Dealing With the Media During the \'Silly Season\'

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Networking: Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Resume Tips - The Do’s and Don’ts

Dealing With The Media During The ‘Silly Season’

Avoiding Major Mistakes in the Interview Process

How to Handle Coaching Salary Negotiations

Should a Coach Employ an Agent?

A Little Psychology For A Winning Focus In Job Interviews

I’m sitting watching Saturday afternoon college football and an announcerproclaims that it’s time for Coach X to move on ... his choice for a replacement – CoachY. At least one of the two coaches mentioned wants to keep his job, the otherone – though dedicated to his players, staff and fans – relishesthe idea of moving up the college football feeding chain. Both coaches need totread carefully.

About this time every year I’m inundated with calls. Some coaches are longingfor positions in storied programs dulled by mediocrity while others are peggedby administrators as just the shot of adrenalin their program needs to put morebutts in the seats, enthuse benefactors and inspire fans.

The balancing act begins. Few head coaches truly want to groom assistants tomove if that means they’ll take team secrets with them – especiallyif those secrets can and will be used against them the following season. Rumorand media speculation can easily put a wedge between the head coach and assistantand leave student-athletes and administrators wringing their hands.

During the “silly season” head coaches will find their every wordor omission scrutinized as exposure escalates and speculation blurs reality.Having a communication plan can keep you from being swept into a tidal wave ofpublic outcry. Here are three crucial tips needed to survive the media gauntlet:

1. Be aware of media speculation (traditional and Internet media) butdon’tjump to publicly respond. Whatever you think you want to do today may changeand you don’t want to have to publicly reverse yourself. It will be viewedas a lie. Rely on your SID to keep you informed in a timely and detailed manner.

2. Give greater weight to internal communications than external communications.Your administration, staff and team are more important than the media and public.These people are entitled to crucial information first. But remember, they havetheir own agendas and you can’t always depend on them to keep your informationwithin the inner circle. Your decision will be an emotional one for everyoneinvolved and therefore prone to be shared.

3. If you have discussions with another organization be prepared forit to becomepublic and plan to explain proactively not reactively. There are no secrets thesedays. More than once a coach has been sighted in a strange airport or overheardon a cell phone then publicly “outed” for having wandering aspirations.Don’t lie to any of the parties because if you deceive one, others willexpect you to do the same with them. It’s not a good way to start or endany job.

Kathleen Hessert is the president and CEO of Sports Media Challenge and New GameCommunications (www.preptowin.com)

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