Transition from Head Coach to an Assistant

You have basically described where I was three years ago. I was a head coach for 9 years and was burned out from the non-baseball stuff. I still loved coaching, still loved the kids and still loved the competition. But I hated the constant fundraising, having to worry about if we had enough money to operate the season and some political stuff of parents of new players thinking they could do whatever they wanted.

I moved to another state and found a job that brought me closer to my family and it's been awesome. The guy that's our head coach truly knows the game. He's been a high school head coach for years, coached at the college level under Jack Leggitt and other things. Our entire staff played baseball in college and been HS coaches for a long time. It's truly the best staff I've ever been part of. We made a run at the state championship last year but lost in extra innings. I have had a blast being an asst on this staff. Kids are great, the parents are great and the administration just leaves us alone.

In order to do this you have to swallow a lot of ego and be flexible. The guy you're coaching under may not do things exactly like you would. I know there are many areas that I know I would do differently than the guy I'm under. Neither one of us is wrong in what we're teaching it's just a team identity thing. Sometimes I find myself teaching / saying things I used to do as head coach and I have to catch myself. But my HC is great about this and he doesn't get upset.

Although it's been great I'm ready to step back up in the big chair again. I'm going to take a serious look this summer at finding a job this summer but if I don't get one I will be happy with I have no problem coming back here. It's truly a great situation.

Sounds like you have a good set-up. Your third paragraph sounds similar to what I do sometimes. Its just the little things and I am sure the kids dont catch. The "I like coaching it this way..." comes out a lot, but we have similar coaching styles.
Our coaching staffs sound similar, I think between the three varsity coaches we have 36 years head coaching experience and all played at the college level. We split up a lot of the off the field duties and it works out well for us. Between the three of us, we have almost seen it all when it comes to on and off the field happenings.
I also relocated states as well.

I can relate to the being tired of the nonbaseball stuff. I think it would definately recharge your batteries. Thinking of doing something like that myself. after 13 years (28th total years)of being the head coach, I am ready to finish my career like I started. JUST COACHING the game.

I joke all the time with my assistants that I'm going to switch places with them because they don't have to deal with all the other "stuff". They say "No WAY!"

I still love coaching, but the enthusiasm I had as far as doing EVERYTHING has diminished. Now, I just want to coach and lead the kids. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen until I retire and become someone elses' assistant. In some ways, I look forward to that day.

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Now, I just want to coach and lead the kids.

The above statement is very telling. It implies as a head coach you could not do that before?

As a head coach NOW, I still can't JUST coach and lead the kids....I have to: get out and set up the concession stand; take care of uniforms for three teams; order more uniforms for those that can't find ones that fit; order new hats; order and put up our windscreen; get people to buy advertising signs on the outfield fence to raise money; put said advertising signs up; repair the batting cage; repair the pitching machines; repair the Toro SandPro; locate the BEST price on game balls; order the game balls; PAY for the game balls becasue the school can't get a P.O. in time; seek reimbursement for $700 for game balls; rent a spare field for when we don't have enough space for Varsity, JV and Frosh games; pay for rental field because they need payment at time of game and school couldn't get a P.O.; seek reimbursement for $350 in rental fees; schedule all games for all three teams; move equipment from inside to outside to inside to outside (welcome to Ohio weather); schedule the buses for 3 teams (athletic secretary says that isn't her job. What?); call bus driver to see if he is aware of our scheduled games (he isn't); cut the grass; line the field; throw B.P.; make out lineup cards/schedule cards for the parents; laminate them; realize I got things wrong AFTER I've already laminated the cards; cuss; snag my nail drag back from the softball team; stock the concession stand because no parent will do it; deal with parents who want to get "spirit wear" but who don't want to use our logo; repair the indoor batting cage that I built, that is torn down by another sport who doesn't know how to use it; paint the dugouts and bleachers; deal with parents; deal with parents; deal with parents; get gravel and diamond pro delivered and put down; sod; seed; fertilize; oh, and....deal with parents.

So, yeah, I'd just like to just coach (in it's most narrow definition) and lead the kids. But the other part of it is, to some extent, a necessity. It is just that when I started coaching, I was single and younger and perhaps more enthusiastic about EVERYTHING. NOw I find it easy to be enthusiastic about the COACHING part of it and the BP, and the games....but as for the other stuff, well, it wears you down at 46 in a way it didn't when you were 29.

Most times, an assistant coach can show up 10 minutes before practice and be gone 10 minutes after practice. Not a bad gig, and someday I'm guessing I'll step back into that role....

"seek reimbursement" for fertilizer, lawn mower, baseballs, bats, netting.... My job description is a lot like yours tcb1.... The art club took over the concessions thank goodness.... Oh striping paint.. I gotta get some more of that, think they'll give me a po? Ha ha ha ha

Hey TCB1 I had it MUCH easier than you - I didn't have to worry about bus driving because I was the unpaid driver. It just made sense for me to do the driving since I was already going there.

Honestly quite a bit of that is very familiar territory for me. I was lucky with the concession stand because we played at a community park and split the profits although they did the work stocking. They obviously got the majority of the money but it was cool since they were doing the work.

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I have to: get out and set up the concession stand;

etc etc etc

Ok hear I go bear with me

Raise money advertising signs new uniforms

did not have a concession stand, did not have a pitching machine, did not have a batting tunnel. We wore the same uniforms for 15 years(I would order a couple tops and pants each year) I was happy i had baseballs umpires fees and transportation. the players and I maintained the field etc.
i coached and the kids played and we were successful.

Seems now more time is spent on the fluff instead of the stuff.

Ahh, Will, I never said "NEW" uniforms...I said find uniforms for those who cannot find them. We also haven't gotten new uniforms in many years.

My point, which you seem to be missing, is that I AGREE that there is too much extra stuff. The majority of it out of my control. I have to do what my bosses tell me I have to do as part of my job. Unfortunately, the majority of that stuff does not revolve directly around coaching or playing, but around a lot of other matters. I'd like to get back to, primarily, coaching.

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I AGREE that there is too much extra stuff.

TCB1

There we do agree. Evidently somebody thinks the extra stuff is not extra.
I attended a high school game a year or 2 back. they had all the extra stuff. Warm ups equipment bags hitting tunnels etc etc etc. Watched infield and outfield before game. to be kind they needed more practice time than stuff.

Will: yep, there's a lot of that going around.

trojan skipper

I will be honest with you seems like today baseball is getting to be like the government. If u spend money then it has to get better.

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Originally posted by Will:
trojan skipper

I will be honest with you seems like today baseball is getting to be like the government. If u spend money then it has to get better.

You can believe that if you want.....I prefer to think of it in a free enterprise system. If we work hard and have money we can dang well spend it on the team. Doesn't matter if they only lose five games all year or only win five all year.

Our players love the fact that they raised money and can eat well instead of eating on the $6 the school gives us.


I too spent a year as an asst. after being a head coach. It was good. It did allow for more of that coach/player interaction and less time on that other stuff.

One thing that will help with the other stuff is to let some of that go. Give some of those duties to your asst. I know when I started in this business I wanted it all done and I tried to do it all, but I now share most of that amongst my asst. coaches. Most (not all) will not volunteer for such duties, but if given the job they take them as their own and do a great job.

I have them do transportation, POs, equipment room, etc. Now, they do it different than I prob. would, but they do it as good or better than I might. Asst. coaches are like players....find what they do good and let them do it.

d8


I was happy I had a bucket of balls and a fungo.

I understand....I made the comment yesterday that if I change schools, half of their baseball equipment would go with me since I bought it.