Dolphins Coach Joe Philbin Opens Up About Football, Personal Life
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Miami Dolphins Head Coach Joe Philbin is doing something he doesn't do often.
He's getting personal.
Philbin opened up about football and his personal life to CBS4 sports anchor Jim Berry.
He usually just talks football, but at the Dolphins training facility last weekend, the coach told Berry more about himself.
Philbin also promises to do the same with his players.
Although fans have rarely seen it, Philbin does have a sense of humor.
It dates back to his days as a young assistant coach at his college alma mater, where he was dubbed 'Father Joe'.
"One of those nights [in college] we put on a performance and I was the priest hearing confessions," said Philbin. "I don't know why exactly I got that role but it stuck and it kinda stuck for a while."
Football became Philbin's religion at Washington and Jefferson, where he ironically went to school with a guy named Roger Goodell.
Goodell went on to become the NFL's commissioner, and now Philbin coaches an NFL team hungry for a breakthrough.
"I like the chemistry of the football team," he said. "I like the way they work and I like their passion for football and I think they're a hungry football team. I think they're a lot like our fan base."
In three years as the Dolphins head coach, Philbin has been very businesslike and very stoic. Now, he says he understands the need to loosen up.
"That's one of the things I think I want to do a better job with this group of guys is letting them see the other part of me that enjoys life in general," he said.
Most of Philbin's spare time is spent with his wife and five children.
Some of his thoughts are still with the son he lost in a drowning accident shortly before he became Miami's head coach.
"You win a game and the family's there and you know that there's a piece not there," said Philbin. "It's not easy, it's different. It's different. I don't know if it will ever be quite the same. It was kind of surreal or unique set of circumstances but [you take it] one day at a time."
As the Dolphins hit training camp this week Philbin knows this could be his make-or-break season, but he intends to make this year fun for the fans, the players and also himself.