Interview with Jack Coan, Sayville Class of 2017 alumnus and current quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, who is currently doing QB training teaching QB lessons at Revolution Athletics in Bohemia.

SCN: Talk about QB training at Revolution Athletics. What in particular are you teaching in the lessons you’ll be giving?

Coan: Yeah, so right now I’m just starting my training at Revolution Athletics and I’m going to be training all different age groups. Each age group is going to be a little different as far as what I’m teaching and it’s going to depend on their skill levels as well. So basically, I’m just going to get a feel for the kids and see what they know what they don’t know, how advanced they are, and then I can kind of take their knowledge to the next level, but the first thing I really want to teach is just proper footwork—I mean, everything as a quarterback starts from the ground up. If your feet and your body is in the right position before you throw and you finish in the right position after the throw, that’s going to solve a lot of problems. Just proper footwork, proper throwing mechanics, just coming from the ground up from the feet to the hips to your trunk to your shoulders, elbow and arm, and then just general football knowledge, just teaching guys things I’ve learned along the ways, whether it’s just certain tips as far as fundamentals or football knowledge as far as reading plays and different coverage and things like that. So yeah, those are probably the three main things, and I’m excited about it and I’m sure it’s going to evolve as it builds.

SCN: Is there anything specific that you want to instill in the kids you’re teaching, whether it’s pocket passing or even a kid that wants to be a dual-threat quarterback?

Coan: Yeah, we’re going to work on everything. So first, we’re just going to work on the proper throwing sequencing from the ground up, just feet, hips, trunk, then upper body shoulder, arm. So that’s first and foremost, making sure they’re throwing the right way. Then after that, I’m going to teach them pocket movements: how to stay stable [and] balanced in the pocket, deliver accurate passes through subtle movements, reaction drills and things like that; and after that, we’re going to do some move the pocket stuff, where they have to escape, get outside the pocket because whether you’re a dual-threat or a pro-style guy, now you’re going to have to make some scrambles every now and then if your going to win games, so really just trying to teach everybody everything I know and try to get them better at their weaknesses and build on their strengths.

SCN: Other than the fundamentals of football, any advice or life lessons you may want to instill into the kids your teaching?

Coan: Yeah, absolutely, I think that will probably come naturally to kids and see where they are mentally, but I think the biggest thing that I always just believe in is just hard work. Just put your head down and work as hard as you can every day and chase that one percent, you try to get one percent better each and every day—don’t focus on anyone else but yourself, have a routine, do the work, and if you do that over and over and over again, you’re going to see the results, so I’d say that’s the biggest thing, and then it’s just confidence and believing in yourself.

SCN: What would you say to a kid that’s reading this article that just wants to play football?

Coan: If he’s looking for training, I’m going to give him all the knowledge I can to make him a better player, better person, and just try to be a great resource to him, and if he wants to be the next quarterback at Sayville or wherever, he is just [going to] keep working hard, do the work every single day, and you’ll have success no matter where it is or what you do, and if they want to connect, just reach out. It’s just hard work on a consistent day-to-day basis; it’s just staying at it every single day and working as hard as you can.