Football Responsiblities

Football Responsiblities

It plays in the East Bay Athletic League. The nickname/mascot is the Knights. The logo is a depiction of a knight-errant swathed in orange and purple.

The offensive coordinator for the varsity team has a variety of responsibilities that are critical to success in practice and on game night. He is responsible for working directly with the team's quarterback and surrounding offensive unit -- including tight ends, receivers, all varieties of running backs, and offensive linemen -- and for formulating specific plays that will assist the team in scoring. He is also responsible for working with the special teams in areas such as field goals (in which he trains and devises plays with the place kicker and the punter) and punting. The offensive coordinator takes input from the head coach regarding what sort of strategies the team will employ. On game nights he is responsible for rounding up all of the players on the offensive unit -- even those who are not starters -- and making sure they are on the team's bus 30 minutes before it leaves or in the locker room 30 minutes prior to the head coach's mandate for them being so. He also goes with the head coach to scout the defensive plays and strategies for upcoming opponents a week or two in advance, and reviews film to achieve the same end.

The varsity team's defensive coordinator is responsible for devising strategy for the team's defensive unit. This includes working directly with such key defensive players as cornerbacks, defensive linemen, safeties, and others. One of the key facets of the defensive coordinator's job in addition to designing specific plays and defensive formations for the unit to use is to teach the players to tackle correctly. The head coach has some involvement in how the defensive coordinator does this. Additionally, the defensive coordinator works directly with the head coach to devise defensive strategies. He will also study film and scout teams prior to games with them. On the night of games, the defensive coach for the varsity team makes sure his players are gathered at the team bus or in the locker rooms a half hour before they are scheduled to be there and leads them on and off the field during the beginning and ending of games, and at half time.

The varsity team will also have a weight and strength coach, who is primarily responsible for working with the players in terms of their conditioning, strength, and even their speed. His involvement during practices consists of supervising the players in weight training and in other indoor, gymnasium activity. His role is actually heightened during the off-season to help keep the players in shape. However, he still works with the various team members on offense, defense, and special teams in strength and weight training two to three times a week. On game nights he is responsible for gathering the players from various parts of the school's facilities and working with the medical staff to prevent injuries and help players who have incurred them.

The junior varsity team's offensive coordinator will work closely with the head coach to help determine plays and strategies for the team's offense. He will also accept input from the varsity offensive coordinator after practice sessions regarding this aspect of his job. Additional duties include scouting the teams at least a week in advance before Kennedy plays them. It's his job to make sure that the younger players gain the experience necessary to move up to the varsity team in the ensuing years. The coach will work with the special teams for field goals and punting, and round up players prior to their suiting up for games and bus rides.

The junior varsity team's defensive coordinator will work with both the head coach and the varsity defensive coordinator on devising strategy to counteract the other team's offense. He will help select which players are best suited for defense and offense, as well as which ones have the capacity for playing in both units. This coach will also go on scouting missions and study films of opposing teams prior to specific games, to aid in his strategic tactics for opponents. He will get his defensive unit together on game nights so that the players can be accounted for. He will also lead the team on and off the field for games, and supervise their warm-up activities beforehand.

There will also be an assistant coach, whose primary responsibility is to assist the head coach. A good deal of his work during practices will be administrative. This aspect of his job will pertain to not only getting the team and individual players properly registered for league and preseason games, but also include working out various aspects of logisitics for both home and away games. This coach will function as the head coach's principle runner during the practices, meaning he will involve himself with both varsity and junior varsity teams and take care of specific tasks as the head coach sees fit. On game nights he will help to chaperone the players to away games and play a considerable role in monitoring the progress of other teams the Knights might play.