Coach to WIN in LIFE, Not just a Game!

Who Am I?

I spent 30 years as a high school coach in the great state of Texas. Along the way I was able to meet many great people, help numerous students, and create memories for a lifetime.

In 3 decades of coaching, I was fortunate enough to be a part of successful programs. When ready I took what I learned and led my own programs. I worked in 6 different school districts and held positions from freshman coach, quarterback coach, offensive coordinator, and head football coach. I was also a head baseball coach (19 years) and did a year or two of powerlifting, track and basketball.

How I got here

Today, I spend my days as a high school assistant principal and spend time with my family. Since I was 6 years old, I would go to school, go to practice, go home, and repeat. I knew nothing else. So I coached for the love of the game, the desire to share my knowledge with others, and to help change lives.

I can't tell you how many wins I had, how many historic seasons I was a part of, or how many awards I earned. I can only tell you the number of players I lost (didn't graduate) during my career. Luckily for me, there were only 3.

Of all the teams I coached. Of all the players who finished their senior season, I can remember losing three players. All 3 boys had a stellar athletic career; but life's circumstances forced them down a different path and they did not graduate. Even today, I wonder where they are. These losses are still in my mind.

7 Career Secrets to Coaching High School Sports and Lasting 30 Years

Career Secret #1: Passion to Serve

Coaching high school sports will require you to have a passion for serving others. Because honestly, that is all you are doing with your knowledge, expertise, time, and efforts as you coach, teach, study, prepare for practice, travel, eat, and do laundry. Coaching is part of the service industry.

Now as you serve your players, this ain't no Holiday Inn or a made to order Whataburger. The coach can still be demanding and have high expectations. The reason is, when you do this, you are serving your team with the reality of life.

This is important for a long lasting career. Players will always be there. They were there before you were hired and they will be there when you leave. But you must have a passion to serve and make a difference. Make a difference in the player's life and leave nothing but memories.

Enter the campus with an open mind and a willingness to make a difference.

Leave the campus better than you found it.

Career Secret #2: Develop Your Core Values

First, you MUST "buy in" to the Core Values and philosophy of your head coach and coordinators. If you want to survive for a long time coaching high school sports, you must respect leadership's decisions and reasoning; and then go out and implement what your boss wants. No ifs, ands, or butts.

Second, as a young coach you will not know what your core values will be. This will take time to develop and may change from year to year as you grow. If nothing else, have core values tied to work ethic, loyalty, commitment, and time management.

Third, communicate what your values are to your players and then "inspect what you expect" while leading by example.

Career Secret #3: Build Relationships

This could very well be the best kept secret. Build relationships.

Have professional communications with your supervisors by reading emails, replying to emails, being cordial in person, and doing your job to the best of your ability. Always be seen where you are supposed to be.

Create a time during the day when you can build a relationship with your players. Talk to them about their life, not always about the sport and what they can do for you; but, what you can do for them. You may very well be the only adult they communicate with. How special is that?

Have time during the work week to hang with the coaches on the staff. I'm not talking about a barn burner driving home with one eye open. I'm suggesting meeting up in a social setting and decompress for an hour or so and go home to the family. This right here is what makes coaching fun. It is a fraternity of men and women who share a common cause and enjoy eachothers company.

Most importantly, keep building your relationship with your wife or significant other. The schools and jobs come and go; but the family will always be there. Take care of the home team too.

Career Secret #4: Understand the Sport

Never! EVER! Coach a sport that you are not prepared for.

I'm not saying you have to be as knowledgeable as the head coach or varsity assistants, but the players and the head coach are counting on you to do a job so do it to the best of your ability.

How?

Before the season, meet with the head coach and see what is expected. Ask for details and examples of what you need to do and how to do it. Watch video. Read articles. Find a way to make yourself better. For damn sure, know the basics of the game and the rules.

This is important because you are being paid to coach, so coach to the best of your ability. The players are counting on you to lead them and prepare them for more advanced teams. Moreover, the head coach of the sport is counting on you too. You are developing his future. Do the best you can and ask for help when needed.

Career Secret #5: Coach the Fundamentals

Fundamentals is what coaching is all about. You will coach fundamentals everyday of your life. Be sure you are able to verbally state what is expected, be able to show what you want, and then if needed, demonstrate. If you can no longer demonstrate, have a skilled player do it. The players must hear, see, and do in order to learn.

Have patience. Nothing can ruin a practice more than when a coach loses patience with a player. The player is not doing right because you, as a coach, have failed at teaching him! Now, there are some who will never get it, but you still have to coach them up to the best of their abilities. One day, one game you may need them because of grades, injury, sickness, or starter moves. Coach them all up.

Fundamentals are vital to the success of any program. Pick a couple of drills that will prepare your team and work them until they are second nature.

Career Secret #6: Model Expectations

Lead by example.

Be one time, do what's right, and give it your best. This is what your players expect of you and what you should expect from them.

Be on time to class. Dress like a professional (no shorts or sweatpants). Teach your subject in the classroom. Stop passing out worksheets!

Off campus, people are still watching, and they have phones that take wonderful pictures that will be on social media before you can blink. Be mindful of the community's expectations of the coaching staff. Some places will be ok with adult beverages in the district, others will frown on it. Know where you work.

Career Secret #7: Encourage Multi-Sport Athletes

Let every kid play as many sports as they want. They will only be in high school once, let them make new friends, play under other coaches, and make lasting memories.

What makes your sport so important that the kid has to specialize?  

Do you want him to specialize in what he can do for you

or for what you can do for him?  

Think about that.

This is not an issue in the small schools, but in some of the larger schools it is.

Lastly, don't harp or penalize a kid for playing other sports. Don't be selfish. Instead, take the above 6 other secrets and see what you can do so the kid can play them all.

In Conclusion

These are my 7 Career Secrets to Coaching High School Sports for 30 years or at least these seven mean the most to me.

Everyone wants to win and everyone works to hold a title trophy. Just know, no matter how hard you coach there are some places where you simply improve and make memories. You may be in a tough district and there is nothing you can do about it. Suck it up, coach them up, and get better. Plus, only one coach can win a championship, but we can all win a life.

In the words of Brian Knight "Doesn't Matter . . . Get Better."

Other Online Resources

If you would like more coaching thoughts, I recommend you subscribe to the following email lists. Give them all a try, if you don’t like them you can always unsubscribe (but I doubt you will).

• Daily Discipline is a daily email sent to you from Brain Knight who worked with Urban Meyer in E+R=O

• Daily Coach is a new daily email sent to your inbox with great quotes, readings, and ideas for all coaches

• Kretz Files is my website offering a newsletter and resources for baseball coaches.

• Sunday Morning Coach is my website offering a newsletter and future resources on athletic leadership and football.

• Atomic Habits is a weekly email from the NY Times best sellers book Atomic Habits (excellent read)

• GB1 Leadership is a weekly newsletter written by a high school basketball coach

What Do You Want?

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