Feb 2, 2018Focus on Today
Kyle Richardson, former Head Football Coach at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C., was one of the most successful coaches in his state, and was named the 2014 NFHS State Coach of the Year. Now serving on the football coaching staff at Clemson University, as the Senior Offensive Assistant Coach, he leaves his mark on all athletes he coaches.
While at Rock Hill, his philosophy was centered around a concept he calls “Win Today,” and its results are impressive: In three years, not one of his approximately 160 players failed a class. Below, he describes how it works:
What is Win Today all about?
It’s very simple. We don’t want our kids focused on the big picture but instead on the daily wins. In football and across the board, we’re trying to ingrain in them that they have to compete in everything they do, every day, and those little wins — in the classroom, at home, and on the field — will lead to big wins. Not talking about the end goal goes against some coaching philosophies, but we find Win Today very effective.
We’re trying to put our kids in the best position academically, character-wise, and mentally, so that they’re tough in the face of pressure. In life or in a job or a class, there are times when they’re going to reach a breaking point, and how they respond to that could determine their future. So it’s more about life lessons, but it does apply to football as well.
How does it work on a daily basis?
For example, during team meetings, nobody mentions winning the upcoming game. We talk about going out and winning the practice, winning the rep. If we keep the players focused on what’s right in front of them, it lessens the pressures of Friday night. I don’t want a player thinking about 10,000 people screaming in the stands. I want him thinking about the job he needs to accomplish right now. When we get to game time, we’re doing the same thing — we’re challenging them to Win Today, but Friday also happens to be game day.
How does it lead to success in the classroom?
When we talk about winning every day, we relate it to their course work all the time. That helps our kids focus on getting good grades and making good decisions in the classroom.
What did you like about coaching high school athletes?
In high school, you have the opportunity to mold the complete person because you get them at 14 years old. You have a better chance of helping them prepare for their adult lives, both mentally and academically. When you want to change kids for the better, there’s a huge difference between 14 to 18 year olds and 18 to 23 year olds.
