June 10, 2020 • 33 mins
Kevin Cristello, Assistant Athletic Director for Football at Virginia Tech University joins on the podcast.
Kevin shares how coaches can streamline their admin/operations work so that they can have more time for the best parts of the job...the players, and the game.
We've never heard a coach say they stopped coaching because they stopped loving the game or the kids...it's usually something outside of that. One of the struggles we've heard about is the amount of admin, paperwork, and secondary work that has to be done to run a program. Hopefully, this helps!
Topics:
- Ways coaches he had impacted him
- Handling job transitions
- How to set yourself up for success when it comes to admin
- Getting the right kind of help
- Improving year after year
- Hilarious recruiting story :)
Playing career:
- 2 sport athlete at Simon Kenton High School
- 4-year Defensive Lineman at Morehead State University
Coaching stops:
- Morehead State
- East Carter HS
- Kentucky Christian University
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Nebraska University
- Coastal Carolina
- Virginia Tech
Website: https://www.nkyfca.org/podcast
Instagram: @nkyfca
Twitter: @nkyfca @natesallee24
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NKYFCA
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Nate (00:00):
This is the coach to coach podcast, episode number 34 Game
Time.
Music (00:22):
[inaudible].
Nate (00:22):
Hey, what's going on guys, welcome to the coach to coach
podcast, where we believe everykid deserves a coach that cares,
and every coach deserves someonein their corner.
I'm your host, Nate Sallee.
And this podcast is sponsored bythe Northern Kentucky fellowship
of Christian athletes.
Once again, we are so gratefulto our donors, our prayer
partners, our leaders, ouradvisory board.
(00:44):
So many incredible people thathave linked arms with us in
recent years to see the movementof God that is Northern Kentucky
FCA and the life change that weexperience on a regular basis.
Hey, real quick, before we getgoing, if you found value in
previous episodes, could youtake just a moment and give us a
rating on whatever app you'reusing?
It would really help us get theword out and serve more coaches.
(01:07):
As a reminder, the purpose ofthis podcast is to capture the
collective wisdom and NorthernKentucky, greater Cincinnati and
beyond so that we can all getbetter together.
It's possible to lead a highperforming team and also
transform lives in the process,but it takes intentionality and
it takes one another.
I'm so excited for this episode.
(01:28):
We are talking with KevinCristello.
Kevin is currently assistantathletic director for football
operations at Virginia techuniversity.
He is a Northern Kentuckynative, went to Simon Kenton
high school and has had severalstops along the way, including
Eastern Kentucky university,Nebraska, coastal Carolina, a
couple of others that I'll lethim get into it, but he has a
(01:50):
lot of wisdom to bring to thetable when it comes to the side
that isn't maybe as fun orintuitive for everybody as
coaches.
And it's the admin, theoperations, how do we maximize
our time and get things done ina way where we can focus on the
things that we got into coachingin the first place, the players,
the game itself, trying toreally enjoy that.
(02:14):
And he has some great insightson how we can maximize our time
and empower others, and reallybe able to hopefully just enjoy
coaching at a whole new leveland lighten the load a little
bit off of the shoulders when itcomes to gosh, all the red tape
and the paperwork, everythingelse, he just has some great
philosophies on things that he'slearned over years of experience
(02:36):
at different levels on how tojust navigate all of those
different things.
So I'm not going to hold you offany longer.
Let's hop right in to ourconversation with Kevin
Christello...
All right, guys.
We are here with KevinChristello.
Kevin, how are you doing today?
Doing well, How about yourself?
We're hanging in there.
We're we're zooming it up.
(02:57):
Just like you've been most theday as well.
Just to give our listeners alittle bit of a bio.
I've known Kevin since collegeyears, but to know kind of, kind
of his quick background, I knowyou started out at, grew up in
independence.
Did you go to Twenhofel middleschool?
Kevin (03:12):
Oh, I actually grew up in Morning View, Kentucky.
Okay.
Yeah.
Nate (03:16):
Technically morning view.
That's right.
Yeah.
There's like Demossville,Morning View and different
pockets.
I don't want to not, uh, notinclude those.
So I went to yeah, grew up inmorning mornings view Twenhofel,
Simon Kenton, stand out footballplayer went to Morehead state
university, which is where wemet his wife.
Erin was the, she was the maidof honor in our wedding.
(03:37):
We ended up just having a cool,cool time there.
Then you go on.
You stay on as a GA Morehead.
And then I think I have thisright.
Is it, is it East Carter andthen KCU
Kevin (03:48):
it was KCU first.
Nate (03:50):
KCU first.
And then East Carter and thengosh.
Yeah, bring me up to speed onthe, on the other stops.
Kevin (03:56):
Then I went to Eastern Kentucky university.
I was there for about six yearsas a director of football ops,
got an opportunity to go out touniversity of Nebraska and be
assistant director of footballoperations out there.
Was there for a short 12 monthsstay.
Um, then got a job at coastalCarolina university was there
(04:16):
for two years as a couple ofdifferent roles there, both in
recruiting and in football ops,chief of staff eventually.
And now I am a assistant A.D.
For football at Virginia tech.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I've been really excited for youguys.
You're just now getting your,getting your feet wet there,
Virginia tech, and that's right.
When all those Corona stuff hitas well.
So you're probably still kind ofjust finding your bearings,
(04:38):
aren't you?
Yeah.
I'm still trying to figure out,um, whenever, you know, I've
been in a couple of differentlevels, uh, whenever you get to
the power five level, you nolonger, um, have one or two
people that can answer what youhave to answer.
Uh, for example, I cancompliance.
There's not one or two people.
There's eight to 10 people.
So just trying to navigatenarrow that down, who handles
(05:01):
what still, uh, in differentareas of academics and all
different styles.
Nate (05:05):
Yeah, that's good.
Well, let's go back to kind oflife as a athlete, growing up
through the ranks, we justmentioned all the different
stops you had on post yourplaying career.
But I know you've played underseveral different programs and
teams and coaches growing up.
Who, who do you think reallyleft a Mark on you as a coach
(05:27):
and why?
Kevin (05:29):
Well, I, uh, I'll say this Nate.
I, uh, actually being from thegreat state of Kentucky, had
hoop dreams my entire life, uh,only played football really my
senior year and k inda crazy howit kind of led me to the path
I'm i n now.
But y ou k now, growing up,playing basketball, I would have
to say my dad k ind o f was mycoach, which was good and bad.
(05:53):
U h, k ind o f, I remember thisbecause he was all, he was hard
on me because he wanted me to dowell.
U m, and then when I startedplaying football, he knew
nothing about football.
Never played i t.
Parents wouldn't let t hem.
And I do remember him telling meafter one game a nd I'll never
forget it.
And I'll probably tell my kids,unfortunately, but he said, I
don't know anything aboutfootball, but all I can tell you
(06:14):
is if that's the kind of e ffortyou're going to give, then you
better change it.
Nate (06:18):
Simple and clear.
(06:20):
Simple and clear.
And I understood it because, youknow, um, he was, he was very,
uh, passionate about workinghard didn't care if you were
good.
He obviously wanted me to begood, but he cared more about
the product of what basically Iwas putting out.
There was a product conversionof my family.
And if we weren't going hard, helet you know about it.
Nate (06:41):
Yeah.
And it's such a, such as, again,just a simple thing, but man,
there's some depth to that juston the spiritual side where, you
know, one of Katelyn's lifeversus my wife Colossians 3:23
with work at everything with allof your heart as if you're doing
it for the Lord, not for man,but then this idea of we're, we
are a representation.
We're an ambassador forourselves, for our family.
(07:02):
And for those of us that havefaith where we're kind of
representing what it means to bea Christian athlete at that
point too, and people arewatching.
Yeah,
Kevin (07:10):
for sure.
And then I would say the secondperson is probably my old high
school basketball coach, ScottHumphrey.
He was very influential in how Iam today because he was
extremely hard on me.
And I felt like he didn't likeme.
I was one of those kids.
Like the head coach hates me.
He doesn't like me.
He's always on me, but he is theone that actually helped me get
(07:33):
to Morehead State university.
And he was our basketball coach.
Nate (07:37):
Oh, interesting.
So your basketball coach helpedyou on the path to your, you
know, going to the next level offootball wise.
Kevin (07:43):
Correct.
I only played one year offootball, so there really wasn't
a whole lot of film and, youknow, coach, uh, they're at
Simon Kenton, did a great job,but, helped me get recruited,
but coach Humphrey had somecontacts and really helped me to
get to Morehead.
And, really one of the, it's afunny story going in the
(08:03):
Morehead because I was likefirst day of school walk on and
in a non scholarship program.
So that's the kind of the jokethat I tell people to kind of
start my career, but I, youknow, worked hard and everything
that I've done has been throughhard work and just, uh, you
know, the faith that I've hadand the people that's been
around me.
Nate (08:22):
Yeah.
That's a great, that's great wayto sum it up.
I've seen that with you as well.
I remember hearing some of thestories when you're at the D
ops.
at EKU and you probably have todo it at different times too,
but you would be driving ahead,it'd be a road trip for that
weekend and you have to bedriving ahead on the interstate
four or five hours ahead of themfor the restaurant or the hotel
or wherever you were going tomake sure everything was going
(08:42):
to be all set and ready to gofor the team.
And he got gosh, a hundred pluspeople behind you that are
expecting things to go well.
Kevin (08:49):
For sure, making sure that the food showed up, when
did the bus leave or there'sproblem with this and kind of,
it's a, but I will say those,those type of obstacles, you
know, being a Kentucky Christianuniversity, a smaller Christian
school with about four or 500enrollees, and doing a lot of
(09:10):
things has really, set me up forkind of where I'm at today,
because I know how this issupposed to look, I know how
this is.
I'm not one of those people thatwhile I haven't done it before
I've, I've seen it and kind ofbeen through it.
Nate (09:23):
Yeah.
That's amazing.
Well, whether the budget hasbeen minuscule or huge at
different different schools,you've kind of seen it all.
What have been some, some keytakeaways that you've picked up
from different coaches, whetherit be, you know, coach hood at
EKU or at Nebraska, or evencurrently, at Virginia tech that
(09:44):
you feel like, man, this is,this is an important piece.
If you're trying to build asuccessful program or successful
culture, man, I would say, man,I would put this up on the top
five of things to beimplementing.
Kevin (09:55):
Yeah.
Well I can say like whenever Iwas at Kentucky Christian and
Morehead state, you always hadto be mindful of your budget
because you didn't have a bigbudget.
When I got to EKU, I thoughtthat I hit the jackpot, you know
, looking back at it now, itwasn't great, but it was better
than those places.
Cause it was a higher level.
But the one thing that Dean Hoodtold me and kind of stuck with
(10:19):
me as, you know, he's a man offaith and he kind of told me
we've got to be good stewards ofthis money because it's not ours
that kind of resonated with me.
And I was like, you know what,that's a great point.
I'm treated as if it's ours anddo good things with it.
And he was big on, you know,doing stuff for the kingdom and
just where you spend your moneyand how you spend it is key.
Nate (10:41):
Yeah.
That's a, that's a good way toapproach it.
Yeah.
Just our, our time, ourresources, whether it's our
personal finances or the budgetthat we're given, how are we
maximizing that and being goodand being good stewards, being
good managers.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Kevin (10:54):
Correct.
And the other thing I took fromDean hood, which is great.
Now you go through yourexperience younger and your
career.
And as you get older and youlearn from different people
another thing I took from himwas this world is about
relationships.
And I've been at a lot ofdifferent levels and kind of the
relationships you have withpeople good or bad is what this
(11:15):
world's about and have having arelationship with coaches,
people, teachers, the custodians, everybody, the same
relationship.
Cause that's what kind of Godwants us to do is have
relationships with everybody,including themselves.
Nate (11:30):
Yeah.
And that's so good.
I've heard it said recently thatrelationships, aren't a means to
the end in the kingdom, thatthey are the end like that kind
of, that kind of wraps it all upour relationship with God
relationship with others andbeing able to treat people the
same across the board.
Like not the exact same, justbecause we have different types
of relationships with people,but to not look down on the
(11:53):
janitor, for example, and not beso intimidated by somebody above
you that you're, that you're notable to connect with them
either.
Kevin (12:03):
I take personal pride in like whenever I was at EKU, we
had five managers that was easy.
And I was in charge of him thatwas easy to learn their name.
And we had like two filmers.
I Went out to Nebraska and theywere 15 filmers and they were
15-20 managers.
So I tried to take time andlearn everybody's name where
(12:26):
they're from.
And I try to kind of always knowthey'll joke about it because
I'll go, okay, you're Danielfrom Richmond and Richmond,
Virginia, or you're such andsuch from such and such.
So I try to associate that waythat they know that I care about
them because I do genuinely wantto get to know them.
And they are people when, justin my experience, you know, it
doesn't matter.
I'm at Virginia tech now, butthat's not changing that doesn't
(12:49):
identify or who I am.
You know what I mean?
Then I'm in a power five school.
People when they go to the AFCAconvention or something, they
look, they say, Oh, I'm i ncollege, y ou're in high school
or y ou're a middle schoolcoach.
So I'm better than you.
And that's not the way to lookat it.
C
Nate (13:11):
Yeah.
That's good.
Well, Hey, I didn't, I didn'tprep you for this question, but
it just came to my mind.
I've seen you go through some ofthese transitions because you
have these different stops andalong the way it was right
around Christmas time.
We we've had a couple ofdifferent times where you've
come back home and we've had youover for dinner, that sort of
thing.
And your perspective on nothaving a job at that moment and
(13:34):
not really just not knowingwhat's, what's coming around the
corner, that next year, the wayyou handled, that was always
just really impressive andinspiring to me.
So I'd love for you to just kindof share what was going on in
your mind and heart in betweenthose stops between EKU and
Nebraska, coastal and whereyou're at now.
Kevin (13:51):
Yeah.
Um, you know, I've been, I'vebeen fired and let go twice in
my career.
Neither one of them was myfault.
So what I basically learned inthis whole process is it's not
really things are out of mycontrol.
I don't control it.
So, uh, and I think what you'rereferring to is icon upbeat and
(14:13):
positive because I always knewthat it's out of my hands and
the big guy upstairs is gonnatake care of me.
That's kind of the way I'vealways treated it.
I've I really never interviewedfor a job that I've got.
Nate (14:25):
Hmm.
(14:26):
I've never went out and sought out things.
I didn't seek out the Easternjob.
I didn't seek out the Nebraska,coastal Carolina.
I didn't seek out any of thesejobs.
They have come to me.
And I think a big part of thatis just because of my attitude.
And I'd like to think of,because of my faith of who I am
and just me being me and notworrying about the things I
(14:48):
can't control.
Nate (14:50):
No, that's great.
Well, there's, there's a coupleof layers that I'm thinking of.
Two, one is the serenity prayer.
I posted that a couple of weeksago, just on social media right
as all this Corona craziness wasstarting, but it's about, you
know, except the things we can'tchange, the courage to change
the things we can and the wisdomto know the difference.
But you've also talked about thework ethic that you've taken
(15:11):
pride in.
Ever since your dad said, youknow, you're going to need more
effort.
I don't know anything aboutfootball, but I need the more
effort.
And I think the process you'vejust been so faithful at the
process that that's kind of beenthe inputs that you've needed to
, to get those referrals thatyou may or may not have even
been asking for.
But it people it's amazing howmuch people are watching the in
and day out.
(15:31):
We don't even realize it.
Kevin (15:33):
Again It's based on, like I said, relationships that you
have with everybody.
Cause the reason I've got thesejobs is because the people
hiring have called people andthat people have done their
homework and they just havesaid, I don't know why they must
have any mixed up with somebodyelse, but they've said good
things about me.
And it's kind of led me to whereI am and you know, I haven't
(15:54):
really had a whole lot growingup.
I don't really hold that againstmy parents.
They did the best they could.
But I've also, that's kinda,that's molded me into how I am
today.
I didn't have her free ride.
Things weren't easy growing up.
But, um, because of that, I knowI want better for my kids, but I
(16:14):
also, I still have a picture inmy office of my childhood home.
And I also have my locker tagwhen I was at Morehead state.
This'll tell you, I came in atnumber 106, that locker tag up
with my picture of my housegrowing up just to kind of as a
reminder to where you've comefrom and where, you know, where
(16:38):
are the big guy upstairs takingme?
Nate (16:40):
Yeah, man.
So good.
Well, Hey, let's, let's switchgears just a little bit.
One of the things that I've seenpersonally with Katelyn coaching
her volleyball team, and I hearover and over again, just in the
coaching world is really feelingit can be overwhelming.
When you think about all thedifferent pieces you gotta do.
And so many times you get intocoaching so that you can coach
(17:01):
the sport, coach the players andbe around the game.
And hopefully some of themotivation is to change their
lives in the process, butthere's a whole lot of admin
operations type things that theyjust have to get done in order
for that to even take place.
And you've seen so manydifferent programs I get with
different types of budgets.
So if you're talking to a middleschool, high school youth,
(17:24):
college, I know there's probablydifferent, different levels.
You might say different thingstoo, but what are some like go
to principles that would applyacross the board on how do we,
how do we most efficiently takecare of all the admin ops things
so that we can focus on that?
The reason, the real reason whywe're there?
Kevin (17:42):
Yeah, for sure.
And I think the number one thingis to always remember your why
and why you're doing things.
You know, why I got into doingit cause somebody helped me
coach Humphrey.
Uh, other people have helped me.
So I want to help kids along theway.
But the thing that's really kindof helped me out is I wore
multiple hats.
There's a bunch of stuff that'sgot to get done is prioritizing
(18:05):
what it needs to be done.
Because currently I'm workingon, you know, I'm in charge of
budget that I'm in charge I'llsay it this way.
I'm in charge of everythingexcept coaching a position.
Gotcha.
So you've got to prioritizebased on that, that changes
based on time of year and what'sgoing on.
So I would say just make sureyou have a list.
(18:27):
I'm a big list person.
So I have a list of things thatgotta get done.
And then I prioritize that andtry to see, is this going to
make this kid better?
This is going to make us betterand then take it from there.
Nate (18:40):
Yeah.
Would you suggest over time,like if you're going to be
coaching in a program or beingaround a program more than one
year, trying to document as muchas you can, as far as, well
gosh, last year during springbreak time, I was doing this
during the summer.
I was doing this and just trying to have those bullet
points.
Because you're n ever going todo it again the next year.
Right.
Is that, d o you recommendhaving, having that kind of like
(19:01):
year long template almost?
Kevin (19:03):
Yeah.
So what I've always had startedwhenever I was at EKU is I've
had a yearly calendar and it'smostly just an overview of
what's going on, but I also havemade notes on that.
So the following year, when youget back to, let's say spring
ball, you're looking at it amonth ahead and you look at your
notes and say, Ooh, don'tforget.
(19:25):
We've had these issues.
These kids didn't get theircheck or we gotta make sure this
is going on with practice times.
And what I've done here recentlyis I've even taken that to
another level.
And I have what I call a kind ofa policies and procedures.
Now I call it policies andprocedures.
It's not a typical, Hey, like arules.
(19:45):
This is the first rule it's Hey,during, when I got, I got this
job in January, this is how wedid this.
This is what next year I need tomake sure we have done.
Or we had a staff meeting.
Coach said he wants to get thisdone better.
Our Bowl game for example, Igot, I was fortunate enough to
go to the bowl game and I justwas a sponge and wrote down
(20:07):
everything that neededimprovement on.
So that next year I'm notsitting there thinking, cause
I've done that before is I satthere.
What, what was that that we hadto get?
I just pulled it out to mypolicy and procedure and there
it is.
Nate (20:24):
Yeah.
That's great.
I've heard that weak ink isbetter than a strong memory.
So just go ahead and write thatbaby down.
Kevin (20:31):
For sure.
And Nate I'll tell you anotherthing that I've kind of grown
out of is, you know, I'm veryprideful of my work.
I want to do a good job, but Ithink there's a fine line
between being prideful and ego.
So having the ability to thisday, like being able to say, Hey
coaches, I know I set this campup or I did this, I did that.
(20:53):
And I worked very hard at it.
What can I do better and gettingfeedback.
And sometimes it's good stuff.
And sometimes it's like, well,if you don't have a clue or, but
you got a welcome that kind ofstuff, because that's how you
learn.
It's how you get better.
Nate (21:08):
Yeah.
Just to have that continuousimprovement mindset.
I'm assuming if you're in chargeof managers and film people and
everything else you've had to, Imean, you're only one person.
You can't do everything that youneed to get done.
So you've had to work throughother people.
What have been some, some thingsthat you've picked up kind of on
that side of things, how haveyou, how have you learned to
delegate well,
Kevin (21:29):
Well, it all starts with, to be honest with you with trust
and building trust, uh, with thepeople, um, and kind of helping
anytime I hire somebody and I'vehired people throughout interns,
whatever is, can I trust them?
It's a big trust thing or theykind of are kind of people
what's their character like, andtrust, if you get people in
(21:50):
there that you can trust or youstart building that trust with,
then you can start working onhelping, managing them and help
their technique and their stylesto fit with you.
And basically what the headcoach wants.
Nate (22:03):
Yeah, no, yeah.
Always being submitting to thatand thinking through it.
That's really interesting.
So it's not just, Hey, thisguy's a rockstar at Microsoft
Excel.
It's like, no, I want to knowfirst and foremost, can I trust
this guy?
And I can teach him some of thetools later,
Kevin (22:17):
correct.
If I, if I'm hiring, forexample, if I was hiring an
assistant at some point, if Iever did I look, can I trust
this person?
Can I trust them that they'renot going to not only talk about
me behind my back?
Or can I trust them?
Hey, I give you an assignment todo, can I trust you to get it
done?
Now I can coach you up and how Iwant it done, where eventually I
(22:40):
kind of, you know, release thechain a little bit to where you
feel more comfortable.
Cause at the end of the day, my,um, it's my area and I'm in
charge and I'm responsible.
I always tell them if this getsmessed up is the head coach
going to call you in and yell atyou or is he gonna yell at me?
I need to make sure that I cantrust that we're speaking the
(23:03):
same language right now.
We gotta make sure they'respeaking Hokie.
Nate (23:07):
Yeah, there you go.
That's right.
Well, I know huddle is a toolthat's used across the board and
just about everybody is usinghuddle at this point for video
and everything.
Are there any other tools I'mjust trying to get really
practical here for a second.
Are there any other tools orresources that you currently use
or have used in the past thatyou think, gosh, high school,
(23:28):
middle school, different programmight really benefit from this?
Kevin (23:32):
You know, HUDL is nationally for recruiting, and
video services and that sort ofthing for me right now, I use a
service called Teamworks, whichis calendar, communication..and
if I did not have Teamworks,it'd be difficult.
I know a lot of people use thisold adage of this(legal pad) has
(23:55):
never had a virus.
Yeah.
But if I didn't have Teamworks,I'd be in trouble.
And Teamworks basically justkind of provides me with the
checklist.
Um, if we switch a time as faras, as a practice time, or I
need to communicate with theguys, I can send them a quick
text and I know that that's not,not everybody has access to
(24:17):
that.
Yeah.
But you know, and I've hadTeamworks almost at every stop
except, you know, Kentucky,Christian and Morehead.
Nate (24:27):
No, that's good.
So that's, is that a pretty,pretty high end subscription?
Kevin (24:33):
It really just depends like kind of base it on where,
what level you're at, what youcan pay.
But, um, I recommend it, uh, atanywhere I'm at, if we don't
have it, we're we'll be gettingit.
Nate (24:47):
Yeah.
Priority one.
That's good.
Well, and earlier, just for thelisteners, he was pointing to a
legal pad saying that doesn'thave a virus, but you also,
there was a, some level of we'vegotta embrace the technology.
Just think about, we wouldn't beable to do this or so many
different things if we didn'thave the technology that we have
now, uh, it can, it can be adistraction at times, but I do
think there's a lot of good toit as well.
Kevin (25:06):
Correct.
There's a lot of, and especiallywhen you think in terms of
recruiting and how the socialmedia aspect of things and what
recruiting has turned into thesedays, it can be a positive thing
and it can be a negative.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All right.
Well, let's, uh, it's kind of tosummarize a little bit.
We have...
Say you're say you're a highschool AD/football coach and you
(25:31):
have all this stuff going onbeyond just getting buying
Teamworks.
Is there anything else thatwould be on your, on your short
list to, Hey man, if we getthese two, three, four things
going our lives are going to bea whole lot better.
Um, I mean, other than likemaking sure you're you have a
good list of what you kind ofget done.
(25:52):
Really I I've been I'm truthfulwhen I say this Teamworks is the
only thing I've ever used otherthan the old school, writing it
down and having a list.
I, to this day, I have a bigwhiteboard in my office and
during travel, whenever season'sgoing, I'll have a home
checklist and in away checklist.
(26:12):
And that way it's a visual forme, if my assistant or anybody
that needs to come in there andI've given people
responsibilities, they can comelook, what's done.
I can check it off.
And it gives them a chance tostop by and see me too.
Nate (26:24):
Yeah, that's good.
Is that so teamworks, you can,I'm assuming you can delegate
different tasks and schedulethings and it should just tell
me a little bit more about it.
Now I'm intrigued, man.
Kevin (26:36):
so basically what it is, it's a communication platform.
Okay.
So everybody is on it.
So if right now, if I need toknow, Hey Johnny Smith, I need
to note his information.
I can, I got an app.
I go on click his name and it'sgoing to give me his student ID
number, his email address, hismom parent information.
(26:58):
Uh, if he's on scholarship, it'sgoing to put endless amount of
information in there.
That way I have it at the Palmof my hands and for us right
now, I can see if coach says,Hey, I need to talk to Johnny
soon.
He can get here.
I can click his name and it'llshow me his schedule and I'll
have quick access to see when Ican get them.
No, that's really good.
Wow.
(27:20):
Yeah.
Yeah.
The travel from an operationsstandpoint, it kind of
centralizes all my informationas far as my bus meals, hotel,
all that stuff.
No, that's good.
And by the way, this isn'tsponsored by Teamworks.
He's not getting paid to attend,but maybe you should be man.
Be good.
Be good.
Little set up there.
(27:40):
Yeah.
I mean, I I'm adamant about themand they do.
They it's, it's a great programif, uh, if you're able to get it
to help your program.
Excellent.
Cool.
Well kind of final questionhere.
If you had, you know, say youwere talking to a young coach,
that's just starting out justtrying to get the footing on,
you know, maybe they've goneaway.
They've played in college at acertain level.
(28:00):
They're come back to trying tostay in the game and they got
their first coaching gig.
What would you tell that man orwoman who is just starting out
based on kind of the years thatyou've had?
Uh, I would just tell them to,don't try to, uh, I see a lot in
the younger, some younger peoplewhere they try to get in there
(28:21):
and they're full of energy andthey want to do this.
To kind of just trust theprocess and just be relational
driven.
Um, listen to the vision thatyour head coach or whoever,
whatever path you're taking andjust be yourself.
Cause at the end of the day,that's, what's going to get you
through is just being yourself.
If you're somebody else it'skind of like dating.
(28:43):
If you try to act like somebody,you're not eventually they're
gonna find out
Nate (28:46):
that's right.
Wow, man, there must besomething to that because
there's been multiple othercoaches that have said something
similar to that in recent recentinterviews where, Hey, don't try
to just copy cat.
Some other person, you know,find your own style, hone that.
Don't just try to be the exact.
Maybe it was an, even thoughthere's a good coach, don't try
(29:06):
to be exactly like them becauseyou're unique yourself and you
have your own specific thingsthat you can give.
And I love that.
That's good.
Right.
Kevin (29:14):
And I, a good friend of mine in this profession is Adam
Clark.
And he's the ops guy.
He's the same position in thatNorth Carolina State.
And we worked together inNebraska and we worked well
together, but we are slightlydifferent.
Yeah.
He is him and I am me and he'snot trying to be me and I'm not
trying to be him, but it's justimportant to be yourself.
(29:35):
Because like I said, at the endof the day, your true colors are
going to show.
Nate (29:40):
Yeah.
And he also mentioned just kindof, kind of falling under the
head coach's vision.
You're doing that right now.
You would encourage them to doit.
And I've also heard it said thatbefore you can be a great
leader, you have to learn to bea great follower.
Kevin (29:53):
Correct?
Correct.
And you've got to make sure theold adage of the good Lord gave
you two ears, one mouth you'relistening and listen to your
players.
Um, and just, just trying tohelp.
Nate (30:05):
That's good.
As a, as a send off here, do youhave things back?
It could be any level, but justwanted to see if we have a
little laugh or before we wrapup, let's, what's been one of
the most embarrassing momentseither as an ops person or on
the field.
If you're like me, there'sseveral, but is there anyone
that comes top of mind?
Kevin (30:27):
Well, there's a, there's a lot throughout the time, but I
can say one that kind of keepsrunning through my head now is
whenever I was at KentuckyChristian, we, uh, we were
having spring practice or springgame and we had recruits coming
in.
They weren't supposed to bethere for a couple more hours.
So I was physically cutting thegrass.
(30:48):
So the game field, the practicefield at that time, getting
ready for the game and therecruits and parents showed up
as I was pushing the push mower.
You, uh, talk about, Hey, we'rehere for the visit.
So that was kind of a littledifferent for me.
Nate (31:03):
Well, key word then did you say push mower?
Push, push mower.
Push mower.
Yeah.
They have turf now.
So they're in a much bettersituation, but gosh, that's
hilarious.
Kevin (31:18):
Yeah.
Hey, come to Kentucky.
Christian, hold on one second.
Let me get, let me, prime thisto get started here.
Nate (31:25):
Oh man.
Well, good stuff.
Well, thanks so much for hoppingon here and giving us some of
your wisdom.
I appreciate you guys.
You guys are dear friends, eventhough you're jet setting all
over the country, differentstops.
I know.
Just appreciate your all'sfriendship.
And thankfully for things likezoom and Marco polo, and we're
even breaking out some tik toksnow connecting through that.
(31:46):
So you're saying the other day,so keep up the great work over
there at Virginia tech.
I know it's going to be a funride for you guys and just
really appreciate you as aperson.
Thanks for bringing it today.
And we'll talk to you soon.
Kevin (32:00):
I appreciate it.
Thanks for everything you do.
Nate (32:12):
Well, there it is.
Guys.
Our conversation with KevinChristello..
Really appreciated his insight.
I hope one of the byproducts ofthis episode is that you're able
to have some more sleep and getsome better rest at night,
knowing that what you need toget done is getting done and
that you're able to find a toolthat works for you to
communicate well and to be ableto empower some help.
(32:33):
That way you're not carrying theload all by yourself.
Hey, if you haven't already, weinvite you to go ahead and hit
that subscribe button so youdon't miss out on any future
episodes coming up.
We're going to continue to workhard to try to bring you
valuable content.
That's going to help youpersonally and professionally.
If you want to learn more aboutNorthern Kentucky, FCA, just
head on over to NKYfca.org untilnext time, keep growing, keep
(33:00):
learning, keep changing lives onyour team and in your home,
Music (33:14):
[inaudible].
This is the coach to coach podcast, episode number 34 Game
Time.
Music (00:22):
[inaudible].
Nate (00:22):
Hey, what's going on guys, welcome to the coach to coach
podcast, where we believe everykid deserves a coach that cares,
and every coach deserves someonein their corner.
I'm your host, Nate Sallee.
And this podcast is sponsored bythe Northern Kentucky fellowship
of Christian athletes.
Once again, we are so gratefulto our donors, our prayer
partners, our leaders, ouradvisory board.
(00:44):
So many incredible people thathave linked arms with us in
recent years to see the movementof God that is Northern Kentucky
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Hey, real quick, before we getgoing, if you found value in
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It would really help us get theword out and serve more coaches.
(01:07):
As a reminder, the purpose ofthis podcast is to capture the
collective wisdom and NorthernKentucky, greater Cincinnati and
beyond so that we can all getbetter together.
It's possible to lead a highperforming team and also
transform lives in the process,but it takes intentionality and
it takes one another.
I'm so excited for this episode.
(01:28):
We are talking with KevinCristello.
Kevin is currently assistantathletic director for football
operations at Virginia techuniversity.
He is a Northern Kentuckynative, went to Simon Kenton
high school and has had severalstops along the way, including
Eastern Kentucky university,Nebraska, coastal Carolina, a
couple of others that I'll lethim get into it, but he has a
(01:50):
lot of wisdom to bring to thetable when it comes to the side
that isn't maybe as fun orintuitive for everybody as
coaches.
And it's the admin, theoperations, how do we maximize
our time and get things done ina way where we can focus on the
things that we got into coachingin the first place, the players,
the game itself, trying toreally enjoy that.
(02:14):
And he has some great insightson how we can maximize our time
and empower others, and reallybe able to hopefully just enjoy
coaching at a whole new leveland lighten the load a little
bit off of the shoulders when itcomes to gosh, all the red tape
and the paperwork, everythingelse, he just has some great
philosophies on things that he'slearned over years of experience
(02:36):
at different levels on how tojust navigate all of those
different things.
So I'm not going to hold you offany longer.
Let's hop right in to ourconversation with Kevin
Christello...
All right, guys.
We are here with KevinChristello.
Kevin, how are you doing today?
Doing well, How about yourself?
We're hanging in there.
We're we're zooming it up.
(02:57):
Just like you've been most theday as well.
Just to give our listeners alittle bit of a bio.
I've known Kevin since collegeyears, but to know kind of, kind
of his quick background, I knowyou started out at, grew up in
independence.
Did you go to Twenhofel middleschool?
Kevin (03:12):
Oh, I actually grew up in Morning View, Kentucky.
Okay.
Yeah.
Nate (03:16):
Technically morning view.
That's right.
Yeah.
There's like Demossville,Morning View and different
pockets.
I don't want to not, uh, notinclude those.
So I went to yeah, grew up inmorning mornings view Twenhofel,
Simon Kenton, stand out footballplayer went to Morehead state
university, which is where wemet his wife.
Erin was the, she was the maidof honor in our wedding.
(03:37):
We ended up just having a cool,cool time there.
Then you go on.
You stay on as a GA Morehead.
And then I think I have thisright.
Is it, is it East Carter andthen KCU
Kevin (03:48):
it was KCU first.
Nate (03:50):
KCU first.
And then East Carter and thengosh.
Yeah, bring me up to speed onthe, on the other stops.
Kevin (03:56):
Then I went to Eastern Kentucky university.
I was there for about six yearsas a director of football ops,
got an opportunity to go out touniversity of Nebraska and be
assistant director of footballoperations out there.
Was there for a short 12 monthsstay.
Um, then got a job at coastalCarolina university was there
(04:16):
for two years as a couple ofdifferent roles there, both in
recruiting and in football ops,chief of staff eventually.
And now I am a assistant A.D.
For football at Virginia tech.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I've been really excited for youguys.
You're just now getting your,getting your feet wet there,
Virginia tech, and that's right.
When all those Corona stuff hitas well.
So you're probably still kind ofjust finding your bearings,
(04:38):
aren't you?
Yeah.
I'm still trying to figure out,um, whenever, you know, I've
been in a couple of differentlevels, uh, whenever you get to
the power five level, you nolonger, um, have one or two
people that can answer what youhave to answer.
Uh, for example, I cancompliance.
There's not one or two people.
There's eight to 10 people.
So just trying to navigatenarrow that down, who handles
(05:01):
what still, uh, in differentareas of academics and all
different styles.
Nate (05:05):
Yeah, that's good.
Well, let's go back to kind oflife as a athlete, growing up
through the ranks, we justmentioned all the different
stops you had on post yourplaying career.
But I know you've played underseveral different programs and
teams and coaches growing up.
Who, who do you think reallyleft a Mark on you as a coach
(05:27):
and why?
Kevin (05:29):
Well, I, uh, I'll say this Nate.
I, uh, actually being from thegreat state of Kentucky, had
hoop dreams my entire life, uh,only played football really my
senior year and k inda crazy howit kind of led me to the path
I'm i n now.
But y ou k now, growing up,playing basketball, I would have
to say my dad k ind o f was mycoach, which was good and bad.
(05:53):
U h, k ind o f, I remember thisbecause he was all, he was hard
on me because he wanted me to dowell.
U m, and then when I startedplaying football, he knew
nothing about football.
Never played i t.
Parents wouldn't let t hem.
And I do remember him telling meafter one game a nd I'll never
forget it.
And I'll probably tell my kids,unfortunately, but he said, I
don't know anything aboutfootball, but all I can tell you
(06:14):
is if that's the kind of e ffortyou're going to give, then you
better change it.
Nate (06:18):
Simple and clear.
(06:20):
Simple and clear.
And I understood it because, youknow, um, he was, he was very,
uh, passionate about workinghard didn't care if you were
good.
He obviously wanted me to begood, but he cared more about
the product of what basically Iwas putting out.
There was a product conversionof my family.
And if we weren't going hard, helet you know about it.
Nate (06:41):
Yeah.
And it's such a, such as, again,just a simple thing, but man,
there's some depth to that juston the spiritual side where, you
know, one of Katelyn's lifeversus my wife Colossians 3:23
with work at everything with allof your heart as if you're doing
it for the Lord, not for man,but then this idea of we're, we
are a representation.
We're an ambassador forourselves, for our family.
(07:02):
And for those of us that havefaith where we're kind of
representing what it means to bea Christian athlete at that
point too, and people arewatching.
Yeah,
Kevin (07:10):
for sure.
And then I would say the secondperson is probably my old high
school basketball coach, ScottHumphrey.
He was very influential in how Iam today because he was
extremely hard on me.
And I felt like he didn't likeme.
I was one of those kids.
Like the head coach hates me.
He doesn't like me.
He's always on me, but he is theone that actually helped me get
(07:33):
to Morehead State university.
And he was our basketball coach.
Nate (07:37):
Oh, interesting.
So your basketball coach helpedyou on the path to your, you
know, going to the next level offootball wise.
Kevin (07:43):
Correct.
I only played one year offootball, so there really wasn't
a whole lot of film and, youknow, coach, uh, they're at
Simon Kenton, did a great job,but, helped me get recruited,
but coach Humphrey had somecontacts and really helped me to
get to Morehead.
And, really one of the, it's afunny story going in the
(08:03):
Morehead because I was likefirst day of school walk on and
in a non scholarship program.
So that's the kind of the jokethat I tell people to kind of
start my career, but I, youknow, worked hard and everything
that I've done has been throughhard work and just, uh, you
know, the faith that I've hadand the people that's been
around me.
Nate (08:22):
Yeah.
That's a great, that's great wayto sum it up.
I've seen that with you as well.
I remember hearing some of thestories when you're at the D
ops.
at EKU and you probably have todo it at different times too,
but you would be driving ahead,it'd be a road trip for that
weekend and you have to bedriving ahead on the interstate
four or five hours ahead of themfor the restaurant or the hotel
or wherever you were going tomake sure everything was going
(08:42):
to be all set and ready to gofor the team.
And he got gosh, a hundred pluspeople behind you that are
expecting things to go well.
Kevin (08:49):
For sure, making sure that the food showed up, when
did the bus leave or there'sproblem with this and kind of,
it's a, but I will say those,those type of obstacles, you
know, being a Kentucky Christianuniversity, a smaller Christian
school with about four or 500enrollees, and doing a lot of
(09:10):
things has really, set me up forkind of where I'm at today,
because I know how this issupposed to look, I know how
this is.
I'm not one of those people thatwhile I haven't done it before
I've, I've seen it and kind ofbeen through it.
Nate (09:23):
Yeah.
That's amazing.
Well, whether the budget hasbeen minuscule or huge at
different different schools,you've kind of seen it all.
What have been some, some keytakeaways that you've picked up
from different coaches, whetherit be, you know, coach hood at
EKU or at Nebraska, or evencurrently, at Virginia tech that
(09:44):
you feel like, man, this is,this is an important piece.
If you're trying to build asuccessful program or successful
culture, man, I would say, man,I would put this up on the top
five of things to beimplementing.
Kevin (09:55):
Yeah.
Well I can say like whenever Iwas at Kentucky Christian and
Morehead state, you always hadto be mindful of your budget
because you didn't have a bigbudget.
When I got to EKU, I thoughtthat I hit the jackpot, you know
, looking back at it now, itwasn't great, but it was better
than those places.
Cause it was a higher level.
But the one thing that Dean Hoodtold me and kind of stuck with
(10:19):
me as, you know, he's a man offaith and he kind of told me
we've got to be good stewards ofthis money because it's not ours
that kind of resonated with me.
And I was like, you know what,that's a great point.
I'm treated as if it's ours anddo good things with it.
And he was big on, you know,doing stuff for the kingdom and
just where you spend your moneyand how you spend it is key.
Nate (10:41):
Yeah.
That's a, that's a good way toapproach it.
Yeah.
Just our, our time, ourresources, whether it's our
personal finances or the budgetthat we're given, how are we
maximizing that and being goodand being good stewards, being
good managers.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Kevin (10:54):
Correct.
And the other thing I took fromDean hood, which is great.
Now you go through yourexperience younger and your
career.
And as you get older and youlearn from different people
another thing I took from himwas this world is about
relationships.
And I've been at a lot ofdifferent levels and kind of the
relationships you have withpeople good or bad is what this
(11:15):
world's about and have having arelationship with coaches,
people, teachers, the custodians, everybody, the same
relationship.
Cause that's what kind of Godwants us to do is have
relationships with everybody,including themselves.
Nate (11:30):
Yeah.
And that's so good.
I've heard it said recently thatrelationships, aren't a means to
the end in the kingdom, thatthey are the end like that kind
of, that kind of wraps it all upour relationship with God
relationship with others andbeing able to treat people the
same across the board.
Like not the exact same, justbecause we have different types
of relationships with people,but to not look down on the
(11:53):
janitor, for example, and not beso intimidated by somebody above
you that you're, that you're notable to connect with them
either.
Kevin (12:03):
I take personal pride in like whenever I was at EKU, we
had five managers that was easy.
And I was in charge of him thatwas easy to learn their name.
And we had like two filmers.
I Went out to Nebraska and theywere 15 filmers and they were
15-20 managers.
So I tried to take time andlearn everybody's name where
(12:26):
they're from.
And I try to kind of always knowthey'll joke about it because
I'll go, okay, you're Danielfrom Richmond and Richmond,
Virginia, or you're such andsuch from such and such.
So I try to associate that waythat they know that I care about
them because I do genuinely wantto get to know them.
And they are people when, justin my experience, you know, it
doesn't matter.
I'm at Virginia tech now, butthat's not changing that doesn't
(12:49):
identify or who I am.
You know what I mean?
Then I'm in a power five school.
People when they go to the AFCAconvention or something, they
look, they say, Oh, I'm i ncollege, y ou're in high school
or y ou're a middle schoolcoach.
So I'm better than you.
And that's not the way to lookat it.
C
Nate (13:11):
Yeah.
That's good.
Well, Hey, I didn't, I didn'tprep you for this question, but
it just came to my mind.
I've seen you go through some ofthese transitions because you
have these different stops andalong the way it was right
around Christmas time.
We we've had a couple ofdifferent times where you've
come back home and we've had youover for dinner, that sort of
thing.
And your perspective on nothaving a job at that moment and
(13:34):
not really just not knowingwhat's, what's coming around the
corner, that next year, the wayyou handled, that was always
just really impressive andinspiring to me.
So I'd love for you to just kindof share what was going on in
your mind and heart in betweenthose stops between EKU and
Nebraska, coastal and whereyou're at now.
Kevin (13:51):
Yeah.
Um, you know, I've been, I'vebeen fired and let go twice in
my career.
Neither one of them was myfault.
So what I basically learned inthis whole process is it's not
really things are out of mycontrol.
I don't control it.
So, uh, and I think what you'rereferring to is icon upbeat and
(14:13):
positive because I always knewthat it's out of my hands and
the big guy upstairs is gonnatake care of me.
That's kind of the way I'vealways treated it.
I've I really never interviewedfor a job that I've got.
Nate (14:25):
Hmm.
(14:26):
I've never went out and sought out things.
I didn't seek out the Easternjob.
I didn't seek out the Nebraska,coastal Carolina.
I didn't seek out any of thesejobs.
They have come to me.
And I think a big part of thatis just because of my attitude.
And I'd like to think of,because of my faith of who I am
and just me being me and notworrying about the things I
(14:48):
can't control.
Nate (14:50):
No, that's great.
Well, there's, there's a coupleof layers that I'm thinking of.
Two, one is the serenity prayer.
I posted that a couple of weeksago, just on social media right
as all this Corona craziness wasstarting, but it's about, you
know, except the things we can'tchange, the courage to change
the things we can and the wisdomto know the difference.
But you've also talked about thework ethic that you've taken
(15:11):
pride in.
Ever since your dad said, youknow, you're going to need more
effort.
I don't know anything aboutfootball, but I need the more
effort.
And I think the process you'vejust been so faithful at the
process that that's kind of beenthe inputs that you've needed to
, to get those referrals thatyou may or may not have even
been asking for.
But it people it's amazing howmuch people are watching the in
and day out.
(15:31):
We don't even realize it.
Kevin (15:33):
Again It's based on, like I said, relationships that you
have with everybody.
Cause the reason I've got thesejobs is because the people
hiring have called people andthat people have done their
homework and they just havesaid, I don't know why they must
have any mixed up with somebodyelse, but they've said good
things about me.
And it's kind of led me to whereI am and you know, I haven't
(15:54):
really had a whole lot growingup.
I don't really hold that againstmy parents.
They did the best they could.
But I've also, that's kinda,that's molded me into how I am
today.
I didn't have her free ride.
Things weren't easy growing up.
But, um, because of that, I knowI want better for my kids, but I
(16:14):
also, I still have a picture inmy office of my childhood home.
And I also have my locker tagwhen I was at Morehead state.
This'll tell you, I came in atnumber 106, that locker tag up
with my picture of my housegrowing up just to kind of as a
reminder to where you've comefrom and where, you know, where
(16:38):
are the big guy upstairs takingme?
Nate (16:40):
Yeah, man.
So good.
Well, Hey, let's, let's switchgears just a little bit.
One of the things that I've seenpersonally with Katelyn coaching
her volleyball team, and I hearover and over again, just in the
coaching world is really feelingit can be overwhelming.
When you think about all thedifferent pieces you gotta do.
And so many times you get intocoaching so that you can coach
(17:01):
the sport, coach the players andbe around the game.
And hopefully some of themotivation is to change their
lives in the process, butthere's a whole lot of admin
operations type things that theyjust have to get done in order
for that to even take place.
And you've seen so manydifferent programs I get with
different types of budgets.
So if you're talking to a middleschool, high school youth,
(17:24):
college, I know there's probablydifferent, different levels.
You might say different thingstoo, but what are some like go
to principles that would applyacross the board on how do we,
how do we most efficiently takecare of all the admin ops things
so that we can focus on that?
The reason, the real reason whywe're there?
Kevin (17:42):
Yeah, for sure.
And I think the number one thingis to always remember your why
and why you're doing things.
You know, why I got into doingit cause somebody helped me
coach Humphrey.
Uh, other people have helped me.
So I want to help kids along theway.
But the thing that's really kindof helped me out is I wore
multiple hats.
There's a bunch of stuff that'sgot to get done is prioritizing
(18:05):
what it needs to be done.
Because currently I'm workingon, you know, I'm in charge of
budget that I'm in charge I'llsay it this way.
I'm in charge of everythingexcept coaching a position.
Gotcha.
So you've got to prioritizebased on that, that changes
based on time of year and what'sgoing on.
So I would say just make sureyou have a list.
(18:27):
I'm a big list person.
So I have a list of things thatgotta get done.
And then I prioritize that andtry to see, is this going to
make this kid better?
This is going to make us betterand then take it from there.
Nate (18:40):
Yeah.
Would you suggest over time,like if you're going to be
coaching in a program or beingaround a program more than one
year, trying to document as muchas you can, as far as, well
gosh, last year during springbreak time, I was doing this
during the summer.
I was doing this and just trying to have those bullet
points.
Because you're n ever going todo it again the next year.
Right.
Is that, d o you recommendhaving, having that kind of like
(19:01):
year long template almost?
Kevin (19:03):
Yeah.
So what I've always had startedwhenever I was at EKU is I've
had a yearly calendar and it'smostly just an overview of
what's going on, but I also havemade notes on that.
So the following year, when youget back to, let's say spring
ball, you're looking at it amonth ahead and you look at your
notes and say, Ooh, don'tforget.
(19:25):
We've had these issues.
These kids didn't get theircheck or we gotta make sure this
is going on with practice times.
And what I've done here recentlyis I've even taken that to
another level.
And I have what I call a kind ofa policies and procedures.
Now I call it policies andprocedures.
It's not a typical, Hey, like arules.
(19:45):
This is the first rule it's Hey,during, when I got, I got this
job in January, this is how wedid this.
This is what next year I need tomake sure we have done.
Or we had a staff meeting.
Coach said he wants to get thisdone better.
Our Bowl game for example, Igot, I was fortunate enough to
go to the bowl game and I justwas a sponge and wrote down
(20:07):
everything that neededimprovement on.
So that next year I'm notsitting there thinking, cause
I've done that before is I satthere.
What, what was that that we hadto get?
I just pulled it out to mypolicy and procedure and there
it is.
Nate (20:24):
Yeah.
That's great.
I've heard that weak ink isbetter than a strong memory.
So just go ahead and write thatbaby down.
Kevin (20:31):
For sure.
And Nate I'll tell you anotherthing that I've kind of grown
out of is, you know, I'm veryprideful of my work.
I want to do a good job, but Ithink there's a fine line
between being prideful and ego.
So having the ability to thisday, like being able to say, Hey
coaches, I know I set this campup or I did this, I did that.
(20:53):
And I worked very hard at it.
What can I do better and gettingfeedback.
And sometimes it's good stuff.
And sometimes it's like, well,if you don't have a clue or, but
you got a welcome that kind ofstuff, because that's how you
learn.
It's how you get better.
Nate (21:08):
Yeah.
Just to have that continuousimprovement mindset.
I'm assuming if you're in chargeof managers and film people and
everything else you've had to, Imean, you're only one person.
You can't do everything that youneed to get done.
So you've had to work throughother people.
What have been some, some thingsthat you've picked up kind of on
that side of things, how haveyou, how have you learned to
delegate well,
Kevin (21:29):
Well, it all starts with, to be honest with you with trust
and building trust, uh, with thepeople, um, and kind of helping
anytime I hire somebody and I'vehired people throughout interns,
whatever is, can I trust them?
It's a big trust thing or theykind of are kind of people
what's their character like, andtrust, if you get people in
(21:50):
there that you can trust or youstart building that trust with,
then you can start working onhelping, managing them and help
their technique and their stylesto fit with you.
And basically what the headcoach wants.
Nate (22:03):
Yeah, no, yeah.
Always being submitting to thatand thinking through it.
That's really interesting.
So it's not just, Hey, thisguy's a rockstar at Microsoft
Excel.
It's like, no, I want to knowfirst and foremost, can I trust
this guy?
And I can teach him some of thetools later,
Kevin (22:17):
correct.
If I, if I'm hiring, forexample, if I was hiring an
assistant at some point, if Iever did I look, can I trust
this person?
Can I trust them that they'renot going to not only talk about
me behind my back?
Or can I trust them?
Hey, I give you an assignment todo, can I trust you to get it
done?
Now I can coach you up and how Iwant it done, where eventually I
(22:40):
kind of, you know, release thechain a little bit to where you
feel more comfortable.
Cause at the end of the day, my,um, it's my area and I'm in
charge and I'm responsible.
I always tell them if this getsmessed up is the head coach
going to call you in and yell atyou or is he gonna yell at me?
I need to make sure that I cantrust that we're speaking the
(23:03):
same language right now.
We gotta make sure they'respeaking Hokie.
Nate (23:07):
Yeah, there you go.
That's right.
Well, I know huddle is a toolthat's used across the board and
just about everybody is usinghuddle at this point for video
and everything.
Are there any other tools I'mjust trying to get really
practical here for a second.
Are there any other tools orresources that you currently use
or have used in the past thatyou think, gosh, high school,
(23:28):
middle school, different programmight really benefit from this?
Kevin (23:32):
You know, HUDL is nationally for recruiting, and
video services and that sort ofthing for me right now, I use a
service called Teamworks, whichis calendar, communication..and
if I did not have Teamworks,it'd be difficult.
I know a lot of people use thisold adage of this(legal pad) has
(23:55):
never had a virus.
Yeah.
But if I didn't have Teamworks,I'd be in trouble.
And Teamworks basically justkind of provides me with the
checklist.
Um, if we switch a time as faras, as a practice time, or I
need to communicate with theguys, I can send them a quick
text and I know that that's not,not everybody has access to
(24:17):
that.
Yeah.
But you know, and I've hadTeamworks almost at every stop
except, you know, Kentucky,Christian and Morehead.
Nate (24:27):
No, that's good.
So that's, is that a pretty,pretty high end subscription?
Kevin (24:33):
It really just depends like kind of base it on where,
what level you're at, what youcan pay.
But, um, I recommend it, uh, atanywhere I'm at, if we don't
have it, we're we'll be gettingit.
Nate (24:47):
Yeah.
Priority one.
That's good.
Well, and earlier, just for thelisteners, he was pointing to a
legal pad saying that doesn'thave a virus, but you also,
there was a, some level of we'vegotta embrace the technology.
Just think about, we wouldn't beable to do this or so many
different things if we didn'thave the technology that we have
now, uh, it can, it can be adistraction at times, but I do
think there's a lot of good toit as well.
Kevin (25:06):
Correct.
There's a lot of, and especiallywhen you think in terms of
recruiting and how the socialmedia aspect of things and what
recruiting has turned into thesedays, it can be a positive thing
and it can be a negative.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All right.
Well, let's, uh, it's kind of tosummarize a little bit.
We have...
Say you're say you're a highschool AD/football coach and you
(25:31):
have all this stuff going onbeyond just getting buying
Teamworks.
Is there anything else thatwould be on your, on your short
list to, Hey man, if we getthese two, three, four things
going our lives are going to bea whole lot better.
Um, I mean, other than likemaking sure you're you have a
good list of what you kind ofget done.
(25:52):
Really I I've been I'm truthfulwhen I say this Teamworks is the
only thing I've ever used otherthan the old school, writing it
down and having a list.
I, to this day, I have a bigwhiteboard in my office and
during travel, whenever season'sgoing, I'll have a home
checklist and in away checklist.
(26:12):
And that way it's a visual forme, if my assistant or anybody
that needs to come in there andI've given people
responsibilities, they can comelook, what's done.
I can check it off.
And it gives them a chance tostop by and see me too.
Nate (26:24):
Yeah, that's good.
Is that so teamworks, you can,I'm assuming you can delegate
different tasks and schedulethings and it should just tell
me a little bit more about it.
Now I'm intrigued, man.
Kevin (26:36):
so basically what it is, it's a communication platform.
Okay.
So everybody is on it.
So if right now, if I need toknow, Hey Johnny Smith, I need
to note his information.
I can, I got an app.
I go on click his name and it'sgoing to give me his student ID
number, his email address, hismom parent information.
(26:58):
Uh, if he's on scholarship, it'sgoing to put endless amount of
information in there.
That way I have it at the Palmof my hands and for us right
now, I can see if coach says,Hey, I need to talk to Johnny
soon.
He can get here.
I can click his name and it'llshow me his schedule and I'll
have quick access to see when Ican get them.
No, that's really good.
Wow.
(27:20):
Yeah.
Yeah.
The travel from an operationsstandpoint, it kind of
centralizes all my informationas far as my bus meals, hotel,
all that stuff.
No, that's good.
And by the way, this isn'tsponsored by Teamworks.
He's not getting paid to attend,but maybe you should be man.
Be good.
Be good.
Little set up there.
(27:40):
Yeah.
I mean, I I'm adamant about themand they do.
They it's, it's a great programif, uh, if you're able to get it
to help your program.
Excellent.
Cool.
Well kind of final questionhere.
If you had, you know, say youwere talking to a young coach,
that's just starting out justtrying to get the footing on,
you know, maybe they've goneaway.
They've played in college at acertain level.
(28:00):
They're come back to trying tostay in the game and they got
their first coaching gig.
What would you tell that man orwoman who is just starting out
based on kind of the years thatyou've had?
Uh, I would just tell them to,don't try to, uh, I see a lot in
the younger, some younger peoplewhere they try to get in there
(28:21):
and they're full of energy andthey want to do this.
To kind of just trust theprocess and just be relational
driven.
Um, listen to the vision thatyour head coach or whoever,
whatever path you're taking andjust be yourself.
Cause at the end of the day,that's, what's going to get you
through is just being yourself.
If you're somebody else it'skind of like dating.
(28:43):
If you try to act like somebody,you're not eventually they're
gonna find out
Nate (28:46):
that's right.
Wow, man, there must besomething to that because
there's been multiple othercoaches that have said something
similar to that in recent recentinterviews where, Hey, don't try
to just copy cat.
Some other person, you know,find your own style, hone that.
Don't just try to be the exact.
Maybe it was an, even thoughthere's a good coach, don't try
(29:06):
to be exactly like them becauseyou're unique yourself and you
have your own specific thingsthat you can give.
And I love that.
That's good.
Right.
Kevin (29:14):
And I, a good friend of mine in this profession is Adam
Clark.
And he's the ops guy.
He's the same position in thatNorth Carolina State.
And we worked together inNebraska and we worked well
together, but we are slightlydifferent.
Yeah.
He is him and I am me and he'snot trying to be me and I'm not
trying to be him, but it's justimportant to be yourself.
(29:35):
Because like I said, at the endof the day, your true colors are
going to show.
Nate (29:40):
Yeah.
And he also mentioned just kindof, kind of falling under the
head coach's vision.
You're doing that right now.
You would encourage them to doit.
And I've also heard it said thatbefore you can be a great
leader, you have to learn to bea great follower.
Kevin (29:53):
Correct?
Correct.
And you've got to make sure theold adage of the good Lord gave
you two ears, one mouth you'relistening and listen to your
players.
Um, and just, just trying tohelp.
Nate (30:05):
That's good.
As a, as a send off here, do youhave things back?
It could be any level, but justwanted to see if we have a
little laugh or before we wrapup, let's, what's been one of
the most embarrassing momentseither as an ops person or on
the field.
If you're like me, there'sseveral, but is there anyone
that comes top of mind?
Kevin (30:27):
Well, there's a, there's a lot throughout the time, but I
can say one that kind of keepsrunning through my head now is
whenever I was at KentuckyChristian, we, uh, we were
having spring practice or springgame and we had recruits coming
in.
They weren't supposed to bethere for a couple more hours.
So I was physically cutting thegrass.
(30:48):
So the game field, the practicefield at that time, getting
ready for the game and therecruits and parents showed up
as I was pushing the push mower.
You, uh, talk about, Hey, we'rehere for the visit.
So that was kind of a littledifferent for me.
Nate (31:03):
Well, key word then did you say push mower?
Push, push mower.
Push mower.
Yeah.
They have turf now.
So they're in a much bettersituation, but gosh, that's
hilarious.
Kevin (31:18):
Yeah.
Hey, come to Kentucky.
Christian, hold on one second.
Let me get, let me, prime thisto get started here.
Nate (31:25):
Oh man.
Well, good stuff.
Well, thanks so much for hoppingon here and giving us some of
your wisdom.
I appreciate you guys.
You guys are dear friends, eventhough you're jet setting all
over the country, differentstops.
I know.
Just appreciate your all'sfriendship.
And thankfully for things likezoom and Marco polo, and we're
even breaking out some tik toksnow connecting through that.
(31:46):
So you're saying the other day,so keep up the great work over
there at Virginia tech.
I know it's going to be a funride for you guys and just
really appreciate you as aperson.
Thanks for bringing it today.
And we'll talk to you soon.
Kevin (32:00):
I appreciate it.
Thanks for everything you do.
Nate (32:12):
Well, there it is.
Guys.
Our conversation with KevinChristello..
Really appreciated his insight.
I hope one of the byproducts ofthis episode is that you're able
to have some more sleep and getsome better rest at night,
knowing that what you need toget done is getting done and
that you're able to find a toolthat works for you to
communicate well and to be ableto empower some help.
(32:33):
That way you're not carrying theload all by yourself.
Hey, if you haven't already, weinvite you to go ahead and hit
that subscribe button so youdon't miss out on any future
episodes coming up.
We're going to continue to workhard to try to bring you
valuable content.
That's going to help youpersonally and professionally.
If you want to learn more aboutNorthern Kentucky, FCA, just
head on over to NKYfca.org untilnext time, keep growing, keep
(33:00):
learning, keep changing lives onyour team and in your home,
Music (33:14):
[inaudible].
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