Contacts Episode #167: Art Berlanga

Welcome to this edition of the "The Coaching Journey," a newsletter dedicated to sharing insights and advice from experienced coaches. In this episode we revisit with previous guest Art Berlanga, who has an impressive coaching background, having previously served as the head coach at Gonzales High School and an assistant coach at Hollister High School. He recently took on the challenge of building the football program at Forge Christian High School in Colorado, seeking to establish a strong team culture from the ground up. During this interview, Art discusses his approach to coaching, including the importance of establishing clear expectations and implementing a code of conduct for players and parents. He emphasizes the significance of aligning visions and making necessary changes when the situation requires.

10 Key Insights from Art Berlanga: An Exclusive Interview

• Importance of Learning from Others: Art incorporates ideas from other coaches and sports to grow as a football coach. He sought guidance from basketball and baseball coaches regarding a player and parent code of conduct, showcasing the value of learning from diverse sources.

• Continuous Learning and Growth: Art treasures being the "dumbest guy in the room," as it allows him to absorb wisdom from experienced colleagues. This mindset of continuous learning highlights the importance of personal growth in coaching.

• Seizing Opportunities: Art's move to Colorado came about through a recommendation from a former college teammate. This teaches us to leverage valuable connections and seize opportunities that arise, even if they require relocating.

• Building from the Ground Up: Art was presented with the task of establishing a football program from scratch at Forge Christian High School. This highlights the importance of taking on challenges and working towards creating something meaningful.

• Emphasizing the Right Way: The lead pastor of Forge Christian High School sought a head coach who could build the program from the ground up and do it the right way. Art's selection emphasizes the importance of integrity and doing things in alignment with core values.

• Establishing Clear Expectations: Art emphasizes the need to establish clear expectations for players and parents. Having a written code of conduct ensures everyone understands the standards they need to meet and makes it easier to address any misconduct.

• Consequences for Misconduct: Art stresses the importance of holding players and parents accountable for their actions. This sends a message that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and establishes a culture of accountability.

• Creating a Positive School Culture: Implementing a code of conduct and holding everyone to it helps create a positive school culture and ensures everyone represents the school well. This teaches the players important life lessons about responsibility and the impact of their actions.

• The Power of Aligning Visions: Art explains that his decision to leave Gonzales High School was driven by the misalignment of visions. This highlights the significance of aligning personal and organizational visions to create a successful coaching environment.

• Adapting to Change: Art's decision to leave Gonzales High School during the pandemic shows the necessity of adapting to changing circumstances. It teaches us to be open to new opportunities and make decisions that best align with our goals.

We hope these takeaways and teachable moments from Art Berlanga's interview inspire you in your own coaching journey. Stay tuned for more interviews and newsletters filled with wisdom from coaching experts!

Listen to his episode here

Watch his episode here: You Tube

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Best regards, Justin Clymo

What Keeps Contacts Going.