10 Harsh Truths About Being a High School Coach
1\ People are going to talk smack
And often times publicly - you need thick skin
Often people are only for you when you make decisions that benefit them
You are an easy target for loud mouths and ignorant
2\ It takes 5 years to build a program
You might jump into a winner from the start, but true program building takes time
âŞď¸Get the right people in place
âŞď¸Build culture
âŞď¸Scale and systematize schemes, fundraising, the youth program, skill development
3\ Itâs all-consuming to do properly⌠for most
There are some âunicornsâ out there that can balance their life with coaching (if you know any, Iâd like to study them đ)
By choosing to coach, you are choosing to NOT have various hobbies, relationships, side businesses, etc
4\ Itâs really hard to make good money
In most instances you are capped by your school contract & coaching stipend, which consume a lot of time
Maybe you can make some money on the side through the summer, or if itâs extremely passive, or maybe move into college coaching, maybe
5\ It can take a toll on your spouse and family
As mentioned previously, by choosing to coach, you are choosing to NOT have a lot of things
All of this affects your family. Try to get your spouse and children involved in the operation as much as possible
6\ Youâre always working
Whether itâs laying in bed thinking about substitution rotations or taking phone calls at all hours, itâs awfully hard to just shut it all off
7\ You canât save them all
Most of the times Iâve felt like I was doing a kid a favor by making the team or getting extra chances, it usually ended in a negative experience for all
No one gets into coaching to screw kids over, but be thoughtful when extending opportunities
8\ Your support team is everything
If youâve every had a bad coaching staff, administration, or parent group, this needs no explanation
You can only be as good as the support you receive
9\ Do not take bad coaching jobs
Do your research⌠Some coaching positions are simply âcoaching graveyardsâ
Iâve seen many coaches with a lot of potential take bad jobs just to have a head job, and often times it ends with wound licking
10\ If youâre going to lose, itâs more enjoyable with high character kids/families
Roster construction is a balancing act. Trust your gut and be firm instead of inviting more headaches
What âharsh truthsâ did I forget?