The U.S. Under-19 National Team coaching staff enjoyed a few minutes of pleasantries while getting to know each other this week in San Antonio, Texas.
With most familiar only by phone or reputation, the 11 men finally met face-to-face for the first time in preparing for the 2012 International Bowlon Feb. 1 at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Austin, Texas.
Football coaches work months in the offseason preparing for a season. They spend countless hours in film study and on the practice field getting ready for a game.
For head coach Steve Specht and his 10-man staff, five days is all they get to be in playing shape against 50 of the top high school-age players from around the world.
This isn’t the first go-round for Specht, though. The two-time Ohio Division I (big school) state champion was defensive coordinator of the 2009 U.S. team that won a gold medal at the IFAF Under-19 World Championship in Canton, Ohio.