Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Valuable Coaching Perspective
LINCOLN VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTES IN BACKGROUND
LINCOLN — Head football coach Don Harrison values volunteer assistant Perry Philpot’s perspective, which frequently counters the traditional football way of thinking.
According to Harrison, the fact Philpot never played high school, junior high, or pee wee football serves as an advantage when the Lincoln staff is making assessments and evaluations.
“He saw it a little different, that helps us out sometimes,” Harrison said. “It’s almost like the devil’s advocate sometimes. We’ll do something and he’ll say, “Well, what if we did this?”
Lincoln assistant coach Justin Bounds also taps into Philpot’s perspective.
“He’s another set of eyes out there, like Coach Harrison said, to see something from a different perspective,” Bounds said. “He’s primarily on the offensive side of the ball. Since I’m on defense, there are a lot of times I can show him a play and ask him, ‘What do you think they’re trying to do?’”
Philpot’s insights help Bounds anticipate what an offense might do and tweak the Wolves’ defensive assignments to meet the attack.
“If I’ve got something schemed up on defense, I’ll show it to Perry to find out where is he going to work at it? Where is he going to try to exploit it? What are the weaknesses?”
“So, the extra set of eyes is always handy,” Bounds said.
Harrison appreciates Philpot’s down- to- earth approach, comparing that to would-be coaches, whose football knowledge sometimes works against them.
“Sometimes those guys that played football think they know everything,” Harrison said.
“Some guys play video games and think they can coach football.”
Harrison is quick to point out the unfairness of continuing to describe Philpot as a person without a knowledge of the sport.
“I met Perry in 2010,” Harrison said.
“This is his sixth year. He’s got a football background now.”
Philpot admits there are challenges from not having played football.
“It is a tough sport to learn if you have not ever played it,” Philpot said. “It can be kind of tough to explain to players.”
The solution, according to Philpot, is effective communication.
“If your instruction is clear of what you want them to do - that is really our main goal,” Philpot said.
Philpot had to take various tests online before he could work as a volunteer coach, including: Coaching 101, a football knowledge test, and tests on dealing with heat and concussions. The football test, administered by the American High School Foundation, was the biggest challenge.
“I had to transfer from their terminology to our terminology cause that’s all I’ve known from coaches I’ve worked for,” Philpot said.
Philpot differs in another distinct way from the traditional in-the-face accountability football coaches employ. In the classroom he works with special education and prefers an encouraging approach on the gridiron.
“I don’t like to yell unless it needs to be heard,” Philpot said.
Although he won’t take credit for successful plays, Philpot draws a degree of satisfaction when he feels he’s had an impact. In 2015, Lincoln was in a battle with Keys, Okla., at home, eventually losing, 21-18. When a tailback dropped a pass down the middle of the field that was wide open, Philpot went over to the player and reiterated Harrison’s coaching philosophy.
“We control our attitude and effort,” Philpot said.
Later on in the game, Lincoln ran the same play and the tailback made the catch.
Harrison said Philpot’s presence on the sideline enables the coaches to give more players individual attention.
“Any time you have more coaches, you have a better opportunity to reach more people,” Harrison said. “He comes out and helps as soon as he gets on the field. He’s two more hands, one more mouth. He’s got his guys that he takes care of, we don’t have to worry about them. Any time you can get that ratio of coaches to players, it helps out.”
Philpot estimates he spends 30 to 40 hours a week in coaching activities, including practice, watching film and various other requirements.
“So many schools are struggling to be able to pay coaches,” Philpot said. “if you can have volunteers give their time, it’s a tremendous help for the program.”