Underrated Coaching

"During a normal week in season I get to the office around seven in the morning and I am here until eight-thirty or nine-o’clock at night, " states Jack Lydic, the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Bloomsburg University. Those are the hours that he spends working during the week while in season. These are the hours needed by each coach on the Bloomsburg coaching staff in order to have a successful program. Division II football coaches do not make the big bucks like most Division I coaches, such as Nick Saban (Head coach at the University of Alabama) and Urban Myer (Head coach at Ohio State University). Although they put in the same amount of time and effort as these Division I coaches, coaches like Coach Lydic do not get the same fame and the glory. Regardless, they still spend time away from their families, work long hours in and out of season, spend a lot of time in the office all day, and build strong relationships with their players.

Figure 1: see note

           He and his players watch film in a classroom up at Nelson Field House at Bloomsburg University. The classroom resembles a big square that seats about thirty people. The room usually is very dark with the only light being the projector shining on the screen. Coach Lydic usually stands in the front of the room. He stands about five feet ten inches tall with light brown hair. He has a short stubbly light brown beard (Figure 1). He has blue eyes and is a very nice but serious coach. This is where Coach Lydic finds out which of his players have been studying the opposing teams defense for the week either online or from the coverage sheets. He also likes to go over new plays and review check calls and hand signals for the plays.

        

           Coach Lydic calls on any of his quarterbacks and wide receivers during the meetings to see if they know what coverage the defense runs on specific plays. “I do this to make sure they understand what to do on the field during the game,” exclaims Coach Lydic.  He also states “By doing this I can see who watches film in there free time and going over their coverage sheets.” He had already made players in the past run for not knowing the coverage’s that the opposing teams defense runs after two days of reviewing. He spends lots of time on reviewing many film clips and making the coverage sheets so the quarterbacks and wide receivers can easily prepare for the game.

         

          Apart from watching film, Coach Lydic spends much of his time on other aspects of football. He spends pretty much all of his day in his small windowless office working until practice. The office which takes on the shape of a small square, and has a desk that takes up most of the room. On the desk he has a phone, a laptop, and a desktop computer. Right in front of his desk on the wall hangs a thirty-two-inch T.V. On the other two walls hang two big white boards that are completely covered in plays that would be great to run for the next game. “Spending most of the day in there everyday can get kind of boring sometimes,” says Coach Lydic. That’s why he cannot wait to meet with his players for the start of each day's practice.  

        “Coach Lydic is one of the best coaches I have ever had,” says Tim Kelly.  He is the starting quarterback and a captain for the Bloomsburg Huskies. Tim stands at six feet tall and weighs about a buck eighty-five. He has dark brown curly hair and a scruffy brown beard to match. Tim has an athletic build, and at practices you will find him wearing a red jersey letting you know he is the quarterback and may not be hit. Tim and Coach Lydic have a very good relationship. Tim spends lots of time talking to Coach Lydic on and off the field about practices and upcoming games. This type of relationship comes along with all the time Coach spends on football in and out of the office. This relationship not only benefits for games, but practices as well. This is the time Coach Lydic has prepared for in his office all day long.  

Figure 2: see note

         Once Coach Lydic steps on the field it is all business. When he walks into Redman Stadium, with the extremely high home stands that are topped with the president’s box and the press box, he immediately gets excited for practice. Then he steps on to Danny Hale Field, which consists of a nice bright green turf with a big maroon and gold Bloomsburg logo in the middle (Figure 2). The field has one end zone designed with big maroon and gold letters spelling out "Bloomsburg" while the other end zone, in the same maroon and gold, spells out "Huskies". He walks over and greets his players by saying, “Men how are we doing?” Then he explains what will be covered that day at practice. Next he yells, “QBs, Wide outs noose!” Which is a drill his players run everyday to get the quarterback’s arms loose and the receivers hands and legs ready.  Then once the drill is done they start running routes and catching passes.

         



Figure 3: see note

          Then practice shifts gears into a team session. This is where the starting offense goes against the starting defense. This is not only where Coach Lydic gets very intense, but the other Coaches as well. Head coach of the Bloomsburg Huskies Paul Darragh, who stands about six-foot-three, with a thick build, reddish blonde hair, and a short rugged beard. He is about fifty years old. "This practice needs to live and intense men," yells Coach Darragh in a strong southern accent. He leans more to the defensive side of the ball when coaching, considering he use to be the defensive coordinator before becoming the head coach. Under Coach Lydic, the offense starts out with the ball on the opposite twenty yard line of their end zone  Tim Kelly looks to the sideline to get the signs from Coach Lydic so he knows what play to run. Once Tim gets the signs he then calls the play in the huddle, and it is then run accordingly. If the play is successful, Coach Lydic does not say anything at the moment but he as well as the players have a look of pure happiness that the play call was successful (Figure 3). Then later that night he and the quarterbacks and wide receivers will meet in the classroom at Nelson Field house to go over the practice.

         

          The next morning he arrives at the office for another twelve hour day. He plans for the practice that lies ahead of him in the afternoon. He does this because football is something that he truly cares about. He proudly sits in his small office in Nelson Field house reviewing the plays that need to be run for the game that week. Although he puts in more effort than some Division I coaches he does not receive the same amount of credit and glory.  “I love coaching here and I wouldn’t trade this for any other job out there. I enjoy the coaches I work with, as well as the players and the atmosphere,” says Coach Lydic. He creates great relationships with his players. Coaching is a hard job and it is not as easy as everyone out there thinks. Imagine putting yourself in that position and not getting credit that Division I coaches receive. Coach Lydic is not only a great coach but also a very hardworking and dedicated man.

Bloomsburg University. Jack Lydic Quarterbacks/Receivers/Video Coordinator. N.d.Bloomsburg Huskies. Web. 21 Sept. 2014. <http://www.buhuskies.com/coaches.aspx?rc=406&path=football>.

Larson Design Group. Redman Stadium, Bloomsburg University. 2013. Larson Design Group. Web. 21 Sept. 2014. <http://www.larsondesigngroup.com/portfolio/site-design-land-development/redman-stadium-improvements-bloomsburg-university/>.

Bitner, Chuck. Bloomsburg v. California 2014. 2014. Facebook.com. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <https://www.facebook.com/alex.dundore.3>.