Football Culture First: Trust, Teams, and Roster Building

A coaching hire can look like a headline, but the real story is what happens behind closed doors: the late-night phone calls, the risk of starting over, and the trust that makes a staff function as one. We’re joined by Arkansas State Red Wolves offensive coordinator Garrett Altman and running backs coach Kenny Hill for an honest, funny, and detailed talk about how their careers took shape and why relationships are the first “scheme” any team needs. Garrett walks us through his path from TCU to New Mexico State to Vanderbilt, including the moment he nearly chose dental school over football, and what he learned from building programs with Jerry Kill and Tim Beck. Kenny shares what it’s like transitioning from player to coach, how being candid about mistakes builds credibility with athletes, and why relatability matters in modern college football. Along the way, we unpack leadership, recruiting mindset, quarterback development, and the behind-the-scenes reality of big stages like Heisman weekend with Diego Pavia. We also get practical about the job: what changes when you become an offensive coordinator, how to manage time and install plans, how to keep staff ideas flowing without “too many cooks,” and how to simplify the message so players can play fast. If you care about college football culture, building trust, and what it takes to create real momentum at Arkansas State, this one delivers. Subscribe for more Red Wolves Saturdays, share this with a coach or player who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. @Arkansasstatemedianetwork.com.00:00 - The Reality of Coaching01:45 - Dental School or Football: Altman’s Choice04:30 - Moving Up: From TCU to Vanderbilt07:15 - Player to Coach: Kenny Hill’s Journey10:40 - Heisman Weekend with Diego Pavia13:50 - Transitioning to Offensive Coordinator17:10 - Designing the Install Plan20:30 - Managing a Coaching Staff Room23:15 - Simplifying the Playbook for Speed26:40 - Building Trust with Modern Athletes29:55 - Red Wolves Recruiting Mindset