COACHES CORNER
Drew Morris Interview
Izak Sheinfield-Kandel
Drew Morris is an underclassman studying Sports Management at the University of Michigan. He is also a student manager for the football team, offering a first hand look at the dynamic between coaches and players on the team. During the interview, he peeled back the curtain and
provide a sense of what Michigan football coaches are like. Morris has a desire and interest to get into the coaching field after school; this is something that was discussed in the interview as well.
Q: Why did you want to get into team managing?
A: Being a sport management student, it was always on my career path. Football runs Michigan so it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
Q: Have you had previous experience helping out with teams?
A: No, I actually had not been on a football team but I’ve always been doing scouting by myself. Now the team is teaching me how to help out.
Q: Is coaching something you would want to get into?
A: Of course, it’s a lot of cool new stuff and I’m trying to keep my career options open.
Q: Has this process changed your views on coaching?
A: Yes, it’s made me want to coach more. How everything works together is a cool process and seeing now compared to what we’ll be in the fall is unreal.
Q: What was the process to become the student manager?
A: First, there was an application. Followed by around ten interviews with current student managers and JT Rogan, Harbaugh’s right hand man.
Q: What do you think they were looking for in a manager?
A: Mostly looking for dedication, how high on your priority list is this? This is an actual job. How much does Michigan mean to you? Things like that.
Q: What do your duties consist of?
A: Meal check-ins. Help sign players in between 7 and 9 am. Also during practice we assist players and coaching. Record times and reps. In future we’ll be on the field helping in the games.
Q: As an observer during practices, what are coaches looking for in the players?
A: They want the drills done right. They want determination and for everyone to be the best they can.
Q: How does coaching work in practices? In terms of breaking up groups and working with specific players.
A: We break up into different sections of the field depending on your position. I work with the linebackers and the viper safety position. Each position has their own drills. There are also individual drills where each player gets an individual workout.
Q: Is there a difference between individual and team drills?
A: During individual is when a player can shine and show they are outworking everyone else. They can move up the depth chart. Coaches can help them specifically with their fundamentals. Also during practice there is a lot of competition created by coaches to push players.
Q: What do coaches do to get players up for practice?
A: If you are a senior and see a freshman ranked ahead of you, the next time out you are determined to be better than that freshman. Prove the rankings wrong.
Q: What do players like/dislike from coaches?
A: It depends on the player tempermant. Every player doesn’t want a coach that’s easy on them but obviously they need someone to be hard on them to get better. I assume most players liked Don Brown but disliked coach Drevno.
Q: Why do you assume that?
A: I’ve heard he yelled at people and didn’t know athlete’s names. That’s unacceptable.
Q: So a family-community vibe is stressed?
A: Absolutely, you’re more willing to perform harder for a coach if they know what you’re about?
Q: What have you learned football wise from your time with the team?
A: Before I was just analyzing the game full speed but I’ve learned to break things down with fundamentals and technique. The time that goes into preparation is crazy.