@theguru Wants to know per the Barber thread...

 

Are there instances where being the Head Coach has given someone more right of way than your normal educator or employee? Are there instances where they were judged much more harshly?

 

A few instances that come to mind:

- The Wayne Mills situation at Bell County where the Bell Superintendent sided with the Defendant during the "Moon Gate" lawsuit when Mills was on the "hot seat".

- Rush Probst is well known as a HS Football Coach and the man wins lots of games at a very high level, yet numerous times controversy and moral mis-conduct has seemingly followed him and his leash has seemingly been pretty long.

 

What say you?

I would say in part it depends on how successful the Coach is or isn't and what the prospects are of attracting a superior candidate if you fire the current coach.

 

And the Elephant in the room is what is the Coach's relationship with the Principal and Super...

I think ALOT of times the head coaches relationship with the principal and/or superintendent determine if the HC has an advantage or not.

 

You see MANY times on the college level where a new AD cleans house and hires all new head coaches so they can "be on the same page". It's not quite that pronounced at the high school level, but I have known HCs and principals who aren't exchanging Christmas cards where the Head Coach has a very short rope as for what he is and isn't allowed to do. This causes continual opportunities for unnecessary conflict.

 

Conversely, rosy relationships usually equal somewhat ample and universal control of their sports program including things like booster club funds, equipment purchases, venue upgrades and on and on.

 

Yet another reason why teams with stability stay good for a long time and teams with undo strife exhibit that year after year on the field, but it starts far off of it.

I would say in part it depends on how successful the Coach is or isn't and what the prospects are of attracting a superior candidate if you fire the current coach.

 

And the Elephant in the room is what is the Coach's relationship with the Principal and Super...

 

Great Minds!

I would say in part it depends on how successful the Coach is or isn't and what the prospects are of attracting a superior candidate if you fire the current coach.

 

And the Elephant in the room is what is the Coach's relationship with the Principal and Super...

 

This, all day everyday at some schools

It's definitely a case by case deal. Some successful coaches can pretty much do what ever they want, knowing the community supports them. School Boards never want to upset the voters and behind the scenes pressure can be brought to keep a beloved coach, even if he screws up.

 

Conversely a struggling coach can have a very very short leash and the least little thing can get him the boot.

 

It can and does go both ways.

To give the shortest, most accurate answer I know how...it works both ways. If you ask anybody who has ever been a head coach they will tell you the same. For those that have been in that role for many years; then they have seen both sides of that coin on numerous occasions.

 

Being a high school head football coach is no different than any other "CEO" type role...there are your perks and your downsides. Now, the exact perks and downsides in and of themselves from other professions are different, but you still have them.

If Billy Gillespie was winning like Cal does at UK then not one person at UK would have cared how many 21 year olds he was hanging out with/taking home from Two Keys.

 

Winning solves all.

Had Rush Probst been just an English teacher at Hoover HS, nobody would have cared about the double life he was leading.

 

If that doesn't do anything to answer the question?

It's all about the Ws....everybody knows this....that is with any job....if you are a successful super star a lot of stuff gets over looked...sad but true.

I think this quote is applicable:

 

If you win, your enemies can't hurt you, and if you lose, your friends can't stand (help) you. - Bear Bryant

 

Because of my Dad being a HS football coach, I was blessed to be around some of the great ones. Coach Roy Walton(Tates Creek/Lafayette) told me one time to never let myself get put in a spot where I need my boss to keep/protect my job.

 

I think being the head coach makes you more vulnerable. Any other teacher, a transgression can be swept under the rug or even undetected. A lot of eyes are on the head coach. Many head coaches are put on a pedestal. Some people enjoy watching another person fall off the pedestal.

 

My Dad wore a tie most days in the classroom. I usually wore a tie and still do most days in my current classified position. I have always felt like the head football coach has to try harder to demonstrate he is doing his non-coaching job and he is not just all about football. I also think if a coach expects his players to do right & work hard off the field, he should demonstrate / model the same.

 

I don't miss being one of the bouncers in the hallways. I didn't realize how much energy that took until I no longer had to do that at Mercer. I still try to be present in the hallways, but it is much different/easier. It is really nice that I don't have to be that guy anymore. It is not fun/takes a toll. I have a bunch of respect for the coaches/teachers that are still fighting those battles so our kids can be in a safe environment that is conducive to learning.

I have always felt like the head football coach has to try harder to demonstrate he is doing his non-coaching job and he is not just all about football. I also think if a coach expects his players to do right & work hard off the field, he should demonstrate / model the same.

What a great thought to consider. This part of your post really stood out to me as something a lot of coaches, especially young coaches trying to establish themselves, should take to heart. If you walk the walk, they will listen to you more when you are talking the talk.

I think most coaches are competitive, and with that they are competitive in all areas of their life. I think most "great coaches" walk in their building every day and they strive to be the best teacher they can be. Doing what your supposed to do, being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.

I think most coaches are competitive, and with that they are competitive in all areas of their life. I think most "great coaches" walk in their building every day and they strive to be the best teacher they can be. Doing what your supposed to do, being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.

 

Sounds great and I certainly know some great coaches who are incredible teachers (Dale Mueller being one); however, lets be honest...there are a lot of coaches who are way more interested in coaching than teaching. They usually teacher drivers ed, or PE, in school suspension, but they also bleed over into English/language arts and history. I realize I am painting with a broad bush here.

Sounds great and I certainly know some great coaches who are incredible teachers (Dale Mueller being one); however, lets be honest...there are a lot of coaches who are way more interested in coaching than teaching. They usually teacher drivers ed, or PE, in school suspension, but they also bleed over into English/language arts and history. I realize I am painting with a broad bush here.

 

There are plenty of people out there that do those jobs, plus other gigs like Homebound, who aren't coaches...or in particular; not football coaches. Funny thing is; nobody cares then.

 

Nobody cares if Betty Jo English teacher that goes home after school everyday is anything less than excellent; let that be Bobby Joe Social Studies teacher that's less than stellar and it's all the sudden an issue.

 

Let's not forget about administration, either. I don't know many administrators out there...especially those who have less than 10-15 years in (which is more and more prevalent these days because obtaining your "principalship" is no longer only available just as a Rank 1/2nd Masters; it's obtainable as a Masters) say that they got into admin because they just loved being in the classroom so much.

 

That's the biggest pink elephant in the room that nobody can say.

Edited December 20, 20169 yr by Harry Doyle