GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The attentive audience arrived with alert ears and note-taking hands on Thursday and Friday at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.
The ones usually providing instruction, these coaches transformed into students at the Third Annual Gators Chalk Talk coaching clinic.
The UF workshop was created by Gators head coach
Billy Napier, who started the event to allow middle- and high-school coaches to learn from a wide range of guest speakers from the collegiate and NFL stages.
The coaches and Napier share one common goal: spreading the values of the game to which they have dedicated their lives to the next generation of coaches.
Former Detroit Lions head coach and longtime NFL assistant Matt Patricia and Patrick Graham, currently the defensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders, served as the featured guest speakers at this year's event.
Other speakers covered almost every aspect of the game, as the clinic hosted several pro and collegiate coordinators and coaches from multiple organizations.
Throughout the two days, middle-school and prep coaches from all over the nation were allowed to learn from these seasoned pros, absorbing information about many subjects, including film study, scheme evaluation and leadership skills.
In his third season at UF, Napier comes from a family of high school coaches, which inspired him to create the clinic to give back to the football community.
Patricia shares the sentiment of giving back. His passionate keynote speech on Thursday night emphasized the importance of fundamentals.
"It's very important for us to show our appreciation to the coaches that love the game and want to try to improve," Patricia said. "Listening to the questions they have and the feedback they give us is so important."
Patricia also credited some of his mentors, such as legendary Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and former Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni, who he credits with teaching him the knowledge he now pays forward to other eager coaches.
Gators assistant coach Ron Roberts, a veteran with more than 30 years of coaching experience, leads a discussion about inside linebackers at the two-day Gators Chalk Talk coaching clinic. (Photo: Jordan Herald/UAA Communications)
He said speaking to these up-and-coming coaches helps inspire him despite being a coach at the game's highest level.
"These guys are the most innovative coaches around, and the way they look at the game makes me want to learn as much as I can from them," Patricia said.
The mastermind behind the clinic is
Ashour Peera, who serves as Florida's director of football logistics and NFL liason.
Peera has been responsible for putting together all three clinics, and he emphasized how special of an opportunity this is for coaches who attend.
"You don't get this kind of knowledge together in one place very often," Peera said. "And it covers all areas of football, from coordinators to strength and conditioning, sports science, and athletic training."
For Peera, the desire to put on this immense event comes from his background as a high school coach. He understands that coaches at the lowest levels of the game don't have resources such as those of the NFL and top college programs.
"We want to provide coaches with an opportunity to develop professionally while being able to network and have access to NFL coaches," Peera said. "It's super important for us to take care of our schools and promote football around the country."
And the care is much appreciated by the coaches, who traveled nationwide to attend the clinic.
Former Gators offensive lineman Mike Degory, shown during his playing days with then-UF coach Urban Meyer, is now a high school coach who attended the clinic. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)
One such coach is Matt Hendrick, head coach at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando. Hendrick made the two-hour trip to have the opportunity to learn from seasoned coaches.
"Getting specific, personalized feedback from these coaches is pretty incredible," Hendrick said. "It's an amazing opportunity to gain a lot of knowledge and information."
Another coach attending the clinic this year was Mike Degory, who played center for the Gators from 2001-05 and was a three-time all-SEC selection.
Degory now serves as assistant head coach at Palm Bay Magnet High School, and he emphasized how important the event was to help network with fellow coaches around the nation.
"Us coaches are always in need of new games and new schedules," Degory said. "So, this serves as a great format for us to not only learn from these seasoned coaches but to learn from each other."
After all, Patricia said it best when he spoke about the clinic.
"This really is the place for collaboration of football conversation," Patricia said.
