What’s the Make-up of a State Champion?

American Football Monthly’s Second Annual High School State Champions Survey
by: AFM Editorial Staff
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The average won-loss record for last fall’s high school state champions was 11 wins and one loss. Of respondents to American Football Monthly’s second annual state champions survey, the best record was 15-0 and the worst was 8-3. Over 360 detailed surveys were distributed to state champions in all 50 states. The results: an informative and intimate look at the makings of successful programs. Factors such as age, experience, education, team make-up, budget, salary and style of offense and defense were a part of the overall survey. The complete summary follows:

1. At the time of winning your 2004 state high school championship, what was your age?
Average age: 45.0
Lowest age: 30
Highest age: 68
Median age: 44

2. What is the total number of state championships that you’ve won as a head coach?
Average: 2.7
Least won: 1
Most won: 14
Median won: 2

3. What is the total combined years you have been a head coach?
Average: 14.2 years
Lowest: 1 year
Highest: 37 years
Median: 13 years

4. Total combined years that you served as an assistant coach?
Average: 7.9 years
Lowest: 0 years
Highest: 24 years
Median: 5 years

5. What is your primary area of expertise? Offense: 73.9% Defense: 21.7% Special Teams: 4.4%

6. What level(s) have you coached at in your football career?
High school only: 66.7%
Youth: 10.1%
Junior College: 2.9%
NAIA: 2.9%
D I-A: 4.3%
D I-AA: 8.7%
D II: 5.8%
D III: 8.7%
Coaching at any college level: 24.6%

7. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
Bachelors degree: 44.9%
Masters degree: 53.7%
Doctorate: 1.4%

8. Are you a high school teacher? Yes: 85.5% No: 14.5% Of the 85.5% ‘yes’ respondents, the subjects and percentages taught: Physical Education/ Health: 45.7% History/Social Studies: 15.3% Administration: .06% Math: .08% Other subjects: 38.8%

9. How many state football championships has your school won?
Respondents average: 4.6
Lowest: l
Highest: 27
Median: 3

10. What is the playing surface of your home field? Natural turf: 82.3% Artificial turf: 17.7%

11. What was the total number of players on your championship varsity program?
Respondents average: 51.4
Lowest: 17
Highest: 90
Median: 50

12. What was the total number of returning starters on your championship varsity team combining offense and defense?
Respondents average: 11.38
Lowest number of returning starters: 3
Largest number of returning starters: 20
Median: 11

13. What was the number of seniors on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 16.2
Lowest number of seniors: l
Largest number of seniors: 37
Median: 15

14. What was the number of juniors on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 17.3
Lowest number of juniors: 5
Largest number of juniors: 35
Median: 16

15. What was the number of sophomores on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 14.9
Lowest number of sophomores: 0
Largest number of sophomores: 41
Median: 11

16. What was the number of freshmen on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 6.9
Lowest number of freshmen: 0
Largest number of freshmen: 35
Median: 0

17. How many seniors on your state championship team received athletic scholarships for playing college football?
Respondents average: 3.0
Lowest number of scholarships: 0
Highest number of scholarships: 12
Median: 2

18. How many paid assistant coaches did you have on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 4.7
Team with least paid assistants: 0
Team with most paid assistants: 12
Median: 4

19. How many volunteer assistant coaches did you have on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 2.08
Least number of volunteer assistants: 0
Most number of volunteer assistants: 8
Median: 2

20. How many former head coaches served as assistant coaches on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 0.75
Team with least number of former head Coaches serving as an assistant: 0
Team with most number of former head Coaches serving as an assistant: 3
Median: 0

21. What was the total number of assistant coaches on your championship varsity team?
Respondents average: 6.03
Least number of assistant coaches: 2
Most number of assistant coaches: 13
Median: 5

22. What is the approximate amount of your total annual football budget?
Respondents average: $33,964
Team with lowest annual budget: $1,000
Team with largest annual budget: $250,000
Median: $16,000

23. How much time per week do you spend reviewing game film and tendencies of your games and your opponents’ games with coaches and players?
0-1 hour: .02%
1-3 hours: .03%
3-5 hours: 27.4%
5-7 hours: 14.5%
7+ hours: 58.05%

24. How much time does it take per week to prepare your game film and your tendency reports for viewing? 0-1 hour: .01% 1-3 hours: 28.6% 3-5 hours: 31.7% 5-7 hours: 14.5% 7+ hours: 25.1%

25. Are you using a computer video editing system?
Yes: 35.4%
No: 64.6%

26. Do you believe a computer editing system would enhance your football program?
Yes: 92.5%
No: 7.5%30. What was your won-loss record (including post-season play) in 2004?
Respondents average wins: 11.1
Respondents average losses: 1.0

27. What base offense did you run for your 2004 championship season? I backfield with variations: 27.2% Multiple Pro Set/Spread: 22.7% Wing-T with variations: 21.2% Other offenses: 28.9%

Other offenses include triple option, double wing, shotgun, veer, split back, wishbone/flex, and west coast offense.

28. What base defense did you run for your 2004 championship season? 4-4 (with variations): 24.6% 4-3 (with variations): 24.6% 50 (with variations): 10.1% Other defenses: 40.7%

Other defenses include the 4-0, 4-2, 6-2, bear, wide tackle 6, 3-4, 3-5-3, 3-2, 4-6, and Arizona flex

29. Please indicate the salary range that indicates your total coaching and teaching compensation package for 2004: $20-$30K: 1.8% $30-$40K: 10.3% $40-$50K: 22.6% $50-$60K: 21.1% $60-$70K: 16.2% $70-$80K: 11.8% $80K+: 16.2%

30. What was your won-loss record (including post-season play) in 2004?
Respondents average wins: 11.1
Respondents average losses: 1.0

31. Does the junior high(s) football program that feeds into your high school football program run the same system? Yes: 66.1% No: 33.9%

Last June American Football Monthly published its first annual State Champions survey. To view last year’s survey, log on to www.americanfootballmonthly.com. From there, scroll to ‘back issues’ and then to June, 2004. The 2003 State Champions survey is entitled, ‘Building a Championship Team: What Does It Take?’

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