Let’s be real, everyone right now is looking at potential jobs for next year. Looking at football scoop, checking the forums, speculating on whose out and whose subsequently in. But let’s evaluate the situation first and foremost on the actual ‘health’ of this dynamic. 

Whether we admit it or not a huge part of S&C is the uncertainty of it all. Every year could be the year that you move into that role you so covet. It could also be the year you are fired and are looking for a job. The aspect of S&C that you will never know is exactly what makes it so compelling and why we push so hard. 

In some circumstances we can argue that lack of job security is what makes us work harder than the rest of our athletic department counterparts. We feel like we are always on the chopping block. This could come from this inner guilt that we are doing something we love and are passionate about and being paid to do so. Or it could come from this inner turmoil of guilt of not appreciating enough what we have. The constant fear of losing what we have is why we are so driven to maintain what we have. The issue is that being driven by fear is not sustainable, so we are constantly searching for a potential out. 

The desire to change is a survival strategy we employ to handle the constant change. The holy grail of that one coach or organization that values continuity becomes a thing of mythical proportions. We envy, and are even jealous of the S&C coaches that had a tenure longer than five years. In turn we denigrate their tenure with them leading to  complacency. We believe they just got lucky because a head coach likes them. We constantly justify this because we feel like we have stronger convictions with how we do things relative to the longer tenured. We base this on our ability to stand on the hill of ‘good training’ relative to someone that sacrificed their integrity to keep their jobs. 

I imagine if I were reading this at a certain point of my life I would say this is way off. Coaches that are looking to change are not driven by fear or fueled by envy. But ask yourself, why are looking at other jobs? Why are you constantly hoping to be somewhere different? It is like you are in a bad relationship. Part of the reason you stay somewhere, or with someone, is because you feel like you don’t have any other options. In your heart you know you would be exchanging one problem with another; yet you still want it. It is the same exact set of problems, just with a different logo on your shirt. 

Desire to grow is good. Staying in one spot for a long time can lead to stagnated growth. We can become complacent because we do not have this constant anxiety of losing your job. Also like a relationship when you feel safe you become fat and lazy. There is a bad to everything – constant desire to change or constant fear of change has consequences.

I cannot say that looking for another job when you have a good job means you are scared. Job security does not mean complacency either. All I can say is that there is nothing permanent about a job. The more we realize that, the more we can appreciate what we got. If we are in fear of losing your job, we all know the feeling, it is only natural to think of other options.

If you feel you are complacent, if you are envious of other coaches – it’s probably time to change. Instead of seeking change for change’s sake, seek growth for growth’s sake. I tell my staff you leave a job for 3 reasons – better pay, better position, or getting fired. Unless there is a direct reason or opportunity, you are better served staying and becoming your best version of yourself.

The carousel is a fun thing to track. I think we all enjoy the water cooler talk of who’s going where. There is a fine line between gossip and putting feelers out. The dynamic of calling a person you haven’t talked to in years and asking “hey you hear about such and such” is a lot more transparent than you think it is. If you are unhappy with your circumstance, sometimes it is more effective to ask yourself why in the first place. In doing so, you may avoid sabotaging your current situation. It also may prevent the same problems at a different location.