Broncos OC Justin Outten knows the importance of being a teacher
Feb 22, 2022, 1:06 PM | Updated: 1:29 pm
When it comes to the new Broncos coaching staff, a common theme keeps appearing. All of them place a priority on teaching.
That message came through loud and clear on Tuesday when Nathaniel Hackett introduced his new coordinators to the Denver media. Justin Outten, Ejiro Evero and Dwayne Stukes all spoke about the importance of finding a way to connect with players, communicate what they want to get accomplished and convey their message.
They all bring a different approach, one that has been formed from their various experiences throughout their career. For Outten, however, a unique stop on his journey to becoming the Broncos offensive coordinator had a major impact on his coaching style.
After spending the 2007 season as a graduate assistant at Syracuse, Outten took job at the high school level. He was named the assistant head coach and OC at Westfield (Texas) High School.
For the next eight years, Outten not only coached at the prep level, but he stepped into the classroom to teach kids. It was an experience that had a big impact on the Broncos new offensive coordinator.
“Being a high school coach was probably the best decision I ever made,” Outten said on Tuesday. “I learned a lot from those kids. I actually learned more from them than they did from me.”
Those lessons have helped him throughout his career.
“The responsibilities you take on as a teacher, separate from being a coach, helped with organizational skills and making sure everyone is on the same page,” Outten said. “It really prepared me organizationally and for finding creative ways for guys to learn. You have to keep it interesting. The attention span at that age isn’t long. There’s a lot on their mind. So you have to find ways to connect with those kids.”
In the classroom, the Broncos offensive coordinator also took in some valuable lessons.
“I was working in the special ed department, so I was dealing with a wide variety of different learning styles,” Outten added.
In addition, Outten honed his ability to deal with all sorts of issues. At Westfield, it wasn’t just about football and school. Those challenges were impactful.
“There were a lot of kids who didn’t have anywhere to lay their heads most nights,” Outten continued. “You’re not only a coach. You’re a mentor and a father figure. You always dealing with a ton of gymnastics throughout the entire day. That’s what I loved about it. You have to find ways to get things done. You gotta make sure the players are getting to practice. You gotta make sure they’re eating breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
The Broncos new coaching staff is all about teaching. It was a message that came up multiple times on Tuesday.
For Justin Outten, the ability to excel in that area doesn’t come from just his experience on the football field. He learned it in the classroom.
