Teacher/Coach

All my life, all I ever really wanted to do was to teach school and coach basketball. I never really thought about what all goes into becoming a successful teacher/coach. In the past two years I have been able to be a school teacher and a basketball coach.

I remember making the statement, before I became a teacher, that teachers only work a part-time job. I often wondered why coaches were generally grouchy, or at the least, a little indifferent about things. Well, guess what? Now I know the answers to some of my questions and I also know a thing or two about that part-time job teachers have.

I have never worked more hours than I do now. I generally do not get home till very late in the evening. When I'm off work I'm so dang tired I can't move. Between a very few complaining parents and at times, some unhappy students, school manages to still happen like it's supposed to. It's a lot of long hours and very exhausting work. I sometimes wonder if I wasn't crazy to want to be a coach on top of being a teacher. Teachers have to juggle lots of things to make it all work, and then some idiot(like me) decides he wants to coach on top of it all.

Honestly, I wouldn't want to do anything else. The hours are long and never boring, most especially since I deal with Jr. High kids all day. The basketball season seems to last into infinity, but I've loved every minute of it; the wins, the losses, and the road trips on the bus with 60 kids. Nope, I'll never ever be wealthy, at least not in terms of money. My wealth comes from all the people I get to know and all the lives that I get to touch.

Coaches, for whatever reason, have a huge impact on kids lives. That fact is very humbling to me and I try to be the best man I can be when I'm in contact with my boys. It's very hard to always set a good example before the kids, sports are very competitive and the pressure to win is always in the back of my mind. It's tough to leave a star player at home, but as a coach I have to make the kids understand that there are things more important than basketball. I demand good citizenship, honor, and a sense of morality from my boys. I expect them to be leaders both on and off the court and to set an example to the rest of the school. When the boys fail to live up to those expectations, they don't play.

I may not make a lot of money, but I do make a difference. I can't think of anything I'd rather do that what I do right now. Now I understand why my dad dedicated most of his life to this very same profession. The rewards are great, and indeed I'm much richer because of the experience.