Any journey associated with a passion requires the right amount of “cinematic flair”. Whether you find yourself falling in the Aristotelian camp of “Art imitating Life” or the Wilde-ian Out camp of the inverse, there is an undeniable connection between the two. It is why we connect so deeply to different forms of art, and why we all have those, “I should write a book”, or, “They could make a movie of my life” moments.
It is also why we are provided with so many maxims regarding these journeys within the journeys within the journey. The one thing we can all relate to, as human beings, is that we are one place, for a brief, singular moment, before we are whisked to the next brief, singular moment, (and so on forever). Our independence, our uniquity, comes in our perceived or proclaimed destination. For each part, for each path, for each port-of-calling, our projected lives scream of major metropolitan mass transit maps.
So, where is this particular article going?
Basketball has been a passion of mine since I first began playing in 2nd Grade. It has brought me life-long friendships and countless experiences for personal growth, both in positive-and-triumphant ways and challenging-and-defeating ways. After numerous reminders from my body during middle and high school athletics that I may not have been physically made for high-intensity, competitive sports, my interests shifted to the strategic and intellectual side of the game. They had to if I wanted to remain relevant in the world of my passion. As a junior attending Emory University in Atlanta, my craving for involvement in the game took me on a short walk from my dorm to Druid Hills High School and a dungeonous, ill-equipped weight room, where I spoke with then Head Boys Basketball Coach Allen Craine. Now, 15 seasons later, I have accepted an offer to become Head Boys Basketball Coach at St. Augustine High School in St. Augustine, Florida.
Has it been a “script-worthy” passage of time? Mostly in that the nature of Sports is. I tend to be a little less dramatic than the screen would request. For example, as a junior in high school on the Varsity team, I was tasked with keeping the shot chart during a game. As the clock wound down, a senior on our team hit a three-pointer to win the game at the buzzer. As everyone jumped off the bench and rushed the court, I had made sure to mark the shot on my chart before joining in the celebration. Priorities. (Nerd). So no, no one is going to be making a movie of my “side-career” anytime soon.
Nor is this the culmination of anything. As one explores and experiences the joys of coaching, there are two very clear concepts: 1) Don’t calculate your hourly pay, and 2) Coaching is coaching. Whether at the professional level or with a bunch of ornery, snack-crazed five year-olds, the act of sharing the skills, strategies, and love of an activity is what makes coaching, well, coaching. Mix in the opportunity to have a positive influence on individuals through a conduit of their own interest, (or one applied to them by their parents' desperation to get them out of the house and burning off some of their energy), it is something that I would do free of charge. This was generally the case for 12 of those 15 seasons.
However, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited at the opportunity.
I’m sure there will be plenty of posts to come on the subject, but I would be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to acknowledge not “from where I’ve come”, but “from whom”. (In fact, the whole reason I opened to write this was to do so). The “Coaching Tree” is a concept that those familiar with sports know well, and that those who aren’t can easily figure out. Philosophies, strategies, methods passed down through the filter of proximity and shared experiences; mentorship rare to find outside of the world of athletics. These often unstated and unexamined bonds that appear suddenly, similar to when one finds themself “turning into their parents”. I am blessed to have been a part of so many positively influential Trees and know that I would not have ever faced this opportunity without each year of coaching experience under or alongside so many different individuals.
My time at Druid Hills under Coach Craine introduced me to the coaching side of high school sports, and gave me a much needed experience with diversity. As the season ended during my senior year at Emory, I remember standing in the gym and knowing that this was not going to be something that I could live without. Coach Steve Messer welcomed me to the staff at my alma mater for a year between undergrad and grad school. (Ok, maybe this year had a bit of cinematic flavor as I worked third-shift to hold a job but still have a chance to coach). During this time, Coach Chad Freeman, (also an assistant coach during my playing days), handed me the reins for one JV game, the scorebook entry for which I still have. During my time in East Lansing, Hall of Fame Coach Dan Stolz accepted me to the Okemos family. My time coaching alongside him and Matt Dickerman provided even more insight into running a successful program through being the model of a “good man” for high schoolers. I returned to Hersey after graduating and spent more time in a Messer program, working alongside Sean Gudaitis and Rick DiVito. There was never a moment at Hersey where “forming men from boys” was not the clear priority of the coaching staff. Then a move to Florida. My first task after accepting a job at a Montessori school was to procure the opportunity to coach locally. Tim Winter brought me on at St. Augustine High School and, when he handed the program over to Coach Cooper, he, too, saw enough in me to keep me around. He then accepted the AD job and doubled-down on me, offering me this opportunity to lead an entire program with a strong foundation of success on and off the court.
These men, (and others listed below), have all contributed to my education as a high school basketball coach and an educator of young men, and are with me in my (brief) celebration of my new role (before having already dove headfirst into planning). The world outside of the coach’s office often overlooks successes but is quick to point out failures. It is a thankless job. But, I will give them credit during successes and take all the blame for failures. And I can give nothing but thanks to them and for them.
The easy, and probably traditional, method of ending this post would be to find the quote of some well-known basketball coach...I’m not quite sure about the easy way. So as I finish this post and “begin” life as a Head Boys Basketball Coach, I lead you a little outside of the box-and-one (basketball joke) with this sentiment about the continuation of my coaching “career” into season 16, ironically with a cinematic reference:
“There’s not a word yet; for old friends who’ve just met.” - Gonzo, The Muppet Movie
Ok, maybe it would make a good story, but not until a few more scenes are written...
Additional thanks to Coaches: Ken Husser, John Novak, Don Rowley, Reggie Lumpkin, Coach Bryant (I’m not sure I ever really knew your first name), Greg Keadle, Justin Penio, Jeff Gurvis, Tyler Hersey, Carter Briggs, Guy Calise, BJ Esguerra, Markis Merrill, Johnny Allen
More thanks to all of my friends and teammates for challenges, support, and tolerating my quirks.
Even more thanks to every player I have ever had the privilege of working with. Thankful that social media has allowed me to keep up with the quality individuals you are growing into.