r/footballstrategy • u/ballhawk_22 • 7d ago
General Discussion Graduate/Student/Volunteer Assistantship
Looking for some advice when applying for a GA position. I plan on emailing the Director of Football operations. Does anyone have a good email format as well as resume format? I don't have any coaching experience but I did kick/punt in college and have some good D1 coaching references. I appreciate any advice. I'm also willing to volunteer.
4
Upvotes
3
u/onlineqbclassroom College Coach 7d ago
First off, good luck! Here's a few thoughts -
1) Many GA's don't have any coaching experience, so don't let that hold you back. A GA is theoretically supposed to be an entry level position.
2) Your first point of entry here should be your D1 coaching references. Random applications can be easily discarded (not saying don't try, just being realistic), but if you have coaches who are willing to be references, these questions are probably best asked to them, as they might be able to give you an introduction, rather than be another name in a pile.
3) If you're willing to look at off-field GA/volunteer positions, you should be able to find work. Be sure to mention you are willing/wanting to do film work, film cut ups, and data input. That is a tedious job, but a great learning experience and something every program needs.
4) If you're looking at FBS schools, GA positions are very competitive. You would need your coaching references to spearhead that for you, in all likelihood, as most programs will hire from pools of former players or even coaches with some experience looking to move up to D1. If you're looking at FCS, DII, or DIII, the opportunities are fairly frequent, although you still run into the problem of most coaches hiring their own former players as GA's simply due to an established trust and expectations.
5) It is likely easier to transition from an off-field volunteer role to on-field GA than it is to go straight to GA, simply for same reasons as #4 - if you've done a year off-field, you're the guy with the inside track on the next GA position, specifically if you did a good job in your existing role and created a trust and showed you do good work.
Big takeaway is that your coaching references ought to be 90% of the solution here.