So I started a coaching/football rant on Facebook tonight. And I wanted to let it spill over here, at least a little bit.

My last season coaching HS FB was 2016. We had replaced a very good and trusted friend in our HC, who went up to the college game.

It was a nearly 5 month coaching search.

I didn't like the guy from day 1. But I kept thinking I needed to stick it out.

I was miserable after 2 weeks.

After a month.

The dead period felt wonderful, instead of the usual excitement to get the season started. It couldn't last long enough.

And some of you probably think this is a stupid career move to be trashing a former employer on Twitter.

Well, it's coming anyway.

And it wasn't an issue with scheme or strategy, although we were quite the opposite.

But it was the way he interacted with kids differently. The way he handled issues. The way he treated coaches, players, and parents.

The way that he constantly tried to act like he was this big, "hands off" coach, while always constantly having his thumb on the scale.

Always giving off an air that I couldn't trust him. And I didn't.

I was miserable for the entire season, and we ended up with a good record

I def. think we under performed, but it school history, it was a top 5 season. Maybe even top 3.

But when our season ended because he wouldn't get out of his own way, and it was too late by game 12, I felt relief.

I was happy.

I loved the 4 hour drive home with my wife.

I was sad the run was over, I was sad that those players wouldn't get another chance to suit up together again.

But I felt free. I felt a weight lifted off.

And since then, I've only coached 1 season of MS ball.

And since 16, I realize more and more what made the other seasons enjoyable, at least in some capacity.

Sure W's are fun, but those are often hard to come by, and 99% of teams fall short.

But it was trust.

I trusted the people I was under to know how to make good decisions. I trusted them to be capable of deferring to others if they weren't comfortable with their knowledge or ability. I trusted them to lead a staff and a team.

I've reached out to more coaches than I can count since then, looking at potential openings. And I always do everything I can to find out as much as I can on, "can I trust them."

You can get a lot through short conversations via email.

I wouldn't interview if I didn't feel it

I would drive 2 1/2 hours for an interview because I trusted someone.

I wouldn't take a phone interview while making dinner with someone if I didn't feel like I could trust them.

And that isn't to say there aren't other things that are important. Respect, loyalty, commitment, openness.

Those are all valid.

And entirely worthless without trust.

If you can't trust, you can't truly respect.

If you can't trust, loyalty is gone.

If you can't trust, commitment is wasted.

If you can't trust, openness is a calculated lie.

I've interviewed for jobs fairly recently, where I was ready to roll. Because trust is built when you watch them coach guys up when no one is paying attention. When the kid isn't your star, or the kid isn't like you.

Trust is won when you take care of your players, period.

And it's players. Plural. All of them.

I've coached kids I didn't like, but I've always done my dead level best to give them a fair shot, and quality coaching.

You can't just coach the kids you like, or the kids who remind yourself of you at a younger age.

You ride with all of them, or none of them.

If you're a coach, and you're trying to figure out ways to build fences and doors around your team, you need to rethink that.

Exclusion can easily be manipulated to make you look good.

But it doesn't last. It might for a season or two, or a talent cycle. But not forever.

Coach's who build bridges to their team, who build bigger tables, get trust.

Because they bring people into the fold.

They add oars to the boat.

They add strands to the rope.

When you bring people in, you're invested in them.

And when you're invested in them, they're invested in you.

And that always produces trust.

And trust will always get you where you want to go.

And having a kid has made my belief in trust so much stronger.

Because my son has a trust and love, even at an early age, that I've got him.

That I'll do everything to protect him, nurture him, and allow him to flourish and grow.

He doesn't know fear because of trust.

And to finally end this rambling mess: If you're part of a team (any type) and you want trust, make sure people know that you'll do everything you can to ensure their success and the success of the group.

Let people know you want to add oars.