Why do I coach?

The summer months are a grind in the coaching profession. There are long hours in the car, in often uncomfortable gyms, and far from home. All of that travel leaves a lot of time alone with your thoughts. Among all of the internal debates I've had this summer, one that I keep coming back to is this: Why do I coach? When I ask that question, I don't just mean why am I coaching right now - but why did I want to become a coach in the first place, and what are my long-term goals for my career?

When I first thought about being a coach it was because that's what my dad did, and like a lot of little boys, my dad was my hero. As I took a more serious look at coaching, I began to realize the influence that two high school coaches had on me as a player had made a significant impact on my life. The first was a coach at a rival school who took me aside when I was a sophomore and gave me great encouragement during a time in when I was facing a lot of scrutiny as a player. He gave me the confidence to be myself, play my game, and overcome a very challenging situation. The second was the varsity basketball and soccer coach my senior year. In what was the most difficult period of my life, he constantly showed grace and understanding for the situations that were arising in my personal life. He was supportive and worked hard to help me make the best of many bad situations. 

When I think about my decision to become a coach as a career, the influence these two individuals had on my life during a very formative time was absolutely a catalyst. I want to be able to impact the lives of the young men who play for me. I want to give them the courage to face life's challenges head on, to be the person they can lean on when the road takes an unexpected turn, and the one they can count on to lift them up when they inevitably fall.

Those three things are not only my reason for coaching, but they're part of my long-term career goals as well. I want to establish relationships with our players that extend far beyond their playing years, and allow them to turn to me at any point in their lives when they need support, advice, or just a kind word. On top of that, one of the factors that continues to grow in importance is my feeling that I need to give back to the game. Basketball has taken me to some amazing places, provided me with opportunities to meet incredible people, and to make a living doing something I love. I owe the game much more than I could ever give it - but I feel a sense of duty to give back as much as I can. That's part of why I love camp so much. Working with young people who have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to improve is inspirational. And if I can help foster that passion in even one camper, then all the hours put into camp are well worth it. I have been given a world of opportunities through basketball, and I want to do everything I can to open some of those same doors to as many people as possible.

There are other goals I have for myself as a coach, but establishing lasting relationships with those who play for me and giving back to the game are two that I feel are the most important.