A new coach was named at the high school where I was head coach for five years. It’s a weird feeling to know that the girls who I have grown to care about and love, will be led by someone new. Yet, I also know that they will be fine, that learning to work with a new leader on the court will be good for them. It is a great lesson for life, because throughout their lifetime they will experience a lot of change, they will have to work with new bosses and a variety of co-workers, and figure out who they are, and how they fit in, along the way.
I have heard that the new coach is quite the opposite of me, and there is nothing wrong with that. All coaches have different styles. Pat Summit, C. Vivian Stringer, Mike Krzyzewski, John Wooden, all have had excellent results through different teaching methods. But what is important is that a coach has the best interest of the team in mind, because not only is a coach helping to develop young men and women, but in the case of high school basketball where there is no recruiting, a coach is working with the team they are given, so they are helping them to become better, stronger athletes, teaching them to work together on the court and creating a season that, win or lose, the players can be proud of.
I wish all the best to my girls and their new coach and I can’t wait to cheer them on to another successful season. Go Wildcats!