1-on-1 with new Rockies coach Adam Handley
PLYMOUTH — Plymouth named Adam Handley as its new head football coach this week. Handley was born and raised in Lockport, Ill., and a graduate of Taylor University. He just ended four years as the head football coach at Wabash high school.
We had a chance to talk with him recently and here is how it went.
Q — I hate to use the word “outsider” but...
a— I am 100 percent an outsider, you can call me that...for a little while anyway. (Laughs) The staff that I still have here from the previous regime I’ve been able to meet with. I knew a handful of them already but I walked in the room and we were able to talk and share our ideas and feelings. The communication has already been awesome as far as being on the same page and having common values and they have been really receptive to me and that has been awesome so far.
Q — You are coming off your first head coaching experience at Wabash, talk about that for a second.
a — I had an opportunity to take over a program that had struggled, had a lot of coaches in a short period of time and it was a good experience for me. I had ambitions to be a head coach and I’d been an assistant for six years prior to that. The administration at Wabash gave me a great opportunity to do that. We made the best of it and I think we made some good changes in that program that I want to bring with me to Plymouth.
Q — I’m sure you did some research on Plymouth and the football program in making your decision?
a — Absolutely and the first thing just being in the area and at Taylor University, I heard about Plymouth, I knew Plymouth, a lot of guys on the team with me at Taylor attended Plymouth. What I knew without doing any research was that you guys have won games. You’ve had a chance to play in sectional finals and big games and that is something super hard to
teach, is learning how to win and expecting to win.
Q — “Culture” is one of those words that gets tossed around these days what is your philosophy on that and how do you build it?
A — Culture is what makes a team run. At Wabash, we had to get the kids to buy into the staff and what we believe in. I have a philosophy of what I want to get done during the week, being super involved with youth programs, and building a team and family atmosphere.
Even if you are on a JV team, or a freshman team regardless of the level we are still part of this Rockie family. I want to continue that at Plymouth. The family culture and atmosphere that we all play for each other.
I have to get to meet the kids. We are going to have a chance to do that in a week and start to build that relationship that they can trust me and I trust them. When it comes down to fourth and goal at the one-yard line they need to know that this is the play we expect to run and this is what we believe in and that trust is huge.
That’s the thing they need to know is that they can trust me, they can trust the staff to help them through any circumstance not just in football.
I just want to get in front of the kids and tell them how much fun Plymouth football is going to be. We have some summer things planned like an opportunity to have an overnight team camp at Taylor University which is an awesome experience that gets them away from Plymouth and gets them together. It’s a chance to have all football for three days straight.
We are going to try to bring some energy. Not that it wasn’t here before, but sometimes you just need a little refresh and recharge.
Q — I’m getting the feeling that you believe that everything is built around relationships?
A — It’s all about relationships. Programs that don’t have that as the main focus — it’s tough. If you call a play and they doubt you, you aren’t going to be successful. If they trust you that you’re doing things in the best interest of them and the team they go out and execute it. That’s something that we are going to put all our chips into.
Q — Okay, I’m not going to hit you with the “what kind of offense are you going to run” kind of thing because you haven’t had a chance to see any of your players, but what is your approach?
A — I like to call it a balanced variety attack. Depending on personnel it can vary. Our main schemes and how we call plays are going to be the same regardless if we are five wide or with multiple backs or multiple tight ends. Most of the time we will be in basic spread just based on what I’ve seen on film from years past.
The most important thing regardless of my offense is to find that captain on the field and find that quarterback whio is going to run the offense.
We’re going to take what we can get. It depends on what the other team gives us. If we have somebody hot we’re going to keep feeding them. Give kids the opportunity to make plays.
Q — This conference (NLC) has some Hall of Fame coaches, some guys who’ve been around awhile and have their systems in place, is that intimidating at all?
A — I wouldn’t say the word is intimidating. It’s a challenge and I like the challenge. But it is an opportunity to be around some great coaches who have been around a while. It’s good to have those guys around to bounce ideas off of and talk to and give me their two cents worth about things. I wouldn’t call it intimidating, it’s rewarding to have those guys around to talk to at meetings and email and make myself a better coach.
Q — Obviously you are going to bring your personality to how things are done, what does that entail?
A — I’m 100 percent transparent. I want the kids to feel free to come and talk to me and be available whenever. If they just want to come and chat about life come and do it. I want that line of communication.