Figured I'd run this one past the group and see what you think as there's a pretty strong knowledge base around here. My 2014 RHP (and I) were always very realistic about his chances of playing college ball. We thought maybe there were some DIII options (we're in the NE btw) but the harsh realities seem to be setting in that he may just not be talented enough. I'm very skeptical he will see 80 mph before he graduates HS. We're ok with this - actually I think he's more OK than I am LOL. I think it will be much harder on me to see him stop playing than it will be on him.
He likes baseball, he loves pitching. He loves basketball. He's a varsity basketball player (think Steve Novak but 5'10" instead of 6'10"). A couple of months ago he mentioned that he thinks he would be a good basketball coach. I didn't think much of it.
2 weekends ago we went to visit my daughter at college and to watch the basketball game. She goes to an A10 school that is fanatical about basketball. It is an amazing environment. Before the game went to dinner and my son and I happened to walk out first. I had asked him if he has been thinking about colleges, particularly the "non-baseball" schools if that's how it goes.
He told me that he thinks he would like a mid-major DI basketball school (I know he doesn't want to go that far from home) and that he would like to be team manager or work in some capacity with the program as he wants to be a coach someday. Two interesting things I took from this was one, he actually wants to coach and two, this was probably his way to tell me he's moving on from baseball. I"m sure that was hard for him as he knows how much I wanted to see him play college ball.
I joked with him and said "james, there are 300 players in the NBA and only 30 coaches - you have a better shot of playing in the NBA than coaching". WE both laughed and he said he's not exactly looking at being an NBA coach, but why not on the staff of a mid major?
I believe it's important to have a dream or a passion that your working towards, so if he wants to coach why not?
Any idea on who he would contact? I can't imagine the head coach would have much interest in hearing from a kid about this. The AD? Assistant coach? As with most things I think it would be better to be pro-active and communicate with someone as opposed to just showing up on a campus and heading for the gym.
He has been looking in to attending some coaches clinics between now and the time he graduates and either coaching a youth team or helping out with an older team. He thinks he'll be taken more seriously if he can show that he has already done a few things like this instead of just showing up.
Any thoughts would appreciated.
