Developing players is more than running drills—it’s about building leaders, shaping culture, and teaching life lessons that last beyond the field. In this 8-week online football coaching course, you’ll learn directly from former NFL Head Coach, Marc Trestman.
Whether you’re an aspiring coach, scout, or front-office executive, this course equips you with the strategies and tools that NFL teams use to prepare athletes for success—on and off the field.
NEXT START DATE: May 18
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NFL coaches will show you how to:
Build an organizational culture players buy into
Lead teams through success and adversity
Train and mentor assistant coaches
Develop quarterbacks and lead from the QB room
Run safe, effective, and championship-level practices
Manage players and personalities
Script the “First 15” plays to set the tone
Handle media with confidence and professionalism
This course is designed for:
Coaches (youth, high school, college, professional)
Scouts and player development staff
Front office executives and analysts
Anyone who wants to understand how winning football cultures are built
Graduates of SMWW Football Player Development now work across the football world:
Ayden Bible – Football Scouting Assistant, University of Maryland
Lauren Davidov – Scouting Assistant, NFL Draft Bible
Nicholas Aiello – Football Ops Coordinator, LA Rams
Nick Lacina – Video Ops, Minnesota Vikings
Ted Goviea – GM, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
“The weekly Zoom calls gave me insights I could apply right away as a coach.” — Football Coaching Graduate
“This course gave me a new perspective on leadership and building culture. It made me a better coach and mentor.” — Scouting Assistant
Week 1: Introduction to Football Player Development & Strategy – Meet your mentor Marc Trestman and explore the fundamentals of building players and programs.
Week 2: Leadership Lessons – How to guide players through success and adversity with resilience.
Week 3: The Most Important Room in the Building – A behind-the-scenes look at quarterback development and team leadership.
Week 4: Quarterback Video Analysis – Learn how NFL coaches break down film to maximize performance.
Week 5: Building a Winning Culture – Define what you want your locker room to look like and how to create it.
Week 6: Practice Codes of Ethics – Best practices for structuring ethical, effective, and safe practices.
Week 7: Coaching Relationships – How coaches connect with players, earn trust, and drive growth.
Week 8: Putting It All Together – A final wrap-up week to integrate leadership, culture, and strategy.
Marc Trestman is a veteran football coach, offensive strategist, and leadership educator with more than 50 years of coaching experience across the NFL, CFL, and collegiate football. A former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator, Trestman spent 25 years in the NFL coaching quarterbacks and leading high-powered offenses for teams including the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns. He helped guide Rich Gannon to the NFL MVP award and led the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII, while also coaching Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks Steve Young, Anthony Calvillo, and Ricky Ray.
A three-time Grey Cup champion and two-time CFL Coach of the Year, Trestman is widely recognized for his expertise in quarterback development, offensive innovation, and leadership. He also served as head coach of the Chicago Bears and led the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts to championship success in the CFL. Beyond coaching, Trestman is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, where he teaches leadership, and is the author of Perseverance: Life Lessons on Leadership and Teamwork. He holds a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and remains one of football’s most respected offensive minds and leadership mentors.
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook is the President & Founder of Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW), the first online sports management school with over 30,000 alumni in 160+ countries. A longtime NFL Agent and former NCAA Athletic Director, he has represented 200+ NFL players and led athletic programs to new heights in graduation rates, fundraising, and competitive success.
He is a globally recognized speaker, educator, and author, featured in ESPN, Forbes, The New York Times, and more. For 25+ years, he has also been the driving force behind the MLB to Portland (MLB to PDX) campaign.
A visionary known for his energy, ethics, and passion for student success, Dr. Lashbrook continues to mentor future sports leaders around the world.
Every graduate earns an official SMWW Certificate of Accomplishment—a credential that validates your achievement and shows your readiness for higher-level roles in football.
Our career team will:
Showcase your new expertise in Football Player Development & Strategy
Add a reference from mentor Marc Trestman
Optimize your resume for ATS systems & sports hiring managers
Position you to stand out to coaches, scouts, and executives
Graduates also join SMWW’s global football network of scouts, coaches, and player development professionals. You’ll gain:
A personal online profile with your headshot, bio, and credentials
Visibility to teams, agents, and media outlets seeking football talent
Direct connections with mentors who continue to support your career
✅ With your certificate, resume, and mentor endorsements, you’ll have both the knowledge and credibility to take the next step—whether in coaching, scouting, player development, or the front office.
Weekly Interactive Zoom Video Chats: A unique aspect of each 8-week course is the opportunity for students to participate in weekly, interactive zoom video chats with fellow students, Dr. Lashbrook, Steve Fairchild, and renowned guest speakers. This is a tremendous opportunity to network within the professional and collegiate sports industry by getting to know your instructors and fellow students personally via the Internet. This allows ample opportunity to network, ask questions, and discuss aspects of the course openly with instructors and fellow classmates. The interactive zoom video chats are available via any online computer with a microphone. If you are unable to attend the chats, they are archived and you can listen at a more convenient time. These chats are so popular that graduates continue to come back and participate to enhance their opportunities. Sport-specific chats are offered on an ongoing basis.
Online Education: This innovative academic course is facilitated through a Web-based educational delivery system. You will enjoy the online discussion boards, weekly readings, weekly quizzes, course projects, and interaction amongst fellow sports business-minded students and faculty. The course content is the foundation for a successful career as a sports agent.
Global Participation: SMWW students participate from over 162 countries. Courses have an international influence and instructors will cater assignments to specific countries or leagues.
University Credit Available: For additional fees to Fort Hays State University in Kansas, you may receive graduate or undergraduate university credit for Sports Management Worldwide's courses. Click here for more information.
Sports Career Conferences: Throughout the year, Sports Management Worldwide hosts Sports Career Conferences at a variety of sporting events. These are fabulous networking events that put SMWW alumni in the heart of the action. Opportunities to meet head coaches, GMs, player personnel, scouts, and fellow sports agents are facilitated. Visit SMWW Sports Career Conferences to learn more. SMWW alumni receive discounts.
Advanced Certificates: Want to take your career to the next level? Our Advanced Certificates have been hand-selected by our team of sports industry experts to put you on a path to success. These bundles allow you to take advantage of our biggest discount available, by bundling multiple courses and becoming an expert in that field. Learn more about our Advanced Certificates here.
Military Discount: For those individuals who represent their country in military service, we offer a discount. If you are an active, reserve, or retired member of your country's military system, "Thank you for serving your country!" For more information on the Military Discount please Click Here.
Tax Write Off (For USA Citizens): SMWW course tuition, books, and supplies can be used for education tax credits. Save your receipts and consult with your tax advisor on how this applies to you.
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THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $550
Or a single payment of $1,650 Includes all course textbooks and access to a web-based classroom. Shipping is additional.
APPROXIMATELY $1650
Exact pricing including the discount is shown before you complete checkout. Payment plan options are provided during checkout. PAYMENT METHODS:
       Prerequisites: Must be 18 or older to participate and have a passion for sports.
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NFL Draft Bible Scouting Assistant
LA Rams Football Operations Coordinator
Minnesota Vikings Video Operations
Hamilton Tiger-Cats General Manager
Kansas City Chiefs Game Day Activation
The Football Player Development course was an exceptional way to get my feet wet in learning more about coaching and football specifically. The video chats were definitely my favorite part because I loved the opportunity to hear and ask questions of a mentor who had years of coaching experience.
The Football Player Development course was an exceptional way to get my feet wet in learning more about coaching and football specifically. The video chats were definitely my favorite part because I loved the opportunity to hear and ask questions of a mentor who had years of coaching experience.
After successfully completing the Football Development course, I gained a wealth of knowledge regarding how to work with athletes in all aspects of sports. This included direct advice from an instructor with over 20 years of experience as head coach and offensive coordinator. The course allowed me to add more knowledge to my sports path and education.
After successfully completing the Football Development course, I gained a wealth of knowledge regarding how to work with athletes in all aspects of sports. This included direct advice from an instructor with over 20 years of experience as head coach and offensive coordinator. The course allowed me to add more knowledge to my sports path and education.
I had an amazing time during the 8 weeks. I would recommend if you plan on becoming a coach in the NFL, College, or even High School take this course. It gave me all the confidence I need to take the next steps in my journey.
I had an amazing time during the 8 weeks. I would recommend if you plan on becoming a coach in the NFL, College, or even High School take this course. It gave me all the confidence I need to take the next steps in my journey.
Taking the SMWW course was an incredible experience. Talking to a Super Bowl-winning coach and the team owner on Sundays was a highlight, providing invaluable advice and networking opportunities. The insights and connections gained from this course will significantly enhance my professional career in sports management.
Taking the SMWW course was an incredible experience. Talking to a Super Bowl-winning coach and the team owner on Sundays was a highlight, providing invaluable advice and networking opportunities. The insights and connections gained from this course will significantly enhance my professional career in sports management.
Ayden Bible
Lauren Davidov
Nicholas Aiello
Nick Lacina
Ted Goviea
Duncan Haines Mills