Answers OR my opinions about each of your questions:
1. Yes! However, it isn't nearly as easy to do as suggested. Currently, about half of the seniors on my team will have a place to play after high school. I am working very hard for the rest. When you state that a coach isn't helping, often a parent/player really means that that coach isn't trying to get the player into the school the player wants to play at. To be very honest, I'm having that problem as well. Now understand that one of my kids wants to go to a college but he hasn't met the requirements to attend college. Now, how can I talk to a college for him when he hasn't meet a basic requirement? I'm sure that if you asked him, he will state that he coach didn't help him get into college. Also, coaches can make all of the contacts in the world but that doesn't mean a thing if the parents and players aren't also active. One more thing, this week one of my kids brought in a video tape of some of their performances. We are changing tatics some and are going to mail out DVD's of him in an 8 minute presentation. We have done all of the standard things and videos just don't get played as much as in the past. We're hoping that an 8 minute DVD will get the job done. IN other words, that coach might be helping but no one is listening. At least I'll be able to say I gave it my best shot.
2. "Best Coach?" How do you measure this? When I came here we didn't even have an outdoor cage. Now our facilities will rival some colleges. Who knows that? No one! The general public looks at W's. They don't look at the roughly $100,000 improvement to our facilities. Some rate on state! I can name 30 coaches from the South that if they had the same talent as some of the northern schools, they certainly would achieve much the same if not slightly better records that those at those schools. Some coaches are destine to never make it to the big house. However, their impact can not be diminished! Of course there is the old standard 20 wins. I think that 20 win seasons are great for programs and does cement into the community the idea of winning. Naturally, you have to then ask 20 wins verses what type of competition? I would think that many outstanding coaches up north find 20 win seasons very hard to come by and yet, they do great jobs. Certainly, I understand that I'm being judged by that along with conference standings.
3. 3 things to turn a program around? Hard questions!
A. Change the mindset of the school, community and administration that losing isn't acceptable. Now, you might have to include other sports progams in this. Kids learn to lose and accept it. You have to make sure that they are used to winning.
B. You have to get your coaching staff set! I can't emphasize this enough. LOYALTY IS A MUST! They need to know the game but if they have the work ethic, you can teach them. If you can (and I did) get the school to hire those teacher/coaches that already know your philosophy and that you can count on under any circumstance to take over any facet of your program.
C. You have to have a "Philosophy" for your program. I just had this talk two nights ago with a young man that was appointed as a head coach and wanted to come down and get some of my "stuff." You have to have a Motto for your program, saying that you constantly refer to to motivate the young men, a plan for parents to handle both postitive and negative situations and you have to have Goals that they administration and community understand.
Well, that is a short list. I hope it makes sense.
