Jerry Tolley, director of annual giving and a former head football coach at the university, has published his second book of football practice drills. Titled “101 Winning Football Drills from the Legends of the Game,” the book includes detailed, illustrated drills from some of the game’s most well known coaches, including Bear Bryant (pictured on cover, at right), Joe Paterno, Jim Tressel and Tom Osborne.
Tolley solicited drills from football coaches who have demonstrated excellence throughout their careers. “To be included, a coach had to have won at least 100 games, won a college national title or have won a national coach of the year honor,” said Tolley, who guided Elon to two NAIA national championships in 1980 and 1981. The coaches featured in the book have combined for more than 18,000 victories in their careers and 158 national championships.
The book includes a foreword from Tom Osborne, former head coach at the University of Nebraska. The book is dedicated to Charlie McClendon, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association from 1982-1994, in a tribute written by Bo Schembechler, football coach emeritus at the University of Michigan.
The book received endorsements from many of the game’s top coaches. “Dr. Tolley’s book is by far the most practical drill book I have seen and I highly recommend it to coaches everywhere,” said Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier.
Tolley, who served two terms as mayor of the town of Elon, won 49 of his 62 games as Elon’s head coach from 1977-1981. He received a lifetime membership award from the American Football Coaches Association and was honored with the Laurel Wreath award in 2002, the highest honor given by the State of North Carolina for achievement in athletics.
Published by Coaches Choice, the book is available for $21.95 at www.coacheschoice.com, or by calling (888) 229-5745.