Dear Santa,
I’m writing this year not because I’m missing anything myself—but because I know a whole lot of JV coaches around the country who are. And if anyone has the ability to help them out, it’s you.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’ve got support, alignment, and people around me who believe in what JV football is supposed to be. But I also know that isn’t the case everywhere. I talk to JV coaches weekly who are grinding it out, doing the right things for kids, and wondering if anyone notices or understands the mission they’re on.
So this year, Santa, this list isn’t for me. It’s for them. For the JV coaches in helmets and headsets on Thursday nights, building the future of programs that often only get judged on Friday nights.
Here’s what I’m hoping you can deliver—for JV coaches everywhere
First, Santa: Give JV Coaches a Loving, Supportive Family
If there’s one thing I’d wish for every JV coach, it’s a family that understands the season.
Through trials and tribulations, I have learned that my family far outweighs the game, but for 4 months, they know that Dad is doing the thing he loves. I am forever grateful that I have a family that not only understands it, but are bought in and support it. So my first wish, Santa; give JV coaches a supportive family system to come home to each night.
A family that knows August through October means late nights, missed dinners, and weekends that revolve around practice plans and film. A family that understands that when a JV coach walks through the door after practice, he might still be on the field mentally—even if he’s sitting on the couch physically.
JV coaches don’t get headlines. They don’t get newspaper quotes. But they put in the same hours, carry the same emotional weight, and pour themselves into kids who are still figuring out who they are. That’s hard work—and it’s impossible without support at home.
Santa, give them families who believe in what they’re doing. Families who are patient, encouraging, and proud of the role they play in shaping young men. Because when a coach feels supported at home, he coaches better on the field.
Next, Santa: Give Them a Coaching Staff That Understands the JV Mission
JV football has a very specific purpose—and not everyone understands it.
I am so fortunate that I have that staff. Coaches Whitmore, Lohrmann, and Moore have bought into the JV mentality, and do what they can week in and week out to build the best players we can for the program, not just to build a juggernaut JV team.
So Santa, I’m asking that you bring JV coaches staffs who get it like mine. Coaches who understand that development comes before wins. Coaches who know that reps matter more than results. Coaches who can correct without crushing confidence.
Give them assistants who understand that JV kids are learning the game, not mastering it. Coaches who can teach fundamentals with patience. Coaches who don’t panic when things get messy. Coaches who know that mistakes are part of the process—not signs of failure.
JV football requires unity. When a staff shares the same mission, practices run smoother, kids feel safer making mistakes, and development accelerates. Santa, wrap that alignment up tight and deliver it everywhere you can.
Santa, Please Bring JV Coaches Varsity Head Coaches Who Listen
This one matters more than most people realize.
JV coaches sit in a unique spot—they see players at their most raw. They see bad habits early. They see potential before it’s obvious. But too often, that perspective gets ignored.
So Santa, I’m asking for varsity head coaches who listen.
I’m so fortunate that Coach Rivers GETS IT. He values what I bring to the table, and is always willing to listen to what I have to say. On a Friday night, when he’s calling plays and I’m in the box, he genuinely cares about mine and others input, because he knows how valuable his staff can be.
We don’t need yes men up top. Not coaches who always say yes—but coaches who value input. Coaches who understand that alignment across levels matters. Coaches who recognize that when JV and varsity are pulling in the same direction, everyone benefits.
Give them varsity coaches with vision. Coaches who communicate clearly what the program is about, how they want things taught, and why it matters. Coaches who trust their JV staff to develop players instead of just surviving seasons.
Santa, when JV and Varsity work together, the program becomes stronger than the sum of its parts. Please deliver that kind of leadership.
Santa, Bring Them Rules-Based Offensive Systems That Make Sense
JV coaches everywhere are drowning in complexity that doesn’t belong at the sub-varsity level.
So Santa, I’m asking you to bring them rules-based offensive systems. Offenses that prioritize clarity over creativity. Systems that allow kids to play fast instead of think slow.
When we adopted Gap-Down-Backer this year, we excelled! Not because of the scheme itself, but because my players now had clarity as to what their job actually is. When they have that clarity, they become more confident, and in turn more aggressive. That’s what builds a solid foundation for success.
Give them schemes where blocking rules carry over from play to play. Where formations and motions dress things up without changing responsibilities. Where teaching once leads to thousands of quality reps.
JV players don’t need encyclopedias. They need frameworks. They need answers. They need systems that grow with them as they move up.
Santa, when offenses are simple and sound, kids play confident—and confident kids develop faster. That’s a gift worth giving.
Santa, Please Deliver Simple, Sound Defenses Built on Run Fits
On defense, Santa, I’m asking for simplicity again.
Bring JV coaches defensive systems that start with run fits and never move on until they’re mastered. Defenses where every kid knows their gap, trusts their teammate, and plays fast.
Give them defenses that don’t rely on constant blitzing to survive. Systems that build discipline first, aggression second. Defenses that look physical because they’re confident, not confused.
JV kids need to learn how to tackle, how to fit the run, and how to play team defense. When that foundation is strong, everything else becomes easier later.
Santa, please save them from overcomplication. Give them defenses that teach the game the right way.
Finally, Santa: Give Them Programs Full of Football People
This is the biggest ask of all.
Santa, give JV coaches programs full of football people—not just football participants.
Give them players who want to be coached. Who want to learn, lift, and compete. Players who show up because they care, not because it’s convenient.
Give them coaches who invest in the craft. Who watch film. Who go to clinics. Who understand that development doesn’t happen by accident.
Give them people who understand that football isn’t just an August to November sport, but a year long undertaking that needs to be approached with dignity and vigilance. That schemes can’t just be installed on August 14th and expect to be good. That skills can’t just be remembered Day 1 of doubles.
Give them families and administrators who value football as a tool for growth—not just a scoreboard.
When a program is built on football people, culture takes care of itself. Effort becomes the standard. Accountability becomes normal. And development becomes inevitable.
A Final Word
Santa, JV coaches don’t ask for much. They don’t need spotlight or praise. They just want the tools to do their job the right way—for kids who are still becoming football players and still becoming people.
If you can help them even a little this year, I promise they’ll make the most of it. They’ll teach it. They’ll rep it. They’ll build it.
Because that’s the JV way.
Merry Christmas, Santa. And thanks—for looking out for the coaches who build the future.
