Parents want there kids to play...... Parents this day and age would rather have there kids play and lose than sit half the time and win!

 

Unfortunately a lot of truth in this.

Unfortunately a lot of truth in this.

 

I think it depends on the kid and the parents. In one case, the kid/parent was happy being part of a winning program and developing their individual skills. Would all prefer that he/she was playing big minutes on a successful team? Absolutely. Kid/parents teach a 'team first' mentality and the kid was fine waiting his turn. On the other hand, nobody wants to be part of a losing team. Score 20 and lose or 6 and win? I'd rather mine be a winner.

I had a parent go ballistic on me for leaving their son off the post season roster one year..... mind you the kid was injured and wasn't going to be medically cleared to play for at least two more months, BUT that was beside the point that I was trying to win.

Parents, and especially parents with money/influence are calling the shots, make no mistake about that. Virtually EVERYWHERE! Superintendents are by nature political animals and when they get pressured it flows downhill.

A wise man once told me (Hall of Fame Coach) to develop a team perception test and require all the student athletes to take it. This test highlights their personal thoughts on:

Who the best shooter is, who the best hustler is, who the best defensive player is, hardest worker, best attitude, etc....

 

also questions worst attitude, least committed, least encouraging, etc....

 

This test alone helps the student athletes assess their counterparts anonymously and allows the coaches to gauge who's who and use it as motivational material...

 

Now, when upset parents are whining about little Johnny not playing for whatever reason.... Coaches can say "Little Johnny's teammates disagree"

 

"Little Johnny is clear on what Little Johnny needs to work on, and he has not worked on it."

 

Good Coaches will create expectations early and will hold their players accountable for their progression.

Unfortunately a lot of truth in this.

 

Settling for mediocrity is a cancer.... Not instilling a will to win and compete at your best and be your best is cancerous and can set your child up for failure later in life.... making them less likely to win the race for a job or care about that patient or client the way they need to.

 

Times have really changed. Parents are (and not all) settle for mediocrity. Just getting by and just doing enough..... This lets teammates down and lets the individual down.

Coaches job....

 

Love their players. Believe in everyone of them. Push them regardless of their disposition for hard work. Keep them accountable for their role on the team. Treat them like a person. Build value where value is not present. Get the most out of them. Success is never measured by the win/loss column.

 

Players job....

Love each other. Respect the coach. That simple.

 

Parents job.....

Read Mike Matheny's Letter to Parents online...... this is exactly what parents need to recognize.

Expectations are different at every school and with each program, but I think in general, the best, though most evasive, answer might be to meet your program's expectations.

 

 

At a small school where winning isn't prioritized and you don't have a big talent pool (especially privates)?

Be liked by the administration and parents, bonus if you are well liked by the kids.

 

At a school with tradition, a rabid fan base, boosters who'll go out of their way for you?

Be liked by the boosters and win (the second takes care of the first).

 

At a middle of the pack school (not the biggest but not the smallest, talent in cycles, don't get meaningful transfers)?

Have a decent run every now and then, don't be absolutely awful in your worst years. One trip to Rupp can put 10+ years onto a Coach's job at the right school.

 

 

Different programs have different expectations. Generally, meeting the reasonable expectations more often than not and being well liked by the administration, parents, and kids will take you pretty far. Coaches also either know or should have a pretty good idea of what they are getting into before they take the job. It isn't always the case, but more often than not, it's advisable to know what will be expected of you before you jump in.

 

For every Montgomery County we hear about, there's also a school who could probably be worlds better but is content enough with where they are in the moment. Take a school like St. Xavier in the late 90's or early 2000's-- the school dominates in tons of other sports, but they didn't seem to have a ton of turnover at the head coaching position either. A school with their resources probably didn't have to settle for a win season in 08, 9 wins in 05 and 07, 7 in 04, etc. and lots of those factors mentioned above helped in keeping their coach around.

Expectations are different at every school and with each program, but I think in general, the best, though most evasive, answer might be to meet your program's expectations.

 

 

At a small school where winning isn't prioritized and you don't have a big talent pool (especially privates)?

Be liked by the administration and parents, bonus if you are well liked by the kids.

 

At a school with tradition, a rabid fan base, boosters who'll go out of their way for you?

Be liked by the boosters and win (the second takes care of the first).

 

At a middle of the pack school (not the biggest but not the smallest, talent in cycles, don't get meaningful transfers)?

Have a decent run every now and then, don't be absolutely awful in your worst years. One trip to Rupp can put 10+ years onto a Coach's job at the right school.

 

 

Different programs have different expectations. Generally, meeting the reasonable expectations more often than not and being well liked by the administration, parents, and kids will take you pretty far. Coaches also either know or should have a pretty good idea of what they are getting into before they take the job. It isn't always the case, but more often than not, it's advisable to know what will be expected of you before you jump in.

 

For every Montgomery County we hear about, there's also a school who could probably be worlds better but is content enough with where they are in the moment. Take a school like St. Xavier in the late 90's or early 2000's-- the school dominates in tons of other sports, but they didn't seem to have a ton of turnover at the head coaching position either. A school with their resources probably didn't have to settle for a win season in 08, 9 wins in 05 and 07, 7 in 04, etc. and lots of those factors mentioned above helped in keeping their coach around.

 

I rarely comment on here but follow regularly and have followed High School Basketball for 35+ years in the Central Kentucky area. I am sure the comment about St. X's coach was just an example without really looking at the tenure of the coach at that time but I must say that I saw St. X play for years when Coach Bergamini was there. He was a very good coach and went to Rupp I know at least once and maybe twice. I know he was voted coach of the year 4 or 5 times by his peers. When I saw them play, they played very hard, very smart and always had a good plan. I really don't know why there talent level dropped so at the end of his tenure but I just wanted to challenge that coaching was not up to par during that time.

I rarely comment on here but follow regularly and have followed High School Basketball for 35+ years in the Central Kentucky area. I am sure the comment about St. X's coach was just an example without really looking at the tenure of the coach at that time but I must say that I saw St. X play for years when Coach Bergamini was there. He was a very good coach and went to Rupp I know at least once and maybe twice. I know he was voted coach of the year 4 or 5 times by his peers. When I saw them play, they played very hard, very smart and always had a good plan. I really don't know why there talent level dropped so at the end of his tenure but I just wanted to challenge that coaching was not up to par during that time.

 

Sorry, wasn't trying to imply that, but definitely see how it could come off like that.

 

I was just trying to make the point that a school with their resources if they took the approach of "we're going to compete for State" (like they do in every other sport), then they wouldn't have held on late in his tenure. I meant it more in the way that it was a sign that he was liked and had some support somewhere.

 

The fact that he'd been to the Sweet 16 a few times probably had plenty to do with that, and kind of reinforces the point I was trying to make about how one or two trips (especially to come out of a Louisville region no less) could put some years on a coach's shelf life with a school.

 

I guess why I chose them more than anything was to say that you'd think they'd make changes in their football, baseball, swim, or golf programs if the win percentage took such a dip.

I figured you really did not intend it to be a slam against Coach Bergamini but I just wanted to point out to readers who might read the post and without knowing assume the coach at that time was not up to par. During most of Coach Bergamini' s time they were very successful by most anyones standards. Trip or Trips to Rupp (not sure if he went once or twice) 20+ wins most seasons. I think they have a good coach now but I do not think they have been to Rupp since Coach Bergamini left. Competition in that region is so brutal it is a very tough out no matter how good your team and coach is.

I figured you really did not intend it to be a slam against Coach Bergamini but I just wanted to point out to readers who might read the post and without knowing assume the coach at that time was not up to par. During most of Coach Bergamini' s time they were very successful by most anyones standards. Trip or Trips to Rupp (not sure if he went once or twice) 20+ wins most seasons. I think they have a good coach now but I do not think they have been to Rupp since Coach Bergamini left. Competition in that region is so brutal it is a very tough out no matter how good your team and coach is.

 

 

Definitely.

 

The state's records online only go back to the 1998/1999 season, so I kind of cherry picked that one. Quick glance through an old program says that X did go in 95 and lost in the quarters.

 

Getting out of the Louisville regions once as a coach is tough enough, much less how tough it would have been in that era with Fairdale (6th), PRP (6th), Eastern, and Ballard all having big runs in the 90's.