First Act

So I just back back from my first "official' act as a college coach.  I met the head coach at a tournament to scout/recruit some players.  I will have to admit, that yes I was a bit nervous going in, but also very excited.  It was was really cool getting to go into the "NCAA coaches only" door a and sitting in the "NCAA coaches only" area.  I figured we'd both just sit there together and kinda discuss the process and who and what she was looking for and just enjoy the games.  However, she gave me a brief 5 minute overview about what to look for gave me a list of players and said, "I'll be over at the next court if you have any questions." 
At first I was like um OK sure now what.  Then I realized that even though she hadn't known me that long she obviously trusted my judgement and skills enough to be able to do it on my own.  I was honored but still very nervous not to let her down. 

I'll admit it was very strange sitting in that "special area" watching players for the soul purpose of trying to get them to come to my school to play.  I have 'scouted' teams before for the purpose of knowing how to play against them later, but never have I watched a game or players for recruiting purposes.  I found myself in the first part of the game going between coaching mode and pure spectator mode.  It was tough because I wasn't coaching in the game but I needed to be in some sort of coaching mode.  However, I also wanted to enjoy and take in all aspects of the game without just watching it for pure entertainment.  I think I found my happy medium about halfway through the first 15 minute period, or at least that's about when I looked down at my paper and noticed all the notes I had taken.  Once I was able to pick out the 3-4 players on each team that I thought would work best for what we were looking for, I settled down and really focused in on my "mission". 

As I sit here and write this, I have no idea if any of those girls I took notes on will ever come to our college and play basketball.  I hope that at least one the 8 or 10 that I took notes on will.  If so, the coolest part about it is knowing that I was there for the beginning of the process and I was the one that put them on our radar.  Now I am not sure if that's pressure for the future or more like wishful thinking.  All I know is that I am going to learn more this season than I ever thought possible.  The next chapter in my basketball education started today and I am extremely excited about what lies ahead.  I know it will be hard, pressure packed and a whole bunch of other things.  The best part about it all:  I GET TO LIVE IT!!!

Counting Down!

So it's Only 3 weeks until the season actually starts.... but whose counting.

In anticipation of the season I have been reading a book that I saw on a commercial sometime back.  it's called Inside-out Coaching By Joe Ehrmann.  That name might ring a bell for some as he was a former NFL defensive lineman.  Even though I've only gotten through the first couple of chapters, because its more fun to play video games than read, it has really made me stop and think about the upcoming season and how I will be as a college coach.

The premise of the book is to be a transformational coach rather than a transactional coach.  A transactional coach coaches for what he/she can get out of it or to make the players have the results that the coach desires.  This is in direct contrast to a transformational coach.  A transformational coach has a much deeper reason to coach.  A transformational coach is "dedicated to self-understanding and empathy, viewing sports as a virtuous and virtue-giving discipline....Believing young people can grow and flourish in sports in a way that is more liberating and instructive than can be achieved through almost any other activity."  In other words  a transformational coach coaches their players to seek to transform their sense of their own worth, talents, and values.  A transformational coach is dedicated to 5 basic principles: 1.) Nurturing Community, 2.) Classroom like instruction, 3.) Empathic Communication, 4.) Joyful competition, 5.) Spirituality of ceremony.

Through all of this I began to realize the true nature of my impact over the past 6 years with the high school girls i have been working with and now how that moves onto the college girls I will work with.  I'd like the think that over the years I have done a decent job of transforming the lives of my players.  I have tried, without not it, to be a transformational coach by using the sports I coach to teach greater lessons to my players and help them see greater things that they may not other wise.  I have even had some parents tell me they were grateful for my coaching in the way and teaching their daughters more about character and life lessons through sports.  To me that is just a confirmation that I have done things the "correct" way.  I see it like this.  God would not have blessed me with the opportunities I am getting if I weren't doing it the "correct" way.  And although I have not always coached at schools where I could bring God into basketball, I'd hope that by my actions and the way I coached they could see Him there without me saying.

I don't say of all that to "toot my own horn" about what I good great i was or to pat myself on the back for being a transformational coach.  I do it simple to remind myself to keep doing things this way.  God has so blessed me with coaching opportunities that I could never have imagine or gotten on my own.  He has rewarded me by allowing me to be able to take this next step to me dream.  This reminds me to keep doing it that way and He will continue to bless me so that one day that dream will come to a full reality.

My favorite quote so far in the book is " Sports don't build character unless a Coach possesses character and intentionally teaches it."  That's the legacy I hope I have left to my high school girls and the legacy I hope to continue throughout my coaching career. 

My Biggest Fan

Every successful coach MUST have a strong support system.  If it were not for the people behind me, I wouldn't be able to do my "job" as well.  David has sacrificed so much over the past 6 years just so I could follow my dream.  He has not just been behind me every step of the way, he's been beside me walking it right along with me.  He's been on the sidelines when needed, he's been the voice of reason when needed, he's been behind the scenes living the life of a coach, given up his time with me and doing it with so much love and joy.  That is something I can never thank him enough for.  I give him the credit, although he won't take it, for finally talking my into going for the college thing.  I don't know if I would have had enough courage to do so without him.  I know things can't be easy for him at least for the 4 months of the year.  But you never hear him complain.  I have told him several times lately, "You know things are going to be much different now with the college.  Lots more time will be needed.  Night away and such."  His usual reply,"  I know that, but its your dream.  I am just happy to see accomplish it."  WOW!!!  Couldn't ask for a more perfect support system.  I often wondered growing up what was really meant by being a cheerful giver.  Now all I have to do is look at that handsome man standing beside me.  Yes i know not exactly what the Bible meant but it is true.  He is basically giving me up, a good meaning here, giving me the opportunity to do what i love and dream of doing.  With that he is giving up his time with me and doing it cheerfully,meaning he is more than happy to do it.  He tells me often.  I just want to see you happy.  It has taken me 6 years but I think I am finally beginning to understand.  He is more than happy to be my support.  MAN I LOVE THAT GUY!!!

Bench warmer to Coach

Too many times I have set out to try and keep up with a blog but always fail because I just loose interest in either the blog or the topics.  However, I think I have found a good combination that will keep me busy at least for a few months until I get in the habit well enough to keep it going.  want to know what that topic is?  BASKETBALL.

As many of you know I have a true passion for basketball.  I played it in high school, although some would say not very well.  However, those years of mostly "riding the pine", gave me some invaluable experience that I believe made me a much better coach than I ever was player.  I learned the game from observation.  I learned the ins and outs of the game.  I learned the situations of the game and how to or how not to handle them.  I learned how to handle and not handle players.  I learned how to coach and not coach them game.  I basically learned how to be a true student of the game and how to makes those around you better.  I learned those things that can't be taught in school or by a coach.  Those things that can only be learned by in depth observation. I did all of this by watching junior high, high school, college and even some pro basketball.  Its not learned in books although i read several of those as well.  I learned from watching true basketball movies such as Hoosier's and Glory Road.  I learned how to coach by not only observing the game and the players but the coach's as well.  Coach's like those I had at JMS when I first really starting play.  Those like Eddie N., who really showed how a coach needs to care about his payers and how they carry themselves.  Those like T.D.  Who had a passion for the game and a heart for his players with the gentle caring spirit that he taught us how to play.  Those like Sonny who for lack of better terms show me how to fight for what you now is right even if others think its wrong.  Those like Missy, though I never actually player for her at college, I went to most home games and learned how to coach the game with passion and intensity that flows to the players.  I spent years watching Pat Summitt win NCAA championships.  Also learning valuable lessons about what it takes to win.  I learned a side of here that most people don't from reading her books and books about her.   Those things like how to put players first, how to treat players as people, how to allow your team to bond well.  She is an inspiration to all coaches and all women.
All of these things culminated in my life shortly after I graduated seminary and began coaching.  I spent one year at a local christian Private school coached 6th, 7th and 8th graders.  The next year i made the move to a local christian high school.  I helped build an almost nonexistent program into a decent team.  I stayed there for 2 years .  Then I took a step away for a year only to find out I missed it too much so i volunteered to teach a group of 5th grade boys in a city league.  Then I went back to the high school scene.  This time to a private school for students with learning difficulties.  This program had made national news just 2 years earlier for being on the wrong end of a lopsided score, to say the least.  I worked hard to give the program its respect back and learned more from these girls and parents then I could have ever imagined.  That's where I am today.  Looking into the future ready for October 15th to roll around.  However, I am more nervous now looking forward than ever before.  Why?
I'm going back to college.  No not as a student but as assistant coach.  Yes that's right, I have gone from high school bench warmer to college coach.  I have had a semi-secret dream since the summer of 1992 at JMS, when my basketball career officially started.  That dream, to become a college head coach.  I know it was there all along but it hasn't been except in the last few years I have began to really let it out.  I guess turning 30 will do that to a person.  So as I look forward to October 15th again this year, I also look forward to my step big step to my dream becoming a reality.  That's where this blog fits in.  As I begin that road to my dream, I want to share it with you.  Follow me through the season as i share thoughts and insight to what its really like to see your dream become reality.