The Long Game: 20 Years From Walk-On To Washburn University Head Football Coach | Zach Watkins

Zach Watkins shares his journey from Washburn walk-on linebacker to head coach, revealing how his 20-year connection to the program shapes his coaching philosophy and vision for the future. • Coming full circle from player to head coach at Washburn University • Building a program on five pillars: family, accountability, discipline, toughness, and respect • Completing over 2,000 hours of community service in five months • Creating accountability groups and football nights at every campus sport • Managing 36 scholarships across a roster of 125+ players • Developing relationships with every player through individual meetings • Recruiting philosophy: "If you're good enough, they'll find you" • Moving to morning practices to prioritize family time for coaches • Implementing a single-digit jersey system where players vote for teammates who best represent program values • Washburn NFL alumni success stories including Corey Ballantyne (Colts) and Kyle Hinton (Falcons) Join us for our first game Saturday, August 30th against Truman State at 1 pm! ________________________________________ 0:00 - Welcome Coach Zach Watkins 10:18 - From Player to Coach Journey 18:00 - Pro Pathways and Washburn NFL Alumni 25:28 - First Year as Head Coach 33:47 - Building Community Connection 41:47 - Family-First Coaching Philosophy 51:39 - Roster Management and Recruitment _________________________________________ Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️ Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS Website -- https://topekainsider.com/ Facebook --- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider Follow Your Hosts: 📱 Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day. Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/ Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram!