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In the latest edition of Hurricanes Camp Report, Don Bailey Jr. sat down with Canes offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, who delved into some of his coaching philosophies and more.
When asked about the rigors of camp and how his group is responding, Mirabal explained, "I enjoy teaching. And I enjoy the fact that when you're in training camp, you're just teaching fundamentals, techniques, and you're not really worried about an opponent. The opponent is yourself. The opponent is the defense."
This passion for teaching has its roots in Mirabal's past. He wasn't always just a coach. In fact, he spent 16 years as a classroom teacher, creating lesson plans every night and ensuring he was prepared for the next day's session. This same meticulous approach is what he now brings to coaching. Drawing a parallel between teaching and coaching, Mirabal commented on his preparation, “Just like a teacher… every night before I go throughout the course of the day, I'm preparing the lesson plan for the next day.” For him, these plans might involve clips, drills, or specific techniques he wants his linemen to focus on, ensuring they’re primed for any in-game situation.
For Coach Mirabal, it isn't just about the drills or the plays. It's about ensuring that the lessons resonate and translate into actions on the field. His philosophy hinges on transforming words into images for his players, “So that words become images to them.” His meticulousness is even evident in his practice clips. While his players might chuckle at the 150 clips he prepares daily, for Mirabal, it's about always having more than you might need. It's this thoroughness and preparedness that distinguishes him.
What's even more intriguing is how Coach Mirabal sees the dynamics of the offensive line room this year. When asked about the personality of his offensive line this season, he described them as an “urgent group” with “an edge to them.” He attributed a significant part of this urgency and edge to the leadership in the room, particularly pointing out Matt Lee.
According to Mirabal, it’s not just about having leaders; it's about having players willing to follow the right leaders and the right messages. He emphasized, "You might have four or five leaders on a team… but what you better have is a lot of guys that are going to follow the message of the head coach, the assistant coaches, and the players that are the leaders.”
“These young men want to do good, right. They want to do good for themselves, their families, they want to do good for the program, they want to do good for the fans. You know every fan thinks that they want to win more than the players do. No sorry, they want to win. They're not trying to not execute on purpose. They want to execute right for themselves and for Canes Nation."
