new year, new knowledge

One of the most humbling things about 2020 was seeing how I could serve other coaches. Using social media and my own passion to learn, I sourced more than 100 clinic opportunities in the inaugural edition of this list.

In 2020, I was fortunate to attend clinics with the Minority Coaches Association of Alabama and Glazier in Atlanta. At both, I made new friends, ran into a former coach I haven’t seen for years, and reconnected with a few old colleagues. From those I saw, I have to specifically call out Coach Caralla (Georgia Tech) for his passion, intensity and unique ideas; fandom in seeing Coach Foster (Iowa) presenting zone; and new ideas I took from Coach Fountain (Arkansas) on special teams.

I’m so thankful to the coaches who first introduced me to AFCA and going to coaching clinics a few years ago. One of the most powerful things about their invitation (beyond growing my thirst for knowledge and network), was the camaraderie I felt in having bonding time outside of work, especially since I’ve been a community coach. It was also nice to sometimes walk into a room with people I already knew and be introduced to their friends. I now try to go to as many clinics as I can, which sometimes means I’m solo and I’ve always appreciated coaches who make an effort to network outside their own groups. Hopefully we can all do that for each other when we get back to gatherings and travel.

In the mean time, I hope this second annual list helps you find new mentors and knowledge in 2021. With virtual meetings being more the norm moving into the new year, I expect many more opportunities to be added. I’ll update as much as possible as we go into the spring, but wanted to get this out with a few great January events planned.

Please let me know if I’m missing anything you’ve seen or shoot me a note at @CoachSmith67 on Twitter … and thanks ahead for sharing this tool with your networks.

Here’s to a great new year!

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JANUARY

Jan. 7-9: Florida FACA Winter Football Clinic – In-person, Daytona, Florida (free to members, $70/nonmembers)

Jan. 12-14: American Football Coaches Association Annual Convention – Virtual (AFCA membership required)

Jan. 14-17: Virginia-Carolina Coaches Clinic – Virtual ($10)

Jan. 14-17: Lauren’s First and Goal Coaches Clinic – proceeds benefit pediatric brain tumor research, Virtual ($49 and donations)

Jan. 14-16: Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Winners Circle Annual Football Clinic – Virtual ($90)

Jan. 20-23: Wings & Things Online Clinic – Virtual ($25-60)

Jan. 23-24: Head Coaches Academy – Virtual ($29)

January 28-29: Southeast Texas Coaches Association 23rd Annual Golden Triangle Coaches Clinic – In-person, Beaumont, Texas ($40)

Jan. 29: Alabama Football Association Coaches Clinic – Virtual – ($25, free to members)

Jan. 29-31: 23rd annual Dallas-Fort Worth Coaches Clinic – In-person, Dallas, Texas ($80, refundable if cancelled)

Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Kansas Football Coaches Association (KFBCA) Clinic – Virtual ($5)

FEBRUARY

Feb. 2-5: New York State High School Football Coaches Association Clinic – Virtual ($50 before Jan. 11)

Feb. 5-6: Quad Cities Coaches Kickoff Clinic – In-person, Bettendorf, Iowa ($100)

Feb. 18-21: Texas Alliance for Black School Educators Conference & Leadership Institute: Delivering on the promise, equity, social justice and restorative practices – Virtual (fees vary)

Feb. 21-27: Nike Virtual Clinic – $125 before Jan. 31

Feb. 23-24: Harding University Football Coaches Clinic – In-person, Conway, Arkansas ($75 before Feb. 1)

Feb. 22: Texas High School Coaches Association Leadership Summit – In-person, Arlington, Texas ($89 in advance)

Feb. 26-27: Piney Woods Football Clinic – In-person, Longview, Texas ($60 before Jan. 6)

Feb. 27: Bring that Hammer Clinic – In-person, Quitman, GA (register online – questions to @_coachevans or @CoachJoshMack on Twitter)

MARCH

March 6: Western Nebraska Powered Up Clinic – In-person, Ogallala, Nebraska ($45 pre-registered)

APRIL

April TBD: Minority Coaches Association of Georgia Coaches Academy – apply by March 10, 2021 for consideration

April 8-10: Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic – TBD, date posted only

April 16-17: Southeast Iowa Coaches Clinic – In-person, Moravia, Iowa ($60 before April 1)

MAY

May 14-15: The Annual Offensive Line Clinic – In-person, Cincinnati, Ohio ($95)

JULY

July 19-22: North Carolina Coaches Association Football Clinic – In-person, Greensboro, North Carolina ($45 before deadline)