Mick, (I believe it was you but my memory could be misleading me) did you ever sit down and write down your levels on how you deal with coaches?

As a new official, I definitely need help in this area and think your and anyone else's input would be helpful.

ReadyToRef,
I don't remember doing that.

I treat 'em all pretty much the same going into a game.
I assume they know the rules as well as I do.
I assume they will act professionaly.
I assume they will have emotion during the game.

If they ask, say, or tell me anything, I listen and respond.

At the lower levels, Jr. High and Frosh, I may give the coaches a little longer, two sentence answer to a question. At JV and Varsity levels, I may need 5-10 words to respond. In small college and DIII, I usually only have to grunt, or something, to acknowledge that I heard them.
mick