Becoming a competent defensive coordinator requires mastering all aspect of both the defensive and offensive game.

Instructions

    • 1

      Learn the responsibilities for each defensive position -- linemen, linebackers and defensive backs -- on a football team. Work with defensive-position coaches in identifying when the linebackers must drop back into pass coverage and when they must stay up on the line to help with running plays, when defensive backs go into deep-pass coverage or jam the receivers at the line of scrimmage and whether the linemen should rush the quarterback or play run defense.

    • 2

      Inquire at local colleges that have a football program as to whether they offer football coaching classes; many universities offer such classes taught by the football coaching staff.

    • 3

      Record college and professional football games and review the tapes of teams that hold their opponents to the fewest yards and points. Focus on the defenses of teams that keep normally high-scoring offenses in check. Watch films from the widest possible angle to see play development from start to finish and review film from as many angles as possible. When studying films of opposing teams, look for tendencies -- what each team’s offense is prone to doing on each down and distance at different spots on the field, such as inside the 20-yard line.

    • 4

      Study teams with high-powered offenses to develop a thorough understanding on the offensive side of the ball. To formulate an effective defensive game plan, defensive coordinators must learn to think like offensive coordinators to most effectively stop what offenses attempt when trying to defeat defenses. As an example, ask yourself what you would do on 4th down and goal from the 3-yard line if you are down by 3 points with 10 seconds to go in the game -- if you were an offensive coordinator.

    • 5

      Gain actual coaching experience through volunteering your time as an assistant high school or college coach. Ask football coaches at all schools within commuting distance if they are receptive to volunteer coaches. As most school athletic programs have limited operating funds, many coaches will jump at the opportunity for free help.

    • 6

      Stay abreast of current rules changes. In order to properly coach players on the finer points of the game, it is crucial that you understand what is and is not permitted on the field. For example, understand how much contact your defensive backs are allowed to make with receivers at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary.

    • 7

      Develop a list of references, relevant to your football-coaching experience, and apply to every high school and college and football program you have even the slightest interest in as soon as you feel your coaching abilities have grown enough to deserve full compensation.

    • 8

      Accept any paying coaching position you are offered -- even if it is not a position, or from a school, which is on the top of your wish list of dream jobs. If you are serious about pursuing coaching as career, be prepared to relocate if necessary.

    • 9

      Show patience; don’t expect to secure a job as a defensive coordinator until you have demonstrated your coaching abilities. Virtually all defensive coordinators start out as assistant coaches and work their way up through the ranks.