You just got your first job as a head coach.  After your initial euphoria and rush of adrenaline when you get that phone call, you probably will start to feel overwhelmed.

Now what...

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Step 1: Learn what you job is, and what your job isn't

Every athletic department is different, so one of the first things you will need to do is to learn exactly what your job is.  There are different responsibilities, different procedures, and different norms at each stop.  Here is a short list of questions you will want to learn before creating your to do list:

• Taking care of the field
  • Do you have a grounds crew?
  • What responsibilities do you have? What responsibilities do they have?
  • How do you purchase equipment for the field?
  • Where is the line between maintenance budget, your budget and the athletic department budget?
• Purchasing equipment
  • What does the athletic department purchase?
  • What does the team need to purchase?
  • What can I purchase for the team?
  • What can I not purchase for the team?
  • Can I fundraise?
  • What fundraising rules are there?
  • What is the procedure for purchasing?
• Booster club
  • Is there a booster club?
  • What does the booster club purchase?
  • How do I request funds from the booster club?
  • Do I need to attend any booster club fundraising events?
• Assistant coaches
  • How do I hire assistant coaches?
  • What are the requirements for assistant coaches?
  • Who is in charge of hiring assistant coaches, you or the AD?
  • How many assistant coaches are you allowed to have?
  • Can you have volunteer assistant coaches?

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Step 2: Focus

Your "to do" list is probably pretty long (this blog post will probably add some to it!) at this point. The key to getting your list done is to have laser like focus on the most important thing you have to get done.

When you create your "to do" list, order it from most important to least important and attack the most important one with laser like focus.  Finishing one task before starting the next will give you a sense of momentum and accomplishment to keep you going.  Working on multiple tasks at once will bog you down and make you feel like you're not getting anything done.

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Step 3: Inventory

It's time to answer three big questions in regard to equipment?

1.) What do you have? - Take an accurate inventory of your equipment and check for equipment that needs to be placed this year or next year.

2.) What do you need? - Start creating a wishlist of equipment that you want and need.  Prioritize that list so that when you approach your boosters and Athletic Director for funds, you can determine what you "need" vs. what you "want."

3.) What can you get rid of? - One of the biggest keys to maintaining and organized storage space is getting rid of old equipment that you no longer need.  Whatever you don't need, either throw it away or donate it to a charity.

Step 4: Build your foundation

There are two main things that will make up the foundation of your program.  Your first foundation is what you want to do on the field.

You need to develop an offensive, defensive and pitching philosophies, bunt defenses, 1st and 3rd plays, daily drills for pitchers, infielders, outfielders, and hitters.

The second foundation you will need to create is a solid relationship with your feeder program or the youth leagues in your area.  If you are looking for something to really engrain yourself into their inner circle, put on a coaches clinic for them to learn what you are doing at the high school.

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Step 5: Meet your administrative assistants

Having a quality administrative assistant (and more specifically one that is on your side) can be the savior of your program. You have no idea how important they will be your success within the athletic department.

A few nice gestures you can make to get them on your good side...

1.) When the staff takes up money for "Administrative Assistant Day" or Christmas presents for the support staff, feel free to contribute to those, but also buy one specifically for the Athletic Administrative Assistant from you.  It doesn't have to be much, $10 or $15 will do fine and they will

2.) Learn what kind of coffee they like (or donuts, or...).  Every now and then when I stop for a coffee on my way in, I pick one up for our administrative assistant as well.  Again, a small gesture that doesn't go unnoticed.

3.) Say thank you often. Even if there is a small task that you may view as no big deal, say thank you.

No doubt there are way more than this small list to get started.  If you would like to see my complete checklist for getting started as a head coach, plus get access to our entire Bronze library, check it out here...

If you would like a more comprehensive checklist of how you should get started...

Get our complete checklist for new head coaches + 5 great drills for dynamic practices