5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Air Raid OC

I’ll never forget the moment I was trying to break through as a playcaller in Texas high school football. Hungry to lead my own offense, I found myself sitting across from Coach Hal Mumme at the 2023 Air Raid Convention in Waco, Texas. I told him about my frustrations, coming from a strong Wing-T system (that, in hindsight, I completely took for granted) and wanting to run my

own show.

The first thing he said?

“Well... the Wing-T is a great offense.”

I nearly fell out of my chair.

But that unexpected affirmation sparked something new in me—a fresh creative energy that felt in sync with the bold, inventive spirit that Coach Mumme and Coach Mike Leach pioneered atIowa Wesleyan years ago. By the end of our conversation, Coach Mumme gave me the encouragement I needed: bet on yourself. Take a job where you can run the offense. Lead with confidence by leaning on the organizational strength of the system.

What followed has been the most eye-opening experience of my career. Here are five things I wish I knew before becoming an “Air Raid” offensive coordinator.

1. There’s No Such Thing as “The” Air Raid

Do yourself a favor: go follow Coach Drew Piscopo on X (formerly Twitter), and look for his #LongLostAirRaidPlays thread. You’ll see everything from triple options to reverses to shovel passes—all stuff Coach Leach used at the highest level. This thread is eye opening to see how Coach Leach had his own style within the Air Raid system. It’s a mindset, a process, a philosophy.

Too many people reduce the Air Raid to just “Mesh”, “6” or “Y-Cross”. But if you really study Coach Leach, you’ll find a system built around creativity, simplicity, and ruthless execution.

“Swing Your Sword” means be you—run your version with confidence.

The blueprint is sound. Stick to the fundamentals, stay disciplined, and coach the heck out of it. The Air Raid works—not because of specific plays, but because of the clarity and consistency in how it’s taught.

2. Every Offense Is a Great Offense

Coach Stan Bedwell said it best:

“It’s silly to attack schemes. All have worked. All have failed. It’s about

implementation, coaching, and execution.”

Let that sink in.

Every scheme you can name has won titles—from the Single Wing to the West Coast to the Spread. The Air Raid itself was originally built in 21 personnel with a true tight end. Today, I tell my team: the Air Raid is one of the most tight end–friendly systems in the game.

So, don’t obsess over what’s trending. You can make any offense explosive using the Air Raid’s methodology, install process, and drill structure. Whether you want to control the clock or run no-huddle, the Air Raid gives you the tools to stay focused and avoid getting lost in the weeds.

3. You Don’t Have to Run It More—Just Run It Further

That’s a paraphrase from Coach Mumme, and it’s stuck with me.

Yeah, people think the Air Raid just throws the ball 60 times a game. But ask any true Air Raid coach, and they’ll tell you: if the run game is hitting for 8 yards a pop,

we’re calling it all night. Trust me I have been there.

It’s not about being stubborn—it’s about being smart. Your job as a playcaller is to take what the defense gives you, force them to cover every blade of grass, and let your kids shine. Sometimes that’s a draw, iso, or gap scheme play—and that’s okay.

In fact, don’t be surprised if your favorite play one day becomes Power from the Coach Rick Darlington version of Unbalanced Single Wing because your kids love it and it has worked for over 100 years. Interestingly enough the Single Wing ball coaches call that play “6”, which is completely different from the Air Raid’s “6” four verticals play. Speaking from experience, it is a really great feeling to run both versions of “6” in the same game and win! How does that happen? By using the Air Raid blueprint and being disciplined with it.

4. Commit to Success—Not to a Scheme

Coach AJ Smith nailed it:

“Your worth as a play caller is how well you can set your quarterback up for

success.”

We’re not all blessed with D-I arms walking our halls. That’s reality. So build a system around the quarterback you’ve got, not the one you wish you had.

If you’ve got a gunslinger—awesome, let it fly. If not, tailor your Air Raid install to his strengths. Stick to your core install plan. Avoid overloading your kids with too much scheme. Let them play confident and fast by repping what matters, not cramming a playbook full of cool ideas.

When your kids look sharp, decisive, and in control on game day, that’s not an accident—it’s a reflection of your planning and discipline all week. You are the leader you get to put your team in position to win.

5. Study What Works—and Who’s Making It Work

Coach Leach once said:

“Nobody has ever truly stopped the wishbone. People just lost interest in it.”

There’s a message there: great systems don’t stop working—they just stop being trendy.

So don’t fall into the trap of only watching your favorite offenses. Open your mind. Learn from the Wing-T guys, the Triple guys, the Pro-Style guys. Watch how they teach, how they adjust, how they win.

We’re living in the golden age of football resources—YouTube, podcasts, press conferences, Twitter threads, virtual clinics. Dive in. Ask questions. Reach out. Learn from everyone. Teach anyone who is hungry to learn from you and pay it forward.

Because one day, you’ll be the guy in charge—and you’ll need to find a way to Swing Your Sword with whatever you’ve got.

Final Thoughts

The Air Raid isn’t a list of plays.

It’s a way of thinking. A belief in simplicity, clarity, creativity, and confidence. Coach Mumme and Coach Leach handed us a system that works—but more importantly, they gave us permission to make it our own.

So study hard. Coach harder. And whatever you do, Swing Your Sword.

Josh Christian

Co-Offensive Coordinator

Juan Seguin HS Arlington, Texas

X : @CoachChristianJ