
Many factors go into making a good head coach, and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen knows exactly what those factors are. In fact, he learned them early in life from both of his parents.
Coen grew up in a football family. His father coached him in high school, while his mom was a history teacher. Accordingly, he knows what makes great coaches, and it starts with good teaching.
He talked about his early experiences Tuesday on NFL Network's “Good Morning Football.”
“I grew up, as you mention, with educators, and education was so important to my family. Growing up, coaching and teaching go hand in hand," Coen said. "Ultimately, you do those things you coach and teach to try to make an impact on people’s lives,” he said. Ultimately, that’s why you do this.”
He also said that as the son of a coach and a teacher, he knows life is full of lessons. He imparts on his players to self-reflect after games and ask where they can improve.
“Make sure you go home every day and be proud of what you see in the mirror," Coen said. "That’s no different than what I tell my players on Sundays before we go out and play, hey guys win, lose or draw let’s be able go after this game go home and look in the mirror make sure we are proud of what we see.”
Another thing that Coen has brought to Jacksonville as a head coach is stability, something they didn’t have under a former head coach, Urban Meyer, who was very unpopular not only with the team but with front office staff and team management.
The culture change could also be attributed to Coen’s coaching.
Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton spoke on the change Coen has brought to this team.
"That's a good question. I just think for one, it's all about us. Everything we do, we're not worried about the outside. We are worried about our opponents, but at the end of the day, it's about what we're doing and who we are as a group," Hamilton said. "I think it's really important, and I've really enjoyed the trajectory of what this group is — the path we're on and what we've been able to do so far,” he said.
Without using the word, Hamilton said the culture is changing in the locker room and it spills out to the practice field and game day.
“I just think ultimately that's what it's been. I don't want to say the word culture, but really turning this group around into a way where we play for each other and play with each other and really we all have our minds on an ultimate goal as one," Hamilton said. "It's been a blast, and I've been just very grateful to be part of this.”