By Keith Grabowski | Posted 1/8/2018

(Photo via si.com)

As I was setting up for a recruiting fair at Coral Gables High School in Florida, I received a text message. “Coach you should be here. The Georgia staff is in today.” The temptation to drop what I was doing and head to Tampa was enormous, but I stayed and recruited. I would be joining the coach on the other end of that text later that night. It wasn’t just any coach who sent that text. It was Jon Gruden.

In 2012, I had the unique opportunity to interact with new Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden at his Fired Football Coaches Association headquarters in Tampa, Florida. I was able to get a glimpse of the best football lab on the planet.

While it was just a small room lined with beta and VHS tapes with a glass table and big-screen sitting at the end of it, Gruden had created an easily accessible database of football knowledge. He had anything a coach could think of. My time there started with a question from Gruden, which he quickly answered himself.

“What do you want to see?” “How about Peyton Manning from linebacker depth practicing ball fakes?” A few clicks on his mouse, and the Manning video popped up. We watched. He pointed out the fine details of Manning practicing and perfecting his faking. Then it was on to the next idea.

“What about post routes from behind the receiver perspective?” A few clicks and we were watching post routes as Gruden critiqued technique. “I gotta show you this ‘nudge’ protection, Keith. You’re gonna love this …” The night continued in this manner.

What impressed me and inspired me was Gruden’s ability to continue to learn the game through this powerful resource he put together, which gave him access to every college and NFL game film he wanted.

Over dinner, Gruden explained what he had set up and why. It was way beyond preparing for his Monday Night Football job. Gruden was getting ready for his next job. When and where it would be wasn’t clear, but sometime in the future, he was getting back in and he would be on top of the game.

He obviously had the ability to get his hands on game film from college football and the NFL. This was more than just game film. It was drill video, practice tape, basically any and all football techniques he could get his hands on.

The coaches he knew wanted to come to the FFCA headquarters to talk ball. It was another way for Gruden to learn, but there was always a ticket in for those coaches. They had to bring their drill video or practice video, something that would continue to build this immense football library.

A decade later, Coach Gruden is back to apply his learning. He took advantage of the resources he had available to stay on top of the game and develop himself professionally. He is an example for all coaches in this game and the responsibility that goes along with it to be the absolute best coach one can be.

While the average coach has nothing close to this body of work, we have many great resources at our finger tips. USA Football continues to offer valuable learning experiences for coaches. Our library continues to grow with Coaches’ Notes, Coaching on Demand, and the Coach and Coordinator Podcast.

Best of luck to Coach Gruden as he leaves “school” and goes back to work. It’s been a long time coming!

Keith Grabowski is USA Football’s senior manager of curriculum and coaching technology, and a former NCAA Division III coach.