By Austin Moss
NFL Player Engagement
Jeff Hinz has been a teacher and a coach at Post Falls High School since 1995. He currently teaches United States Government and is currently the head varsity football coach at Post Falls High School. Aside from working with his own players Hinz works closely with incoming freshman students during his summer football clinics. In his tenth year as the head coach Jeff was able to bring his team to the postseason for the first time. We decided to sit down with Coach Hinz and discuss what he thinks it takes to run a successful football program.
When you’re developing talent, what are some of the intangibles that you look for and why?
As a coach, it’s an incredible experience watching our student-athletes grow and mature over their four years in our program and at Post Falls High School. We look for players that "buy in" to our football program and players that "buy in" to Post Falls High School. We look for leadership, high quality character, motivated student-athletes, and student athletes that participate in other activities. As a staff we feel that these intangibles are important to make us a successful football program.
What are the characteristics of a successful high school football student-athlete on and off-the-field?
To be a successful high school student-athlete you’ve got to be motivated, to achieve academic success you have to have a strong work ethic, hard work helps balance all aspects of your life. To achieve this, self-motivation is important as they have to perform in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the field. Our football student-athletes are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average to be eligible, enroll in a weights class, attend football camp, and participate in offseason workouts. All of this takes time, energy and self motivation. On and off the field we want our players to display the utmost respect, sportsmanship, and character. Our school athletic motto is "Character Counts" and our football motto is "Do the Right Thing!"
How do you and your staff begin developing leadership skills in your student-athletes?
We encourage their involvement not only in our program, but we support their involvement in other school programs as well. We want our players to be involved in other leadership activities such as student council and our school Link Crew. Link Crew is where upper classmen help the incoming freshman feel like a part of Post Falls High School. The staff will also meet with captains on a regular basis to have conversations regarding the team. We are always working to improve our program so we look for suggestions from the players on making our team more successful.
What advice would you give to a parent/guardian who is assisting his/her child with the college search process?
I think parents need to realize that first the student needs to focus on academics and both the parent and athlete need to be realistic when it comes to their son’s playing ability. I try and relay to parents that every poor grade starting their freshman year on, could limit potential opportunities at the college level. I also explain to parents that one of the first things a recruiter will ask for is a copy of a transcript. Maintaining good grades can open a lot of doors for student-athletes, and it’s unfortunate when a player’s opportunities are limited by a poor academic record. The most important thing is that an institution should be selected where the student athlete can succeed academically and athletically.
What is something every incoming freshman should know as they transition into high school athletics?
Fortunately by the time youth players have reached the high school, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with them in our youth football camp. I always tell the incoming freshman that our doors are always open and if they need help with any aspect of their lives to come see us coaches. We also tell them as they transition into our high school that they must get a strong start academically, we expect their best effort on the field as well as off of it.
How do you create a healthy culture within your locker room?
We expect all of our players to be treated equally in our locker room. The upper classmen have a leadership role to make sure everyone is being treated fairly and with respect. To help handle locker room situations a coach is also assigned to help supervise the locker room before and after practice.
How have you seen the student-athlete experience evolve over the years?
As a coach who has been coaching 21 years in high school I have seen some changes in our athletes and students. I feel like athletes today are less encouraged, or do not have the time to be three-sport athletes. With all of the offseason programs that now take place, athletes have to specialize in a sport to continue to be competitive in that respective sport. I also think that student-athletes no longer just want to be part of a team. If they are not the star or the starter some athletes choose not to participate. Lastly, personal communication skills have diminished. I feel as if athletes now are used to communicating through their media device. It is more difficult for the athlete to communicate with coaches face to face.