On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Brent Vigen, head coach at Montana State University.

Coach Vigen shares his journey from graduate assistant to national championship head coach and reflects on the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy. He discusses learning under Craig Bohl, developing players at a high level — including his experience coaching Josh Allen and what it takes to build and sustain a championship culture.

In this conversation, Coach Vigen breaks down:

• Earning credibility as a young coach

• Leading fellow staff members early in his career

• Building and maintaining standards within a program

• Motivating players after winning a national title

• The importance of serving the coaching profession through the AFCA Board of Trustees

This episode is packed with practical insight for coaches at every level who are focused on leadership development, culture building, and long-term program success.

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On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Keith Clark, Offensive Line Coach at Dartmouth and the 2025 AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.

Coach Clark shares his unconventional coaching journey, including his early experience coaching football in Italy, the lessons he learned as a young head coach overseas, and how those experiences shaped his teaching philosophy. He discusses returning to his alma mater, earning an opportunity at the University of Maine, navigating his first full-time role in college football, and building credibility within a staff.

Clark also reflects on his time in the Ivy League, what it takes to win in that environment, and what being named AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year means to him. The conversation highlights risk-taking, humility, professional growth, and the importance of staying connected within the coaching profession.

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On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Matt Walker, head football coach at University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Coach Walker reflects on his journey through the profession, including his early years as both a head baseball and football coach, the lessons learned from navigating tough seasons, and the mindset shifts that helped him build a national championship program at the Division III level.

Follow Coach Walker and UW–River Falls Football:
@CoachWalkerRF | @UWRFFootball

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00:00 Intro
01:09 Getting into the profession
01:33 When did you want to be a part of this great profession?
05:14 Breaking away from the family career path
06:44 Taking over as interim head coach
09:23 Maturing quickly to handle the workload
12:26 Life as an offensive assistant (2000–2005)
14:44 Leading both baseball and football programs
18:28 Lessons learned coaching multiple sports
21:25 Learning to step back after leading
23:46 Building a sharper plan at River Falls
25:31 Putting your own flavor on a program
29:13 Learning from gambles that didn't work
32:49 Why UW–River Falls was the right fit
35:25 Importance of administrative support
37:58 Lessons from a 0–10 season
40:11 Championships and hardship
41:10 Mindset shifts as a head coach
46:23 Transitioning to tempo
49:04 Team communication and internal leadership
51:24 Creating a program opponents feel
53:13 Reflecting on the journey
59:43 Closing