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AFM Magazine


Q&A with Dan Reeves

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Q: Would you say that your experiences as a successful player in college (South Carolina) and the NFL (Dallas) have helped you as a coach?

A: I think it has helped me a great deal. I first got involved in coaching as a player-coach for the Cowboys. Coaching was not something I had thought about. I was not one of those people that always knew I wanted to become a coach after my playing days were over. It wasn't until I hurt my knee and Coach Landry asked me if I would be interested in being a player/coach that the thought ever entered my mind. As I look back now, I wish that I had some of the experiences as a high school and college coach from a teaching standpoint. But, I was fortunate in that I was exposed to some great teachers during my career.

Also, having been a player, I can relate to the problems of the players. My first years in coaching at Dallas were unique because as a player/coach, I was caught between both worlds (coaching staff and the players on the team). If the staff had problems with the players, they'd come to me and vice versa. So, I learned the importance of communication and the open, honest ability for players and the coaching staff to talk with each other. As I head coach, I have always made decisions with the players' best interests in mind.

Q: What is your philosophy for assembling a coaching staff?

A: The first thing I look for is loyalty. Obviously, you need qualified people; but loyalty is so important. I have been involved in situations where everyone was just fine when we were winning, but things fell apart and we started losing. I learned in 1997, here in Atlanta, that we had the right coaching staff and players when we started the season 1-7. You can learn a lot more about yourself when you are 1-7 as opposed to when you are 7-1. As a staff you need to stand by each other, support each other, and work together. If you do that, you have a chance to turn things around when the inevitable rough spots occur.

Q: What do you see as the role of the head coach? Are you hands-on with respect to your staff?

A: I am very hands on with respect to the offense. But, I've always been open to listening to the assistants I hire and can very easily be persuaded by them. It motivates your staff for them to know that you, as the head coach, value their opinion and input. If you simply dictate to them, they will lose their initiative and motivation.Defensively, I pretty much leave them alone. I just want to make certain that our staff's philosophy matches mine. I work with them, gain confidence in them, then give them the authority they need to run their own show.

Q: Who were the biggest influences on your career?

A: Tom Landry. My high school coach, Jimmy Hightower. My college coach at South Carolina, Marvin Bass, who taught me the philosophy of treating every player with dignity and respect, and treat them all fairly. And, my position coach at Dallas, Ermal Allen.

Q: What are the biggest changes you've seen in the game throughout your career?

A: Number one would be in the area of strength & conditioning, supplementation, diets, etc. The players today are so much bigger, faster and stronger than before, and there is so much more of an emphasis on off-season training. Back in my playing days, you'd start running a couple of weeks before training camp opened; now, it's a year around thing just to compete for a job.

You know a lot of people say that today's players are not the same as they used to be, but I don't believe that for a second. Yes, they will ask 'why' and 'what if' more than we ever would have. But, today's players still want all of the same things we wanted, discipline, authority, etc.

Another change in the game is in the amount of media coverage. It is far greater now than in the past. The expectations on coaches is tremendous. There is no more building a winner. Everyone wants instant gratification.

The job of a coach is much more year-around now than just a few years ago. I don't think you'll see many more instances of a guy being in the same place 10-12 years. It just won't happen; the stakes have become too high.

Q: What is the Dan Reeves' recipe for success?

A: Be prepared, organized and pay attention to detail. Preparation is the greatest motivation in the world. If your players know there is nothing they will see on game day they have not prepared for, they will walk out onto that field with a great amount of confidence. And, that will give them much more motivation and inspiration than any pre-game speech.

Q: What advice would you give to young coaches working their way up the ladder?

A: First of all, have patience. It will not happen for you overnight. Be extremely loyal to the guy that hired you. This will help you when you get your own team, to know to surround yourself with loyal people.






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