Kennesaw State Head Coach Jerry Mack joins Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm to share his journey through the coaching profession and the lessons that shaped him along the way.

From breaking into coaching at Delta State to leading programs at multiple levels of college football and gaining experience in the NFL. Coach Mack reflects on the key moments that defined his career. He discusses the value of relationships, adaptability, and continuous growth, while offering insight into building a coaching philosophy and managing people effectively.

Whether you're an aspiring coach or a veteran in the profession, this episode provides practical advice on navigating a coaching career, developing as a leader, and maximizing opportunities at every level of the game.

Be sure to subscribe to Inside the Headset for weekly conversations with leaders across the coaching profession.

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Steve Englehart, Head Coach at West Georgia and the 2025 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year.

Coach Englehart reflects on the journey that shaped his career in the coaching profession, including building programs at multiple levels of college football, launching a startup program at Florida Tech, and the lessons learned through the highs and challenges of leading a team.

He also shares insight into hiring and developing assistant coaches, the experience of coaching his son at Presbyterian College, and what it meant to be recognized by the American Football Coaches Association as the 2025 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year.

🎧 Inside the Headset is the official podcast of the American Football Coaches Association, featuring conversations with coaches and leaders from across the football profession.

Follow Coach Englehart and West Georgia Football:
X: @Coach_Englehart
X: @UWGFootball

Film study has always been one of the most time-consuming parts of the coaching profession. Hours of data entry, tagging plays, and searching through film can take coaches away from what matters most developing players and preparing their team. ANSRS is changing that.

In this video, we take a closer look at how ANSRS is transforming the way football coaches analyze film, build scouting reports, and make in-game adjustments. Built by a former college coach who experienced the grind of the film room firsthand, ANSRS automates film breakdown, instantly generates video cutups, and allows coaches to filter game situations in seconds. Instead of digging through endless hours of film, coaches can now find exactly what they need with a few clicks. Programs across the country are using ANSRS to streamline film study, improve game planning, and make faster adjustments on Friday nights and Saturdays. Learn how this technology is helping football staffs work smarter and giving coaches more time to do what they love coach the game.

This content was created in partnership with ANSRS. For more information, you can visit https://ansrs.ai/.

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Tyler Almond, Head Coach at Carson-Newman University.

In this conversation, Coach Almond shares his journey through the coaching profession, beginning as a young coach trying to establish himself at just 19 years old and working his way through multiple roles across college football.

Coach Almond discusses his early coaching experiences, breaking into the college ranks, and the lessons he learned while navigating the realities of the profession—from volunteer positions to full-time roles. He also reflects on the impact of mentorship, the importance of building meaningful relationships in coaching, and the experiences that helped shape his leadership style.

A member of the 2020 AFCA 35 Under 35 class, Almond talks about the value of the program and the connections he built through the AFCA. He also reflects on the honor of being named the 2025 AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.

Now leading the Carson-Newman football program as head coach, Almond shares how his experiences across the profession prepared him for the responsibility of leading a team and building a program culture.

Follow Coach Almond and Carson-Newman Football

X / Twitter:
@Coach_Almond
@cnfootball

On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator at Indiana University and the 2025 AFCA FBS Assistant Coach of the Year.

Coach Haines shares the experiences that shaped his coaching journey from his early days as a graduate assistant to leading a Power Four defense. He discusses lessons learned early in his career, mentorship and leadership development, navigating coaching opportunities across the country, and the challenges that come with building championship-caliber programs.

Haines also reflects on working alongside Curt Cignetti, transitioning into a full-time defensive coordinator role, and the advice he gives young coaches looking to grow in today's profession.

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On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Brent Vigen, head coach at Montana State University.

Coach Vigen shares his journey from graduate assistant to national championship head coach and reflects on the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy. He discusses learning under Craig Bohl, developing players at a high level — including his experience coaching Josh Allen and what it takes to build and sustain a championship culture.

In this conversation, Coach Vigen breaks down:

• Earning credibility as a young coach

• Leading fellow staff members early in his career

• Building and maintaining standards within a program

• Motivating players after winning a national title

• The importance of serving the coaching profession through the AFCA Board of Trustees

This episode is packed with practical insight for coaches at every level who are focused on leadership development, culture building, and long-term program success.

🎧 Subscribe to Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform for weekly conversations with leaders across the game.

On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Keith Clark, Offensive Line Coach at Dartmouth and the 2025 AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.

Coach Clark shares his unconventional coaching journey, including his early experience coaching football in Italy, the lessons he learned as a young head coach overseas, and how those experiences shaped his teaching philosophy. He discusses returning to his alma mater, earning an opportunity at the University of Maine, navigating his first full-time role in college football, and building credibility within a staff.

Clark also reflects on his time in the Ivy League, what it takes to win in that environment, and what being named AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year means to him. The conversation highlights risk-taking, humility, professional growth, and the importance of staying connected within the coaching profession.

New episodes of Inside the Headset drop weekly. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review to help other coaches find the show.

On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Matt Walker, head football coach at University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Coach Walker reflects on his journey through the profession, including his early years as both a head baseball and football coach, the lessons learned from navigating tough seasons, and the mindset shifts that helped him build a national championship program at the Division III level.

Follow Coach Walker and UW–River Falls Football:
@CoachWalkerRF | @UWRFFootball

Subscribe, rate, and review Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform to help more coaches discover the show.
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00:00 Intro
01:09 Getting into the profession
01:33 When did you want to be a part of this great profession?
05:14 Breaking away from the family career path
06:44 Taking over as interim head coach
09:23 Maturing quickly to handle the workload
12:26 Life as an offensive assistant (2000–2005)
14:44 Leading both baseball and football programs
18:28 Lessons learned coaching multiple sports
21:25 Learning to step back after leading
23:46 Building a sharper plan at River Falls
25:31 Putting your own flavor on a program
29:13 Learning from gambles that didn't work
32:49 Why UW–River Falls was the right fit
35:25 Importance of administrative support
37:58 Lessons from a 0–10 season
40:11 Championships and hardship
41:10 Mindset shifts as a head coach
46:23 Transitioning to tempo
49:04 Team communication and internal leadership
51:24 Creating a program opponents feel
53:13 Reflecting on the journey
59:43 Closing