Coaches Spotlight:
Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

Bill Cowher has long been known for his prominent boxer's chin, his on-field success and his longevity in the National Football League. But he's never been known as a Super Bowl champion--until now.

Cowher guided his Pittsburgh Steelers through an up-and-down season last year that began with a quarterback injury and culminated with the head coach's first Super Bowl ring.

Photo by Greg Fiume Getty Images

"It's hard," he says. "You've got to be able to get their attention in this age of videos."

Clearly, Cowher was a respected coach before winning the title tilt. Now, he has earned himself a place in football immortality. But don't think he has the luxury of basking in the limelight for long.

Professional sports are truly year-round these days, and only three weeks after the Super Bowl, Cowher attended the NFL's Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

"We had a parade on a Tuesday, then we were talking about the salary cap on Wednesday," remarked Cowher. "There's not much time for relaxation or enjoyment. It's back to business right away."

Such is the life of an NFL coach, but even high school football coaches feel the pressure year-round, albeit in a different way. Not long after the gridiron campaign ends, prep coaches round up their returning athletes to begin weight training sessions, implement conditioning regimens and install offensive and defensive strategies for the next season.

Cowher says the weight room is an important part of the game, particularly in the off-season. With that said, high school coaches are wise not to place so much emphasis on weightlifting that other important details get crunched.

"The game is still played on the field, between the lines," he says. "It's not played in the weight room in your shorts and t-shirts."

Think about it: your strongest lifters aren't always your best athletes or your most proficient football players. To succeed on the gridiron, a plethora of skills are needed. That's why Cowher likes to see coaches recruit big numbers of players. That's not always easy in small schools, but big rosters usually pay off at the varsity level.

"Try to create as much depth as possible," Cowher advised. "Depth creates competition, and competition makes everybody better."

Finally, the Pittsburgh skipper recommends that coaches find a way to let their stars shine. Simply put, the most talented players need to be worked into the play mix at every opportunity, even if that means having a quarterback return punts or kickoffs on occasion.

"With your very skilled athletes, you need to take them and put them in a position where you can get the ball in their hands," Cowher says.

Other than that, focus on team chemistry and repetition because, as Cowher says, "it's all about consistency."

He should know.

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.