Mike Zdebski's guest appearances

Mike Zdebski

Sports Pop Culture Cast

Sport and the Growing Good

Ryan Hoover

Bo Ryan

Ben Askren

Nick Saban

Steve Jones

Matt LaFleur

Herm Edwards

Jay Bilas

Pat Summitt

Thom McDonald

Fran McCaffery

Barry Alvarez

Alison Brooks

Michael Harris

Dean Smith

OwlTail

Mike Zdebski is the head football coach at Hamilton High School, the biggest school in Arizona and a traditional football force. Before beginning at Hamilton, Coach Zdebski spent 29 years on the sideline in Michigan, where he achieved at the highest levels and was elected to the Michigan High School Football Association’s Hall of Fame. In this episode of the SGG podcast, we discussed: 1.  The scale of high school football in Arizona, including high-level media attention. 2.  The friendships he developed through football. 3.  Learning the game while coaching with Pat Fox. 4.  Giving assistant coaches opportunities to continue learning while he was at Walled Lake in Michigan. 5.  Why he took over as head track coach… and encouraged his football players to run track. 6.  Identifying college coaches to learn from – including Urban Meyer and Dan Mullen – and the importance of developing trusting relationships with them. 7.  Using Zoom to promote learning for his football staff. 8.  Weekly leadership meetings for his players. 9.  Once a month team-building activities – centered on community service and fun. 10.  Reading together as a team. (you win the locker room first) 11.  Weekly team meetings. 12.  Why he took on a new challenge…and some of the specific elements of turning around a team that had experienced difficult times. 13.  Building a youth program. 14.  The impact of personal training on young football players. 15.  Providing support to his players in contacting colleges and supporting them through the recruiting process. 16.  Why there’s no need for “rah rah” speeches before games – but how important routine and focus are in developing mature teams. 17.  “Learning to be yourself” as a coach.

Mike Zdebski is the head football coach at Hamilton High School, the biggest school in Arizona and a traditional football force. Before beginning at Hamilton, <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelzdebski?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coach Zdebski</a> spent 29 years on the sideline in Michigan, where he achieved at the highest levels and <a href="http://hof.mhsfca.com/bios/zdebski-michael/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">was elected to the Michigan High School Football Association’s Hall of Fame</a>. In this episode of the SGG podcast, we discussed: 1.  The scale of high school football in Arizona, including high-level media attention. 2.  The friendships he developed through football. 3.  Learning the game while coaching with <a href="http://hof.mhsfca.com/bios/fox-patrick/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pat Fox</a>. 4.  Giving assistant coaches opportunities to continue learning while he was at Walled Lake in Michigan. 5.  Why he took over as head track coach… and encouraged his football players to run track. 6.  Identifying college coaches to learn from – including Urban Meyer and <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDanMullen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dan Mullen</a> – and the importance of developing trusting relationships with them. 7.  Using Zoom to promote learning for his <a href="https://santansun.com/2019/11/01/ex-nfl-coach-enjoys-his-hamilton-high-gig/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">football staff</a>. 8.  Weekly leadership meetings for his players. 9.  Once a month team-building activities – centered on community service and fun. 10.  Reading together as a team. (you win the locker room first) 11.  Weekly team meetings. 12.  Why he took on a <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/10/31/hamiltons-return-football-prominence-started-change/4110996002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new challenge</a>…and some of the specific elements of turning around a team that had experienced <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/chandler/2017/11/30/hamilton-high-leaders-had-file-related-football-sex-assault-allegations-police-say/909951001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">difficult times</a>. 13.  Building a youth program. 14.  The impact of personal training on young football players. 15.  Providing support to his players in contacting colleges and supporting them through the recruiting process. 16.  Why there’s no need for “rah rah” speeches before games – but how important routine and focus are in developing mature teams. 17.  “Learning to be yourself” as a coach.

#28: Hamilton High School (AZ) football coach Mike Zdebski leads a national powerhouse

Rick Garretson

Brad Cesmat sat down Saturday morning with Chandler head coach Rick Garretson and Hamilton head coach Mike Zdebski for a review of Friday nights epic showdown and a look ahead to the two teams making the Open Division playoff. Chandler will be the top seed in the Open and meet Chaparral, while Hamilton will travel to Centennial for their first round matchup.   The post Playoff Podcast – The Day After Chandler v Hamilton, Both Coaches on Making the Open Playoff first appeared on Sports360AZ.

Brad Cesmat sat down Saturday morning with Chandler head coach Rick Garretson and Hamilton head coach Mike Zdebski for a review of Friday nights epic showdown and a look ahead to the two teams making the Open Division playoff. Chandler will be the top seed in the Open and meet Chaparral, while Hamilton will travel to Centennial for their first round matchup.  The post <a href="https://sports360az.com/2019/11/playoff-podcast-the-day-after-chandler-v-hamilton-both-coaches-on-making-the-open-playoff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Playoff Podcast – The Day After Chandler v Hamilton, Both Coaches on Making the Open Playoff</a> first appeared on <a href="https://sports360az.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sports360AZ</a>.

Rick Garretson, Mike Zdebski