MEDIA
Lending a Hand
2008-05-01 09:00:00
In the world of professional football – where the ‘what have you done for me lately’ rationale is all too applicable – you would be hard-pressed to find a man more committed to his craft than Lions offensive coordinator/O-line coach Dan Dorazio. With a work ethic that rivals the most dedicated professional, Dorazio gives back to football as much as he gets – including appearing as a guest speaker at UBC’s annual ‘Best in the West Weekend’ from May 2nd to 4th.
We sat down with Dan during a rare spare minute to get an idea of just what makes the Lions’ offensive coordinator tick:
Q: This year will mark your second season attending the UBC clinic as a keynote speaker. What motivates you to give back to the amateur football ranks?
DD: I have always believed that any time a coach has the opportunity to speak out for football, they should do it. The way I see it, it is part of our job to promote the game and the people who are involved in this business, whether it’s at the amateur or professional level. In the same way I have profited immensely from learning what other people have taught me, I like to give back what I have learned to those who are involved in the sport. Part of what makes the game of football so great is the chance to better the game and help others while doing that.
Q: The 2008 season marks your 36th year of coaching – your eleventh CFL campaign. What measures do you take to better yourself as a coach?
DD: Every opportunity I get to learn something from someone, I take it. I annually attend a clinic for offensive line coaches put on by the NFL in Cincinnati every year. The game is always changing and evolving – research is part of what we do as coaches. I’m always learning something from someone. I haven’t stopped and I will never stop as long as I am coaching.
The bottom line is that you want to have answers for your players. That’s what makes them better so that’s what they’re looking for from coaches. There are lots of ways to get things done – it’s my responsibility to go and find out which is the best way. That’s why we do what we do.
Q: As a keynote speaker at UBC’s spring coaches clinic, what message do you hope to leave?
DD: As a coach, if you really believe something in your heart and in your mind, you’re going to coach it with a passion. To me, that’s what the players want to see. They thrive on receiving instruction that way. I truly hope that the players attending the camp leave feeling more confident in their own abilities.
Q: You are known for the long hours you put in at the office throughout the year. Do you believe your level of dedication sets an example for your players to follow?
DD: I hope I can provide my players with valuable information – for me, the bottom line is what I can give them. It doesn’t matter if it takes me five hours of work or ten – if I can help them, it makes the job worthwhile. I believe work ethic is something that is very valuable in football and in life, and it’s a quality that a coach in this business has to have. Maybe that’s part of what we’re teaching players as we go.
Q: What was it about the game of football that motivated you to pursue a coaching career?
DD: In order to be a coach, you have to be competitive – I am a very competitive person by nature and combined with my love of the game that’s what drew me to coaching. I have always had a passion for football, but once you’re in it you realize the best part is all the associations you have with people in the business over the course of many years. The coaching community is smaller than you would think, so those relationships last a lifetime. The people you work with day in and day out is what makes coaching worthwhile – this business is all about relationships.
We sat down with Dan during a rare spare minute to get an idea of just what makes the Lions’ offensive coordinator tick:
Q: This year will mark your second season attending the UBC clinic as a keynote speaker. What motivates you to give back to the amateur football ranks?
DD: I have always believed that any time a coach has the opportunity to speak out for football, they should do it. The way I see it, it is part of our job to promote the game and the people who are involved in this business, whether it’s at the amateur or professional level. In the same way I have profited immensely from learning what other people have taught me, I like to give back what I have learned to those who are involved in the sport. Part of what makes the game of football so great is the chance to better the game and help others while doing that.
Q: The 2008 season marks your 36th year of coaching – your eleventh CFL campaign. What measures do you take to better yourself as a coach?
DD: Every opportunity I get to learn something from someone, I take it. I annually attend a clinic for offensive line coaches put on by the NFL in Cincinnati every year. The game is always changing and evolving – research is part of what we do as coaches. I’m always learning something from someone. I haven’t stopped and I will never stop as long as I am coaching.
The bottom line is that you want to have answers for your players. That’s what makes them better so that’s what they’re looking for from coaches. There are lots of ways to get things done – it’s my responsibility to go and find out which is the best way. That’s why we do what we do.
Q: As a keynote speaker at UBC’s spring coaches clinic, what message do you hope to leave?
DD: As a coach, if you really believe something in your heart and in your mind, you’re going to coach it with a passion. To me, that’s what the players want to see. They thrive on receiving instruction that way. I truly hope that the players attending the camp leave feeling more confident in their own abilities.
Q: You are known for the long hours you put in at the office throughout the year. Do you believe your level of dedication sets an example for your players to follow?
DD: I hope I can provide my players with valuable information – for me, the bottom line is what I can give them. It doesn’t matter if it takes me five hours of work or ten – if I can help them, it makes the job worthwhile. I believe work ethic is something that is very valuable in football and in life, and it’s a quality that a coach in this business has to have. Maybe that’s part of what we’re teaching players as we go.
Q: What was it about the game of football that motivated you to pursue a coaching career?
DD: In order to be a coach, you have to be competitive – I am a very competitive person by nature and combined with my love of the game that’s what drew me to coaching. I have always had a passion for football, but once you’re in it you realize the best part is all the associations you have with people in the business over the course of many years. The coaching community is smaller than you would think, so those relationships last a lifetime. The people you work with day in and day out is what makes coaching worthwhile – this business is all about relationships.
