The brutal TRUTH about getting hired and staying hired. Yesterday I...
Thad Wells@ThadWells
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Oct 31, 2025
~2 min read
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The brutal TRUTH about getting hired and staying hired.
Yesterday I explained LSU's $497M football empire.
Let's talk about the situation for 99% of coaches who don't coach there:
🧵THREAD
Yesterday I explained LSU's $497M football empire.
Let's talk about the situation for 99% of coaches who don't coach there:
🧵THREAD
Thad Wells@ThadWells
LSU's head football coach is UNDERPAID at $10M a year.
Sounds crazy until you realize:
- He generates $497M for Louisiana
- Funds 21 other sports
- Creates 4,900 jobs
That's a 50X return.
🧵THREAD
Sounds crazy until you realize:
- He generates $497M for Louisiana
- Funds 21 other sports
- Creates 4,900 jobs
That's a 50X return.
🧵THREAD
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Power 4 coaches deal with governors and $400 million empires.
You deal with school boards and parent complaints.
But the game is exactly the same.
You deal with school boards and parent complaints.
But the game is exactly the same.
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I've had 5 head coaching jobs over 20 years.
From hotel room interviews to 10-person committees.
Here's what actually matters:
From hotel room interviews to 10-person committees.
Here's what actually matters:
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First, understand who really hires you:
People elect board members.
Board hires principal/president.
Principal hires AD.
But who actually picks YOU?
People elect board members.
Board hires principal/president.
Principal hires AD.
But who actually picks YOU?
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Sometimes it's the board.
Sometimes the principal.
Sometimes the AD.
Sometimes boosters.
Usually it's one person whose voice matters most.
Sometimes the principal.
Sometimes the AD.
Sometimes boosters.
Usually it's one person whose voice matters most.
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Every situation is different.
But they're all asking the same question:
"Is this coach the most VIABLE option?"
But they're all asking the same question:
"Is this coach the most VIABLE option?"
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VIABLE breaks down into two parts:
1. Do you have a VISION that excites them?
2. Are you ABLE to make it happen?
That's it.
1. Do you have a VISION that excites them?
2. Are you ABLE to make it happen?
That's it.
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Your vision is everything.
They either have a vision and want yours to match.
Or they have no vision and need you to bring one.
They either have a vision and want yours to match.
Or they have no vision and need you to bring one.
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Biggest mistake I made early:
Morphing my vision to match theirs too much.
You become someone you're not, then can't sustain it.
Morphing my vision to match theirs too much.
You become someone you're not, then can't sustain it.
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Find jobs where your real vision aligns with theirs.
It's harder to get hired.
But it's the only way to survive long-term.
It's harder to get hired.
But it's the only way to survive long-term.
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Once you're hired, everything changes.
Now you're balancing a scale:
Good vs Bad
Now you're balancing a scale:
Good vs Bad
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Good things = Less headaches for decision makers.
Bad things = More headaches.
When bad outweighs good, you're gone.
Bad things = More headaches.
When bad outweighs good, you're gone.
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Three ways to keep the scale balanced:
1. WIN
2. WIN MORE
3. FOLLOW POLICY
That's the foundation.
1. WIN
2. WIN MORE
3. FOLLOW POLICY
That's the foundation.
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Year 1: Win one game after going 0-10? Heroes.
Year 5: Win 9 games after winning 10? Disappointment.
Success raises expectations forever.
Year 5: Win 9 games after winning 10? Disappointment.
Success raises expectations forever.
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Policy is your lifeline.
Admin lives by policy.
You hate it, but you better love it publicly.
Admin lives by policy.
You hate it, but you better love it publicly.
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Beyond winning and policy, it's about people:
A. Build relationships constantly
B. Over-communicate everything
C. Set and INSPIRE expectations
A. Build relationships constantly
B. Over-communicate everything
C. Set and INSPIRE expectations
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Playing time complaints?
Send them your policy.
"Here's how we decide. Any specific questions?"
Usually ends the conversation.
Send them your policy.
"Here's how we decide. Any specific questions?"
Usually ends the conversation.
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I used to tell coaches to enforce expectations.
Now I think it’s about inspiring them.
Big difference in how people respond.
Now I think it’s about inspiring them.
Big difference in how people respond.
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Your job isn't really about X's and O's.
It's about managing humans and their emotions.
Master that, and you'll coach for decades.
It's about managing humans and their emotions.
Master that, and you'll coach for decades.
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The pastor who doesn't grow the church gets replaced.
The business that doesn't profit closes.
The coach who doesn't win gets fired.
The business that doesn't profit closes.
The coach who doesn't win gets fired.
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But here's what 20 years taught me:
Win with integrity.
Treat people right.
Build your bank account of goodwill.
Because bad times always come.
Win with integrity.
Treat people right.
Build your bank account of goodwill.
Because bad times always come.
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If you’d like to work on all of this for 2026 we have a free program starting next week.
With a free clinic to really tie everything together on December 13th.
Comment "TACKLE" and I'll DM link!
🙏 @ThadWells
With a free clinic to really tie everything together on December 13th.
Comment "TACKLE" and I'll DM link!
🙏 @ThadWells
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Here’s a video breaking all of this down 👇
Thad Wells@ThadWells
3 key steps for football coaches who want to get hired and stay hired.
(Plus a tip to help you avoid being miserable as a head coach!)
▶️ VIDEO
x.com/thadwells/stat…
(Plus a tip to help you avoid being miserable as a head coach!)
▶️ VIDEO
x.com/thadwells/stat…
